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Worry crowded his throat

“Are you okay?” he asked, hating the stupidity of that question but not knohere else to start

She blinked and licked her lips “Sure,” she lied

“Savannah You don’t have to pretend—”

“I’lanced behind her “And I don’t want to wake up Katie”

“Okay” He wondered how he could even see her, she was so far away

He waited until she shut the door in his face before hanging his head and retreating to the sleeping porch

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“IT’S STUNNING,” Margot said the next afternoon, her face radiant with a bright smile Matt felt an insane amount of pride He was overwhelmed with it, actually Humbled by it “It’s so…”

“Totally perfect!” Katie cried, spinning around in a circle, taking in what, Matt had to admit, was a totally perfect courtyard

The floere planted, sreens Roses and hostas Forget-ainvillaea and birds of paradise Wisteria, lilac, honeysuckle It was fragrant to the extre of these women

The cypress was tri carpet of green The wall, barely visible in the back, was strong and would stay that way for a hundred years The new greenhouse, a kit he’d ordered and ht

This was his gift, his offering, his heart, beating and red with blood—for Savannah

Savannah, as silent She stood to the side, her arms across her chest She looked so thin, so small Lost in the icy distance between her and everyone else