Eeper of the Stars

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and it was created solely by me as the author. Any similarities to characters, businesses, places, or things are all happenstance, though my appreciation to those who have

inspired

my works is immense.

Author's Note:

This is the second part of many to come in a series I believe many of you will (or already have!) come to love. It's a slow buildup into the hot and heavy scenes, but my stories are STORIES, so many details make for fun, exciting, and interesting plot lines. Please remain calm in awaiting the next installment, but I assure you, it'll be worth it. Questions and comments are welcome. Please take the time to rate this story also. I hope everyone will be kind.

Keeper of the Stars - part 2

Four Months Later

"What's the matter, Luke?" Savannah asked him softly as he sat on the porch next to her. "You seem frustrated."

"It's nothing," he told her, definitely not meaning to sound as mean as he'd said it, but he was too upset to correct it.

Savannah lifted her hand and placed it on the back of his head. "You can tell me if you're upset. I'm here to listen too, you know. When I get worked up about my stuff, you always listen. Let me be your person."

Luke got up and turned to her abruptly. "I said it was nothing. I'm tired, Savannah. I'm going to bed. Good night." As quickly as he'd gotten up, he walked into the house and slammed the front door. Savannah was speechless. She got up slowly and walked over to her place. She really wanted to help him, to just listen for him.

She wanted to go ask Lori what she thought it might be, but then again, this was a touchy subject. Was it work? Was it the farm business? Was it something he was upset about like Ana had talked about in their marriage lessons? She and Luke had only kissed so far, and while they wanted to do more, they also wanted to wait until marriage. Three weeks. Father Jerry had given them his blessing to pick a date shortly after they'd met with him. They had discussed it and decided it made more sense for Savannah to move into his/their house before the cold set in. Season would be finished, and Luke could take two weeks off to spend with his bride.

Savannah shrugged as she got ready for bed. Maybe he was just cranky about all the work they were doing and still had to do. She knew she got like that sometimes when the deadline for card orders was pressing down on her. Maybe she wasn't lashing out at other people like he had just done, but it was what it was, she guessed.

The next morning, she went to Ana's for their planned weekly meeting, and Savannah shared with her the outburst from the night before.

"Wow," Ana breathed. "The only time Andy treated me like that was when his stress level hit higher than he could handle. Gosh, I wonder what's bugging him. Andy hasn't said anything, and it's not like you can just walk up to Lori or Mike and ask nonchalantly what's going on with him. Gosh, Vanna, I don't know."

"So, you think it's bad?" Savannah asked her and widened her eyes.

"Well, tonight is the farm meeting, right?" Ana asked and nodded. "You'll probably figure it out from that. Watch his mannerisms when he talks about money. Money is one is the biggest stressors for this farm. For any business, really. Since Andy is out of town, I could attend in his place, and I could sit by you to see if I notice anything too. Would you want me to go?"

"Would you?" Savannah asked her and nodded repeatedly. "Oh, I'd feel much better if you did."

"Sure. Besides, it'll keep me out of the kitchen. I seem to just want to eat when I'm here." She held up the grape she was about to pop into her mouth as proof. "See! I'm not even hungry! But that's why I have so much fruit here in the house."

"Smart," Savannah told her and laughed. "So, would that count as today's lesson, or do you have more to share?"

"Do I?" Ana teased. "I already had something in mind, so let's cover that topic while you're here. It's appropriate, actually. Today, I thought we'd talk about make-up sex."

After her nice visit with Ana, and as Savannah walked over to the main house, she thought about what Ana had shared with her. Would they ever have to have makeup sex? Sure, a spat here or there, but a full-on fight? No way. She and Luke were great together. Last night was a fluke. She was sure of it.

"Good morning!" Savannah called into the main house as she walked in to find Lori.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Lori greeted her and kissed her cheek. "What's on your schedule today?"

"I'm actually finished with the orders for this week, so I came to see if I could have Tabi over to help me organize a few things and then make some cards together. Is she able to do that?"

"Yes!" Tabi yelled from the dining room where she'd been working on her homework. She and Nicholas were homeschooled due to some minor learning issues which the school couldn't seem to help with that year. Savannah knew that, and also knew that Tabi was ahead with most of her classes. "Mama, please can I go with Vanna? Please?"

