Chapter 14 - THE SECOND GALA
Two years after the first ballroom disaster, Fallon hosted another event.
Smaller.
FBL Events had survived.
Profitable now.
No debt crisis.
The event was for a nonprofit veterans housing project.
Savannah almost laughed at the irony.
Fallon invited her.
Handwritten note:
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO COME. IF YOU DO, I WILL NOT INTRODUCE YOU AS ANYTHING EXCEPT MY SISTER.
Savannah stared.
Then went.
Not in uniform.
Dark blue dress.
Comfortable shoes.
Fallon wore black again.
Of course.
At the entrance, both froze.
Fallon said:
“You look good.”
Savannah smiled.
“You look solvent.”
Fallon laughed.
That helped.
Margaret attended too.
Stayed across the room.
Good.
Michael stood beside Fallon.
They were engaged again.
No wedding date yet.
Savannah liked him more for that.
Then a donor approached.
“Savannah Blake? The officer?”
Savannah answered:
“Savannah is fine.”
Fallon did not add anything.
No performance.
Then the event video played.
Housing project.
Families.
Veterans returning home.
Savannah felt her throat tighten.
Fallon saw.
Did not touch her.
Waited.
Savannah appreciated that.
Later, Fallon raised a glass.
“To people who come home and still deserve to decide what home means.”
Savannah looked at her.
The line was for her.
Also for Fallon.
No one else knew.
Good.
Afterward, Daniel approached Savannah.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Then he handed her an envelope.
Final restitution statement.
Fallon had completed repayment to the trust early.
How?
Sold a luxury condo.
Reduced personal spending.
Used business profits.
No Prescott money.
Savannah smiled.
Good.
Margaret’s repayment remained.
Longer.
Fine.
Then Daniel said:
“There’s one more trust decision.”
Margaret had offered to relinquish lifetime occupancy voluntarily.
She wanted to move into a smaller apartment.
The house could be sold now.
Savannah froze.
After everything.
Finally.
“What does Fallon want?”
“Sell.”
“And Mom?”
“Sell.”
Daniel looked at her.
“And you?”
Savannah thought of Andrew.
The tire.
The library.
The hidden bar.
The ballroom night.
The forged signature.
Then:
May you like
“Sell.”
This time, with her real signature.
