It would have been easier to move on if Valentine Juric and the war in Drevniye hadn't been all over the news. The war had escalated, and it was the only thing people were talking about. Every television at the hospital had a news station on which was continually reporting on it. Chloe couldn't escape it or Valentine's name. The worst was when she saw the capital on fire and fighting in the streets.

Chloe sensed it was the push for the end, but it felt as if it would never end.

No one at the hospital but Silas, Faye, and Lia knew her father was in Drevniye, and that his safety and the safety of Valentine were always on her mind. Even when she went home at night, she had to fight turning on the television to watch the same news over and over again.

By the end of November, she was exhausted, by December, she had lost weight, and the shadows under her eyes had taken up permanent residence. Lia and Faye did their best to take her mind off of things with dinners and outings on their days off, but it was all futile.

It was late January, and Faye had made dinner at her house for the five of them. She was an excellent cook and had made them a pot roast with potatoes and carrots and fresh rolls. Chloe did her best to do the dinner justice, but once again, her appetite failed her.

"How are your brother and sister doing?" Chole asked when she noticed they were all shooting her concerned looks as they moved into the living room.

Faye frowned. "Hayes has run out of money and is insisting that he move back here."

"I hope you told him to get a job," Lia snorted into her glass of wine.

"I suggested it, but he is adamant that there is more money that I'm keeping from him." Faye shook her head sadly as she thought of her brother. "Either way, this isn't his house anymore, he chose to sell it."

Chloe was pleased that Faye was standing firm. She had taken care of her brother and sister after her parents had passed, and they had been thankless kids who took advantage of her every chance they got. Then, when they were old enough, they made the decision to sell the house. Faye had tried to tell them not to, that it would be their safety net, but they had wanted the money. Thankfully, Faye had married a caring and rich man who knew how much the house meant to her, so he had bought it for her. The only problem was Hayes was now insisting it was still his house too.

"But Alyssa is doing well. She has a job teaching, and she has invested her money wisely." Faye said with a pleased smile.

"One out of two ain't bad," Lea said as she raised her glass.

"Maybe one day, Hayes will get his act together," Chloe said to soften Lia's words.

"It's time," Ben softly said to Faye, who looked at the clock, then moved over to the television and turned it on.

"What's going on?" Chloe asked, looking at all of the serious faces in the room.

"Now, don't be mad at us, but we thought you shouldn't watch this alone," Faye said as she sat on the sofa next to Chloe and took her hand.

Chloe felt her heart rate triple, and her hand started to shake. Sitting her wine glass down, she turned to Silas, knowing he was the only one that would give her a direct answer.

"Valentine is now in PR mode. He wanted to do an interview and asked me if I knew anyone. I suggested Ben, who suggested Rainer Stevens. The interview is airing tonight." Silas responded to her earlier question.

"Don't be mad, we knew there was a chance you hadn't heard about it, and we didn't want you to hear about it later and be mad you missed it or decide to watch it on your own," Faye said, squeezing her hand as he words came out in a jumbled mess.

"It was well-intentioned," Ben added, taking a sip of his wine.

Chloe's eyes stayed glued to Silas. They had been through enough together for her to know he wasn't telling her everything. "What aren't you telling me, Silas?" Chloe's voice was low and wobbly.

"The interview is live and happening in New York. Valentine arrives in Savannah tomorrow. He's coming to discuss a book with Ben's publishers." Silas was watching Chloe with a serious expression. "He'll be staying here, with us."

"He will?" Faye squeaked.

"Sorry, liefje. I knew you and Lia would be hopeless at keeping that from Chloe." Silas looked at Faye with a smile, asking for her forgiveness.

"Why does it need to be kept from me? I mean, you're telling me now. What difference would it have made if I knew two weeks ago?" Chloe asked, confused.

"Valentine was unsure if he would make the trip, and he asked me to keep it to myself."

"Why?" Chloe asked again.

"I didn't ask, but I don't think it's fair for him to keep it from you, so I'm telling you now that I'm sure he is coming," Silas said, his sense of fair play winning over the need honor his friend's request.

"Why is he coming here to meet Ben's publishers? Aren't they in New York already?" Chloe questioned, looking at Ben.

"They are, but many publishers are itching to get their hands on Valentine Juric's story, so he can set a meeting anywhere he wants, and he chose here." Ben shrugged at a loss for an answer. Then he picked up the remote and unmuted the television just in time to hear Rainer Stevens introduce Valentine to the viewing audience.