"Of course, as long as your chores are done," Lori told her. Savannah knew Tabi's chores had already been done because Savannah made her promise to keep up on them so that one day, she'd come and collect her to make cards. They'd just talked about it again two nights prior. Savannah tended to hint at it so that Tabi would be ready.

"Thanks, Mama! See you later!" Tabi screamed louder than necessary. She was so excited. She grabbed Savannah by the arm. "Come on, Vanna! Come on!"

"Alright, alright," Savannah told her and laughed. "We're going. Remember, we have some work to do first."

"I know!" Tabi told her excitedly. "I love that part too! I learn so much that way!"

Once the work was done, Savannah brought out the sets of card packs she'd prepared for Tabi's next visit.

She loved spending time with Luke's little sister. Savannah had the best of everything there on the farm. She had a fiancé who loved her and not only told her but showed her all the time how much. She had a soon-to-be sister-in-law who enjoyed her visits and had spent the last two months preparing her for married life. She had Luke's parents who had accepted her as Luke's partner immediately and showed her love like no one else had.

While Savannah's parents loved her, they just didn't show it in typical ways. They were quiet and reserved. They were older and tired. Luke's parents were fun, alive, so in love, and loved Savannah fiercely, just as much as their own children. She could speak freely in front of them, and they only loved her more for it.

Luke's oldest sister, other than the time she saved Savannah's life, was very, very busy. When they could connect, the two of them laughed and talked joyfully. Savannah treasured the time she had with ME.

As for Luke's brothers, well, they were brothers. They teased her and laughed with her and occasionally gave her hugs that nearly made her cry. They were boys. She loved them, but she couldn't relate to them like she could with the girls on the farm.

Business had been going very well for Savannah, and she had already made nearly twice what she'd hoped to make within the three months she'd officially been open and online. She always put half back into her business and took the other half as profit. She had already gone into the business with a large sum of money she'd saved since she'd begun making cards. And with the money she had saved for a house that she wouldn't have to use now that Luke already had one, she had a lovely nest egg just waiting to come in handy.

From the beginning of hers and Luke's relationship, she'd felt that she owed them, at least for the she-shed which they'd affectionately given her. She couldn't figure out how to give them the money though. She'd brought it up once with Luke, but he had shut her down so quickly that she realized it probably wasn't needed, so she figured she should keep that money for them to use later.

When she wanted food, she bought it. She kept some at Luke's for their lunchtime hours which they often shared, and she always bought everything for the meal she and Luke were in charge of once a week at the main house.

Their meal for that week was on Thursday. She'd already bought everything, and it was ready to be made. Since Luke seemed really tense as of Monday, the night prior, she figured she would do it herself so he didn't have to be bothered with it.

Savannah and Tabi cleaned up their work areas and headed over to Luke's house to have lunch. Savannah prepared three sandwiches, got out chips, cut up apples, and included a brownie on each plate. Luke still hadn't shown up by the time they were done, so Savannah sent Tabi back to the main house after giving her a big hug and took the plate over to the big barn to find her fiancé.

She knocked on the office door and found him at the main desk. She set the plate down and stood back until he was finished looking at the paper he was reading. When he finally looked up, he noticed the plate and then looked at Savannah. No smile. No reaction much at all. "Thanks," he told her and went back to the paperwork. She was surprised, but he was busy. She guessed this was just the way he was going to be right now. She hoped he would feel more relaxed after the meeting that evening.

She knew she was being naive about things, but she hadn't done anything which had warranted his anger, she had offered to listen if he wanted to talk, and she was making efforts to help him. If he was upset about something, she needed him to tell her. She didn't know what else to do. And if he didn't want her around anymore, well, he'd have to tell her that too.

Dinner was uncomfortably silent. Luke came, grabbed his plate, filled it up, and left before Lori or Mike had made it to the table. Ana joined them as well, and when Savannah made eye contact with her after Luke came and went, Ana sucked in her breath and said, "whoa."

"Right?" Savannah asked quietly and sighed.

"Um, where's Luke?" Lori asked before they began to pray.

