Return of the Runaway Bride

Copyright © 2011, Donna J.
Fasano

All Rights Reserved

This book may not be reproduced in any form,

in
whole or in part (beyond that copying permitted

 
by
U.S. Copyright Law, Section 107, " fair use" in

 
teaching
or research, Section 108, certain

library
copying, or in published media by

reviewers
in limited excerpt),

without
written permission from the author.

Cover design,
Rayna
Januska

Prologue

"I need to slip down to the kitchen to check with the caterer. I'll be right back to pin on your veil. I won't be two minutes, promise." The woman hesitated at the door and gazed warmly at her daughter. Sudden emotion glistened in her eyes. "Oh, honey, you're going to make a beautiful bride."

Savanna Langford watched the door of her bedroom close as her mother bustled out and then she took a deep, calming breath. Sitting down on the very edge of her bed so as not to crease the delicate double galloon lace covering her wedding gown, Savanna looked around the room that had sheltered both her and her dreams for all nineteen years of her life.

The pale-green spread covering the bed was sumptuous and soft. The matching curtains ruffling in the gentle breeze allowed the perfect amount of sunlight to shine through the open window. White bookshelves held all the classic novels that should be read by a proper young woman. Everything surrounding her was neat, tidy,
pristine
. This was a perfect room, in a perfect house, where she'd spent her perfect youth growing up in a perfect world.

And now the next phase of her life was soon to unfold before her. She was about to take part in the perfect wedding and marry the perfect man.

That Daniel Walsh III was the perfect man was no secret. Everyone said so. Danny
was loving
, caring, kind and gentle. Not only that, but
Miz
Ida, owner of Watson's
Kwik
-E Mart, adamantly declared that he was the most handsome man in the county. And Savanna's father had boasted on more than one occasion that Danny would be an excellent provider once he finished his final year of law school and passed the bar. Yes, everyone agreed that Danny Walsh was the best catch in town.

Savanna tipped her chin high and stared at the ceiling. "So what's wrong with me?" she murmured. She knew Danny was perfect, that was one reason why she loved him with all her heart and soul. She'd never met another man like him.

Why, then, when she was about to embark on a lifelong journey with the man of her dreams, was she plagued with such doubt? Why, on what should be the happiest day of her life, did she feel as if she were being followed by an ominous thunder cloud?

There was no denying the dark cloud. It had been hanging over her head now for two full weeks.

She stood and paced the length of the room, twisting the fingers of both hands together this way and that.

"
It's
nerves
," she said in a firm, loud voice. "It's only nerves. Put it out of your head."

Pressing a fist against her solar plexus, Savanna forced the tension from her trembling stomach and the distressing questions from her mind.

"Here I am." Savanna's mother rushed into the room, stopped and flattened her palm against her chest.
"Oh, my.
I need to slow down and take a breath."

A tender smile pulled at Savanna's mouth at the sight of her mother. "I know how hard you're working to make this a wonderful day for me, Mom," she said.

It was so like her mother to overwork herself. Each and every birthday was made special, each holiday an elaborate affair, because Mrs. Langford fussed to make everything perfect for her husband and only child.

Savanna's mother dismissed the compliment with a wave. "It's what being a mother is all about, honey. Now come. Sit." She patted the cushioned chair facing the mirrored vanity and fluffed the skirt of Savanna's gown after her daughter sat down.

"You should see Danny." The woman's blue eyes twinkled. "He looks so handsome in his tux. That black suit brings out the best of his dark good looks." Smoothing her hand along one side of Savanna's blond, upswept hair, she commented, "It's a shame your friends couldn't be here for the wedding."

"Maggie and Sharon left for school two weeks ago," Savanna said, a flash of sadness rushing through her at the thought of her friends who were now on the other side of the country. "And Josie was lucky to get an internship at that pharmaceutical company. With everyone just getting settled, it was too much to ask them to fly home again."

Mrs. Langford cocked a wicked eyebrow at her daughter's reflection. "Well, if they could see Danny today, they'd simply swoon."

Savanna laughed. "Swoon? Mom, no one 'swoons' anymore."

