Page 12 of Savannah Sweethearts

Sami took a step toward them. “We call her Gigi.”

Realizing they had an audience, Ashley’s face transformed from lost child to teacher. “Gigi? That’s the best grandma name ever. You have a very special one.”

Saffi took up position next to her sister. “You can call her Gigi.”

“No, she can’t. Gigi isn’t her grandma.”

Saffi scrunched her nose. “She can if Gigi says she can.” They both turned to their grandmother.

Unphased, my mom shook her head. “Ashley, you can call me whatever pleases you. Judy, Gigi, Your Highness. It’s all fine.” Everyone giggled at the last one.

Sitting down behind the girls, I pulled them close to me. “Girls, I know you have seen Miss Ashley at school, but I would like to actually introduce you. Samirya, Sapphire, this is Ashley Gloss. We’ve known each other for a very long time, and she used to be my very best friend.”

I put my hands on Sami’s shoulders. “This is Samirya—or Sami, as we call her.” Then I switched to the other girl. “And this is Sapphire. Saffi.”

One of Ashley’s admitted flaws was her inability to remember names, which is probably why she always called my mother Mrs. Harris. How she would tell the twins apart and remember their names would be a challenge, I knew. But she would rise to the occasion.

With her hands in her lap, she looked from one to the other. “Sami. Saffi. It’s so nice to meet you outside of school. I love your dresses. Are you coming with us to the ball?”

Squeals erupted, and the girls began bouncing around. “Can we? Can we go?”

It took a minute to settle them before I had to break the news that this was a grown-ups-only event. Thankfully, Gigi knew just how to rein them in with promises of watching Princess Tiana and eating cookies and ice cream.

As we stood to leave, Ashley stopped and sat on the coffee table in front of the girls. “Thank you for letting me take your daddy out when it’s your time with him. I really appreciate it.” She spoke to the girls like they were adults, and they stared at her, a little awed by the respect she was showing them.

Saffi’s little voice whispered back, “You’re welcome.”

Mom shooed us off, and we climbed into Ashley’s car. I had offered to drive, but she said she knew the way. She navigated the streets of Savannah with ease as she worked her way to The Promenade, where the ball was being held.

She bit her lip as she drummed her fingernails on the steering wheel. “Did that go okay? Did I mess up by asking if they were coming with us?”

I chuckled. “No, it was fine. I’m impressed with how respectful you were to them.”

“Good.”

“Mom sure missed you.”

She sighed. “I had no idea just how much I missed your mom. I don’t get hugs like that from my parents. It’s been a long time since someone just held me because they loved me. And Mrs. Harris has always loved me simply for being me.”

A truer statement had never been uttered. My mother loved everyone for exactly who they were, no questions asked. And she had loved Ashley from the start, realizing she was an affection-starved teenager who needed that unconditional love from somewhere.

As The Promenade came into view, Ashley gulped. “Are you ready to face the totally conditional-love crew who will not be happy to see either of us?”

I steeled myself. This was as prepared as I would ever get. I knew I would never win the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Gloss, and that was okay. Their approval did not factor into my self-worth or anything else. Facing them was something I had dreamed of for years—showing them that I was not the delinquent they thought I was. Doing it with Ashley at my side was icing on the cake.

“I’m ready. My good friend from work, AO, will be there, along with Jennifer Marcingill and Karry Draper. We can always spend our evening with them.” AO Ortiz was a producer at Action News, where I worked, while Jennifer and Karry were reporters.

“That’s exciting you know them and work with them. I watch Karry Draper on the news every day.” Ashley’s eyes shone in the low light as she spoke. “Let’s get this party started.”

After a deep breath for fortification, I exited the car, circling around to get Ashley’s door. We walked into the open-air lobby and right into the sights of her parents.

Ashley

Why did my parents have to be the very first people we saw when we came in? My father wore his navy blue suit, even though this was a black-tie event. It showed he didn’t care as much about this charity as he could. Mother was dressed to the nines in a flowing, burgundy organza gown that had a train. A train. On a sixty-year-old woman.

When Mom spotted me, she looked me up and down and nodded in approval. Then she looked beside me to the man in the black suit. Her eyes grew wide, and the glass of chardonnay in her hand wobbled slightly. With her other hand, she took my father’s arm, drawing his attention to us.

I clenched my teeth and put my hand through Tyrell’s arm. “Prepare for battle.” My game-face smile spread across my lips as we approached them.

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