"Uh, I guess he's busy with tonight's meeting," Ana spoke up before Savannah could answer. "He grabbed some food and left."

When dinner was done, Savannah stayed to help clean up. "Oh, Savannah," Lori said as she helped her with the dishes, "would you mind taking tomorrow's dinner rather than Thursday?"

"Oh, sure," Savannah answered happily. "I'll just take out the items I need to prepare before I leave."

"Oh, thanks, sweetheart," Lori told her and rubbed her back. "Say, uh, is everything OK? You've been a little quiet tonight."

"Uh, yeah, fine," Savannah lied for the first time to a member of the Heartland family. It broke her heart, but she knew telling Lori wouldn't make things any better with Luke.

The meeting went smoothly, and Savannah watched as they discussed the accident on the farm which had occurred two weeks prior, and while unavoidable, it had been costly. Savannah spoke up about her business when it was her turn to share. Everyone nodded along as she spoke, but no matter how she tried to get Luke's attention, he refused to look at her. She felt gutted.

After the meeting, Ana simply shook her head and then shrugged. "I'm so sorry, honey," Ana whispered. "I got nothing." She gave Savannah a side hug and then walked back to her house.

When Luke walked up to his house, he was deep in thought. He nearly walked right past her until she cleared her throat. He looked over and to Savannah's disbelief, he rolled his eyes.

"Alright. That's it," Savannah responded softly, but firmly. "I think this might be better discussed in the house." She got up and followed him and gently shut the door. "What's going on? Is it me? Is something going on? You literally rolled your eyes when you saw me just now. Luke, if you're having doubts about the wedding or about me, you owe me to let me know so I'm not blindsided at the altar. Or God forbid, you get stuck with me because you never spoke up."

"Good God, Van, it's not about the wedding," he told her with annoyance. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Luke," she said quietly, "you have to do with me. You are so distracted by what's bothering you that you don't even see that you're hurting me. I listened at the meeting, and I know money is a concern, but I have a possible solution."

"NO!" Luke roared and shook his head. "This is my problem. I'll find a way to fix it. That's my job."

"But I have a business on this farm too, and if you would just let me..."

"NO, Savannah. Your cards aren't going to help us. I don't want to hear about it again. That's final."

Savannah looked at him sadly as her heart began to break. She had no words. She turned slowly and opened the door. "I'm sorry you feel that way. Good night." She walked down the sidewalk to her little place and silently sobbed as she stood in her workshop. He wouldn't even listen. He didn't know how much money she had or how her ideas could save him the frustration. He was too proud. She couldn't handle it. She'd tried and failed to get her fiancé to listen to her. She would have to meet with Mike.

The next day, she got up early and took a hot shower. She had a lot of work to do. She had already been brainstorming for a month about possible business opportunities which the farm held, but also had financial information to present as well. When she had all the information formatted and printed out, she walked over to the main house and asked to speak to Mike in his office. "Well, sure, honey," Lori answered her. While her look was leery, her voice never faltered. "Why don't you head into his office, and I'll send him right in."

"Thanks, Lori," Savannah told her and walked into the quiet room. She'd only ever been there twice before. The first time really didn't count either as it was when Luke gave her the tour on her first day there. She smiled sadly as she remembered that day. Their kisses. Their photo shoot with the perfect sunset. The tour of the farm and the secret trip up to see his room. She wished he would pick her up the way he had when she couldn't take stairs.

"Hi, Savannah," Mike said breathlessly and shut the door behind him. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"I'm here on official business, Mike," Savannah told him and set her binder on the desk in front of him. "If you look at page one..." she began and talked as if she was speaking to a board of directors. She tried to leave out her emotions, and when she stopped speaking, she sat back and watched him process all that she had presented.

"First, I want to tell you that I'm most impressed with your presentation," Mike told her after reviewing the pages a little more before responding. "Some business out there is really missing out on the professional and exceptionally talented employee that you could have been for them. Secondly, and I am hesitant to say this, but you know this should have first been presented to Luke." Upon seeing the look on her face, he shook his head and then nodded. "But I'm guessing that you tried that and got shot down before he'd listen." She didn't answer. She didn't have to. The tears in her eyes, those betraying little backstabbers, gave her away.

