SAFEHOUSE

d as to why they should not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace…”

I was frozen in place, unable to so much as squeak as the silence around us was absolute. I glanced over at Chandra and she was practically beside herself in excitement. She’d set this whole thing up!

“Graham has chosen to speak his own vows…” The priest continued, and the room went silent again as I felt his hand softly grasp my own, pulling my arm toward him.

“Savannah… Some deny that love at first sight is real, but I knew they were wrong the moment I first lay eyes on you. These last few months apart have been a weight upon my very soul. From this moment on, I pledge to never live another moment without you by my side. I will have you… I will hold you… I will honor and cherish you… Till death do us part.”

My vision was drawing into a tunnel and my knees were weak. How could any man go to such wild lengths for me? What did he see in me that drove him to create this perfect moment? Did he know how much I hated him? Could he possibly know how much I loved him?

And that was it. I loved this man. That’s why I married him that first night. That’s why I was going to marry him again.

“Savannah, do you have a vow prepared?” the priest asked. My skin tingled as I stared into Graham’s eyes. Without a word, my knees buckled beneath me and I fell at his feet. My head smacked hard on the cool marble floor, and I could hear Graham shouting for a doctor as the world went black.

CHAPTER 9

_ _ _

“Where am I?” I whispered into the darkened room. My eyes glanced left and right, as I blinked. Blinding light flashed on, forcing me to blink against a vibrant explosion of color all around me. I reached up to shield my face from the world, my arm tugging along an IV that was firmly taped to my arm.

Oh God… I’m in the hospital!

Things were flashing through my mind. The cathedral, the wedding, my vows… Did I pass out?

“Nurse, she’s awake,” a voice said softly, the sounds of his feet shuffling about the bed echoing in the space. I blinked again, watching as the doctor came round in front of me. A wall of flowers stood behind him, every color and shape and size imaginable filling the room with an incredible bouquet of sensation.

“Ma’am, I’m going to ask you to try and look at me. You’ve had a bit of a fall. Can you tell me what day it is?”

“Monday,” I replied, shaking my head lightly. A dull throbbing pain coursed through it.

“Good, excellent.”

“What happened to me?” I asked, trying to get a handle on things.

“Your blood was critically low on iron. We believe it may have made you light headed. We’ve given you an IV and are treating you for anemia. I believe you suffered a concussion from the fall, and you required a few stitches. I’m very happy to see you awake and doing well…”

My hand swept up to my head, feeling along the side. A portion of my scalp had been shaven away, and I could feel numbness tingling across the area.

“Graham…” I said, glancing around again at the sea of flowers.

Before the doctor could respond, the door burst open and the nurse had returned with Graham in tow. He ran toward me, his hand softly cradling the side of my face as he looked me in the eyes. He quickly glanced back to the doctor, as if to ask him a question that never escaped his lips.

“She seems to be fine Mr. Archer. We’ll keep her here for observation over the next twenty four hours, then she’ll be free to leave at any time. You’re both lucky we caught this anemia in time, but don’t worry, she is fine, and so is the baby.”

Graham turned back to me as I digested the doctor’s words. The machine I was strapped into started beeping as my heart raced, my whole body shaking in place.

She is fine, and so is the baby…

Oh my God…

“Savannah, why didn’t you tell me?” Graham asked, his hand releasing my face and traveling down until it was resting on the ugly gown that was covering my tummy.

“I… I…. Oh God… I didn’t know!” I said.

“Savannah, breathe deep and relax,” the doctor said from behind Graham, watching my heart rate climb. I took a deep breath, willing myself to calm down even as my thoughts soared higher than the clouds. We were going to have a baby!

The wedding!

“Graham, I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my eyes pouring tears down my face. “I ruined everything. I tried to make it to the airport. When you left without me, I couldn’t bear to try and reach out. I knew you would never talk to me again…”