"Of course, I can, dear. I would never expect or want you to make an instant decision. I know it's a big step and a big change. You take your time and look at all the angles."
Savannah breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. You know I love you to the moon."
GG smiled quietly. "I know, and I love you too. But, Savannah, I can't help but feel that there is something standing between you and Boone that you haven't ever talked about. It seems like it has to be more than just giving up your jet set life. You get really upset at the idea of staying here. If there's something I can help you with, just say the word. I'll do everything I can to put it to rest. Please, just tell me."
She saw the curtain fall over Savannah's face. "There's nothing I need to talk about."
"All right, dear, but remember, that offer is always open. I'm a pretty good listener, even if I do say so myself."
"Okay, Gran, I'll remember."
Chapter 17
Savannah tossed and turned for what seemed like all night. In the morning, she opened her laptop to find three more emails beseeching her to accept the fundraising project in France. Her friend, Daisy Montague, was the lucky hostess this year, and the charity she had chosen was helping the victims of the earthquakes in Indonesia. She had included a series of heart wrenching photos of starving children and demolished huts.
But Savannah gave a cynical smile as she read Daisy's bubbling suggestions for the best way to pull off the most spectacular event yet. She wondered for a moment what Daisy's reaction would be if she presented a plan to actually recruit all the busy socialites to travel to Indonesia and work for those poor people. She rolled her eyes at Daisy's conviction that a jaw dropping fashion show would be the ideal way to raise lots of money for her cause. She would pull out her own hair before she would organize a fashion show for the beautiful but scatterbrained blonde.
Savannah sighed and thought of the little fundraiser the residents of Boone held every spring to raise money for the local schools. The whole community pitched in, and the school kids were involved and worked hard to make their little event a success. Then there was the family whose house had burned a couple of months ago. Their insurance wasn't enough to rebuild their house and so, once again, the residents of the town had all pitched in to help, and now that little family had a home again.
Savannah fired off an email asking Daisy to have the proposal put together and let her know when it was ready. And she told her firmly that fashion shows were passé and she risked being considered yesterday's news if that was the best she could do. She knew Daisy meant well, but her passion was much more about the attention and credit she would receive for her event rather than the good she would do with the money she raised.
Daisy answered her almost immediately, assuring her that she would provide whatever Savannah needed and, of course, Savannah knew best about the fashion show. She begged Savannah to come to France and meet her spokesperson from Indonesia and look over the possible sites for the event. Savannah was less than enthusiastic about the prospect of traveling to France just to consider the event, but she knew it would be the fairest way to decide if she would take the project on or not. She closed the laptop and went down for coffee.
GG was just pouring a cup when Savannah walked in, and she pulled out a second cup for her granddaughter.
"Thanks, Gran. Good morning, how are you?"
"Wonderful, how are you this morning?"
"I'm all right." Savannah stirred her coffee absently and then said, "Gran, I got some emails this morning from Daisy Montague. She's the sponsor of the fundraiser they want me to run. She's asked me to come and meet some people and look over the possible event sites. She'll have the proposal all ready for me to look at. I think I owe it to her to do that much in fair consideration of the event. If I take the next flight out, I could look it over and be back here in a few days. What do you think?"
GG's heart sank, but she said, "That sounds logical."
"I'll take your proposal with me and look it over more closely too, although I know it's a good offer and more than fair to me."
"All right, dear; I believe you'll make the right decision in the end. How soon do you think you'll leave?"
"Well, I guess the sooner the better, so I'll make the arrangements this morning. I'll just pack the basics. If I need something, I can always get it there."
"All right. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Savannah smiled. "No, Gran, traveling is one thing I have down pat."
"Well, I'm going to go on to the shop. I've got some new pieces to put on display this morning."
"I'll come over there after I get all my arrangements made and help you."
"Okay, then I'll see you later."
In little more than an hour, Savannah had all her travel plans made. She got dressed and drove herself to the shop. Maggie waved from the porch and Cody Grant called out a good morning as he whizzed by on his bike, heading to Vance's, the little grocery store where he worked part time. The ladies were just riding off on their horses, and they all called out and waved. Savannah was smiling when she walked into the pretty little shop.
"That was fast," GG said with a smile. "I didn't expect you until later in the day."
"Oh, travel arrangements are easy. I was just remembering the look on Joey's face the first time he saw the ladies riding their horses right in town."
GG chuckled. "I suppose it did take him by surprise."
"It did. He said he felt like he had travelled back in time. What do you need to display today?"
"I've got these new glass pieces and another set of little bowls to replace the ones you sold the other day. And there's one new painting, too. So tell me about your travel arrangements."
"My flight out is the day after tomorrow. I'll just leave my truck in long-term parking and a car will meet me at the airport in France. My hotel reservations are confirmed and I have a meeting set up for the day after I arrive in France."
"So does it feel good to be going back?"
"Sure, it's always exciting to be going someplace. Daisy Montague is beside herself with excitement. She's always wanted the chance to be the most important hostess of the season. Of course, if she pulls it off, she'll be insufferable until next year."
GG laughed. "And it's all in your hands."
Savannah made a face. "There are other people who do what I do. Plenty of other events get planned just fine without me to run them."
"But you're the best."
"Apparently, that's what they all think. Of course, it could just be the fact that I only do one per year most of the time. Everybody wants what they can't have."
"Don't sell yourself short. I've seen you in action here; you're very good at business."
"Well. Let's find a great spot to hang that painting."
At two, GG said, "Why don't you take off for the day? You probably have a lot to do, getting ready to leave."
"I do have some things to do. I'm going to go next door and see Maggie for a minute, then I've got to take a check out to Ben."