"You didn't give the numbers you're willing to share with the farm in here" Mike added. "You do know we've been set back $30,000, right?"

"I have sixty," she whispered and shrugged. "See, no one knows how much I have because no one has asked, and when I've talked money with Luke, the amount in my account always gets ignored. He won't ask and won't let me tell him anything either. And last night, no, wait, I can't. No, well, I can. I'm here on official business. Mike, my business is no joke. I came to this farm with $50,000 in the bank. I have saved since I was 16 years old for a house and a start for my business. Assuming I'm still going to be part of this family, I don't need to save any longer for a house.

"And as for my business, I was blessed to be given a place to run and create it for no cost. And can I remind the members of the jury," she added to attempt to bring a smile to Mike's face because it wasn't him at whom she was mad, "that I never asked for that!"

Savannah let out a sigh before continuing. "Mike, I have to say it again. My card business is no joke! I make money, Mike. Since I got released from the surgery and put my business online, I've brought in more in the last three months than I could have hoped for my first whole year. I realized last night that most of the people at that table think my cards are a joke. They listen politely and nod when I say something, but no one cares enough to really hear my ideas for the farm or what I can contribute. 'Go ahead and turn down the offer,' I want to tell the big boss, 'but at least hear what I have to say!'"

Mike gave her a look she couldn't read. She was out of breath and wanted to cry. She wanted to run back to her place, pack up her stuff, and run away. "Hey, it was fun while it lasted. Later!" she'd write in a note. Maybe they'd hear her then.

"Mike, I just wanted you to know what I have to offer. Think on it. I know it really comes down to Luke, but since he won't listen, I want someone to know that I tried." She closed her eyes and then opened them again to look at him. "As a business partner, I'm going to ask you to wait to talk to him about this until after dinner tonight. But as his fiancé, I'm begging you to keep this between you and me for now. I hate, hate sharing even the little I've confessed about what is going on with Luke and me, but I had to do something. Thank you for meeting with me. I'll see myself out."

She spent the afternoon preparing a few sets of cards which were on her mind, but she pushed them away when she just couldn't focus. She finally decided to go to the main house again, this time to make dinner. She hadn't told Luke that they were on for dinner that night instead, so when Luke walked in and found Savannah setting the meal out onto the table, he gave her a confused look. She ignored him. She also hadn't set a place for herself. She had no intention of staying.

"Enjoy dinner, everyone," Savannah told them and then looked at Max and the littles. "Would you guys cover dishes and clean-up for me?" They were too shocked to answer. They all nodded and then turned to look at Lori.

"Oh, sweetheart, everything looks wonderful," Lori replied encouragingly. "Are you sure you won't stay?"

"Thanks, Lori, but I can't be here right now," Savannah told her and then looked at Mike. "I'll see you guys later."

Savannah left them and headed for the door. She was sad to hear a little voice ask as she stepped outside, "Why doesn't Vanna want to be with us?" Poor Nicholas. She could hear his tears forming throughout his sentence. That was the final straw for her.

The tears she'd been hiding, pushing away, and forcing back in front of the family came streaming down her face like a pair of waterfalls. She sobbed. She cried like she hadn't in years. A part of her was broken. She walked into her workshop and up the stairs slowly. She lay on the bed and hugged a pillow as she became drained of tears upon tears.

It was after dark when Savannah woke up. Her face hurt. She felt dehydrated. She had never felt the way she did that week. She desperately wanted to see and be held by Luke, and at the same time, she wanted nothing more than to avoid him entirely too. She got up and took a hot shower. The awful feelings trapped within her body needed to be washed away. She brushed her hair, put it up in a ponytail, and then brushed her teeth. She began tearing up again which made the usual two-minute process more of a five-minute ordeal. She finally calmed down enough to drink a tall glass of water before heading down to the first floor.

Because she hadn't eaten, she felt famished. She walked over to the main house and used her key to let herself in. She walked to the kitchen quietly and found the leftover container with the dinner she'd made. As she heated up the food in the microwave, she sat at the island and put her head in her hands. She closed her eyes and willed away the fresh tears which threatened to surface once again. As soon as she saw ME standing in the doorway, they let loose.