Chloe's eyes were riveted to the screen; all of their eyes were. Valentine had something that drew you to him. He looked sexy and dangerous even though he was wearing a hand-tailored suit. His hair had more silver in it if that was possible, and his beard only added to his air of mystery.

Chloe listened as Rainer talked about Valentine being a modern George Washington, a general fighting to free his country from oppression. Juric seemed amused by the comparison even though he didn't smile.

"Will you do as Washington did and run in the first Presidential election?" Rainer Stevens asked.

"No, I have no wish to run a country. Many men have fought alongside me who would do a much better job than I." Juric sounded humble, but Chloe knew he just wanted out.

Rainer went on to discuss the past twelve years and all that had happened, asking some probing questions, all of which Juric answered with no trouble.

"Are you not surprised that your recently deceased finance, Lada Lenkov, turned out to be your number one enemy and in charge of a massive group of rebels?"

Chloe felt relief fill her at the knowledge that Lada was dead. 

"No, but after twelve years of war, there are very few things that manage to surprise me." Valentine's accent was thick.

"But some things do?" Rainer asked.

"Yes, some things and some people, but not Lada Lenkov." Juric's gaze was dark as he said the words. He was done with the subject.

Rainer Stevens picked up on it and moved on to talk about his future plans. Juric was vague about them, in fact, he had been vague throughout the entire interview. It must be driving Rainer Stevens mad. The only thing he hadn't been vague about was the fact that he wasn't running for president. 

The interview ended, and Ben turned off the television. The silence in the room was tense as everyone waited for someone to break the ice.

"Damn, he's sexy as hell, Chloe," Lia said abruptly.

Ben pursed his lips in displeasure, and Faye bit hers to keep from laughing.

"He's all dark and mysterious, and knowing he has led men into battle, and he is a surgeon..." she sipped her wine and nodded.

"Lia, I'm right here," Ben reminded her.

Lia nodded. "Was he always that hot?" she whispered in an attempt to save Ben's feelings. Ben only rolled his eyes in response.

"I am a sucker for the accent," Faye joined Lia in her praise.

"He used to be much different." Chloe turned to look at Silas, who met her eyes, but whether he agreed or not, her kept it to himself.

"How was he different?" Faye asked.

Chloe smiled as she remembered the old Valentine. "He was a healer, not a warrior."

"Perhaps he can be a doctor again," Faye said.

"Not likely," Silas shook his head. "He would be too much of a liability ever to practice medicine again."

"Do you think so," Faye asked with a frown.

"Yes, I wouldn't want him on my team. Not because he lacks the skill, he was a very talented surgeon, but because one minor mistake would end in a lawsuit. People would want his money or their ten minutes of fame."

The fact of what Silas said made Chloe sad. If Valentine was giving up his country for someone else to run, and he could never practice medicine again, what could he do? Chloe didn't realize she had asked the question aloud as they all turned to stare at her.

"He could write a book," Ben supplied.

"He could teach," Silas added.

"He could marry you and make babies," Lia said with a grin.

"That's goodnight for us," Ben said as he removed the wine glass from Lia's hand. "Forgive her, Chloe. She's a little drunk."

"Really, I couldn't tell," Chloe smiled at her friend, who looked very put out by Ben's announcement that they were leaving.

"I'll go clean up the dishes," Faye said, standing.

"I'll help," Chloe offered. She needed to keep her hands busy, and she didn't want to go home and be alone with her thoughts yet.

Ben and Lia left, while Chloe and Faye moved to the dining room to clear the table.

"Do you want to talk about it, Chloe," Faye asked.

"No," Chloe turned to include Silas in what she was about to say next. "If Valentine didn't want me to know he was coming, I would prefer that he not know that I know he is coming."

"Are you sure? You traveled halfway around the world to see him only a few months ago. It seems a little odd that now you don't want to see him," Silas commented, pointing out her illogical reasoning.

"I'm sure." Chloe nodded.

For reasons unknown to everyone, Valentine didn't want her to know he was coming to town, and she would respect that. She hadn't respected his wishes to stay away before and it had ended badly. She wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

She had told Valentine that she would wait for him, that he needed to find her, and that's what she was going to let him do. He would need to come to her this time. It was the only way it would ever work.