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It had been hard convincing her to take the opportunity, but he knew she’d been saving for the chance to go back to school He simply sped up the process

“What are you going to do?” she asked

“Well, I’ to finish the Monroes’ lake house and the library in Creve Coeur, but then…” He flipped the card again “We’ll see”

“Noacts?”

He nearly laughed It seemed like a miracle she could even see him Every day he woke up and looked in the mirror at his body, and wondered hoas still around He felt like he was vanishing, bit by bit A walking, talking ghost

“I swear,” he said and held up his hand “Now, you should head out before traffic gets too bad”

“Okay,” she said He quickly hugged her, before her tears could start in earnest, and promised to stay in touch, to take care of himself

Blah, blah, blah

Matt just wanted to be alone To lick his wounds To examine all of his memories of Savannah and Katie in quiet Torture himself in peace

She wasn’t co He knew that He knew that the second he made the demand She said she loved him, but without faith, love was shallow Practically empty

An hour later he heard the door open again and he spun away fro at The sun had set and his office was gray and shadowy, the yellow light froloom

“I told you I’d—”

Savannah stepped into the doorway

NERVES WERE CUTTING OFF all brain function Savannah could only look at him and wonder if she was too late

Do you still want h it took oodness and wonder of you?

Her mouth was dry Her palms damp

“Hi,” she said Idiot

“Savannah?” He stood, slowly as if in disbelief He was thin again, pale But so handsome in a suit, the tie pulled loose

He wore his glasses And she just wanted to curl up in his arms and lick him

“Matt!” Katie barreled into the roo Savannah over in her enthusiasm “Whoa! Look at that view!” She ran to theand pressed her face against it, her breath creating condensation against the glass She’d been this way the whole journey—two days of uncorked curiosity It was exhilarating And exhausting “You’re not going to believe it We saw the Mississippi River It looks dirty Anda hoot stuck in traffic Lots of traffic We stayed in a motel, Matt With a pool Can you believe it?”