I make my way to the rock that Casey wants off his property, walking with my head down. My head is bringing me back to when I used to walk with her by my side. Her hand was always in mine, even if it was just her pinky. The sounds of the stream fill the silence of the day with some birds chirping. I’m not expecting anyone to be here, least of all her. And she’s all alone after we just had the conversation that someone is after her.

The minute I ask her a question, I see her sass come out, and I almost want to smile. I want to ask her to sit on the rock with me. I want to know what she has been up to. I want to know if she found someone to love her.

“You should be at home with your wife and child and not worry about where I am.” The minute she says that, I want to take a step back. I want to tell her that I don’t have a wife, that I would never take a wife who wasn’t her. How does she not know that I’m not married? How did no one tell her that I never was with Savannah especially after she left?

I walk away from her, wanting to take her in my arms and see if her kisses are the same. To see if she melts in my arms the same way, to see if the kiss is just as good as I remember. Is it as good as in my dreams? I get in my truck and call Casey. I expect him to send me to voice mail, but he answers right away.

“What part of she might be in danger does she not understand?” I say, not even bothering to say hello.

“What the heck are you talking about?” he asks.

“I just found Kallie by herself at the creek,” I say. “I could have been anyone.”

“I’ll take care of it,” he says. “It won’t happen again.”

“Tomorrow morning at ten a.m., my office. It’s time to get a game plan going to make sure no one gets injured in the crossfire.”

“This doesn’t change anything,” Casey says, and he hangs up. I toss my phone to the side and make my way to my mother’s house.

“There he is,” my mother says. I watch as Ethan gets up and runs to me.

“Dad,” he says, jumping into my arms, “you took forever.”

“Sorry, kiddo,” I say, leaning and kissing his neck. I’m about to ask him about his day when the front door opens, and Savannah walks in wearing white jeans and a tank top. Her black hair is curled like normal.

“There they are,” she says with a smile and comes over to us. “How was your day?” she asks Ethan, leaning and kissing his neck.