"Oh, yes, they do."
Her lips quirked in a perky smile.
"They just call it something else."

Savanna thought her mother was probably right; if her friends had been sitting downstairs, they most likely would have been swooning at the sight of Danny in a tux. But then the sight of Danny, no matter what his attire, had driven her high school friends crazy ever since he'd first shown an interest in Savanna. Maggie would consistently turn three shades of red, and Sharon would giggle herself silly. Josie, on the other hand, had always been pea green with envy because Savanna was involved with a "college man."

And now those same friends she'd graduated with were off seeking their destinies at colleges and corporations across the country. A small frown creased her brow as the black cloud of doubt billowed and thickened and hovered closer than ever.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Danny's parents arrived while I was downstairs." Savanna's mother gently shook out the folds of the gossamer veil. "They're with your father. I've never seen Daniel and Susan happier. And your father's floating around down there with a smile on his face that's a mile wide."

As she watched the reflection of her mother arranging the white, lacy panels of French silk tulle over her head, Savanna struggled to breathe. She supposed this match between herself and Danny had been a given from the very beginning…to her friends, her parents, Danny's family, even to Danny himself. And that had never bothered her before. So why did she find the thought so claustrophobic now?

Mrs. Langford positioned the stiff, satin-covered band on her daughter's head and began to pin it securely in place.

"You're going to make a wonderful wife," she said. "And your father and I can't wait to be grandparents."

But Savanna wasn't listening; she was concentrating on sorting out the feelings churning inside her.

Danny's attentions had always flattered her, had always made her feel special. His touch excited her, his kisses made her tremble. Being with him, she felt protected and secure. Danny would keep her safe, just as safe as she'd always been here at home, living with her parents.

As if she were a mind reader, Mrs. Langford said, "After today you'll have no worries." Her mother chattered on, not noticing Savanna's silence. "As the wife of a lawyer, your future will be set. I can't find the words to express just how happy I am. This is what your dad and I always planned for you."

As the words echoed in her head, Savanna's mind reeled. Her eyes widened a fraction as a realization struck her with force—everything had been planned for her. Every single aspect of her life had been mapped out by those who loved her. She'd always been sheltered, kept perfectly safe from the outside world. Never had she been touched by unpleasantness of any kind, never had she faced a problem alone.

Savanna struggled to remember one time in all her nineteen years when she had encountered and tackled an obstacle on her own, one time when she had overcome a challenge single-handed. The fact that she couldn't recall even one instance was mind-boggling.

"Mother…" Savanna's voice was raspy with dry emotion. "I can't do this."

Mrs. Langford continued to fuss with the headpiece. "Can't do what, honey?" she asked blithely.

"I can't marry Danny."

"Of course you can." For several seconds, Mrs. Langford kept pinning the delicate veiling material, but Savanna's prolonged silence made her glance up. After studying her daughter's expression, she must have read the panic there, for her tone changed dramatically as she straightened and asked, "What do you mean you can't marry Danny?"

Savanna squeezed her eyes shut. "I don't know what I mean. It's hard to put in to words. I'm feeling something, and I'm not sure what it is." Her eyes were pleading for understanding when she looked up. "Something just isn't right."

"Don't be silly," her mother reproved. "You love Danny."

Twisting around to face her mother, Savanna said, "Of course I love him. He's wonderful."

"He is," her mother agreed, her voice suddenly tight. "And he'll take care of you. It's what your father and I want for you. It's what everyone wants for you, Savanna."

But was that what she wanted for herself?
For someone to care for her for the rest of her days?
The questions whirled inside her head, and Savanna was surprised by the tears that prickled her eyelids.

By marrying Danny was she merely fulfilling everyone else's expectations of what was best for her? If she did marry him, how would she ever know what she, Savanna Langford, was capable of achieving? How would she know what challenges might be awaiting her out in the world?

Who am I?
she
wondered. What do I want for myself? The questions rocked her to her very foundation. She had never asked that of herself before.

She might not know the answers to any of the questions that were rearing up in her mind, but she did know that she couldn't possibly commit herself to Danny until she had the chance to at least ponder them.