Christmas Haven (13 page)

“Honey?” her mother asked. “Everything okay?”

Julie glanced at Morgan for guidance.

“We’re not sure yet. Go ahead and eat. I need to make a few
calls.” Morgan slipped into the living room and pulled out his cell. He didn’t want to alarm Sketch about the stranger staying at his grandmother’s inn until Morgan knew what he was dealing with.

He called Caroline and she answered on the first ring.

“Port Whisper Inn.”

“Caroline, it’s Morgan Wright.”

“Hi, Chief. What’s wrong? Does Edith need something for the pie?”

“No, ma’am. I’m calling to find out if any strangers registered for a room today.”

“No, we haven’t had any new guests since Tuesday. Why?”

“Please give me a call if a male, fifties, wearing work boots and a cargo jacket, shows up to rent a room, okay?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks.”

He called the Blue Goose, but again, no one fitting the stranger’s description had checked in. Morgan wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or more concerned.

At least Anna had given it a good try. She was a smart girl, probably had guessed that Julie was in danger and figured if she gave the stranger hotel recommendations it would help Morgan locate him.

He called Anna to thank her. “Morgan, hi,” she answered. “Is this about the guy who was asking about Julie?”

“Yes, I wanted to thank you for calling Scott and directing the man to the two properties.”

“Did he check in?”

“Not yet, but I appreciate your effort.”

“Anything for you, Morgan.”

Morgan closed his eyes, not sure how to respond.

“Awkward…” Anna said. “Sorry, didn’t mean to come on so strong.”

“I should be the one apologizing.”

“Why, because you’ve been dating me but you’re in love with another woman?”

“Anna, I—”

“It’s okay. I totally understand. If Dean were to walk back into my life after ten years, I’d drop you like a hot tamale. No offense.”

“None taken.”

“Just—” She hesitated. “Can we still grab dinner once in a while? You’re a good listener.”

“Dinner sounds great.”

“Cool. You take care of yourself, and Julie.”

“You’re too good to me.”

“Remember that the next time you pull me over for speeding.”

“Will do.”

“’Bye.”

Ending the call, he turned to find Julie standing right behind him. He could tell by the look on her face that she’d overheard his sincere thanks, and had probably misinterpreted it. Couldn’t think about that now. He had to track down the stranger.

“He hasn’t checked in to either the Blue Goose or the Port Whisper Inn,” he said.

“He could be anywhere.”

“We’ll find him before he finds you.”

She frantically paced the living room, wringing her hands. “I’m putting family and friends in danger.” She stopped and stared him down. “I never should have come back.”

She brushed past him and headed for the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

“To pack.”

He grabbed her hand and she froze on the steps. “You know I can’t let you go.”

She snapped her head around and pinned him with teary golden eyes. “You have to. Just like before.”

“This is not about—”

She leaned forward and kissed him.

Julie was losing her mind. Completely.

Heightened emotions ruled over all common sense and she
acted on her most basic need: to connect with Morgan again. His warm lips melted the ball of fear in her chest. Then guilt smacked her upside the head.

She broke the kiss and glanced at the wooden floor. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Instead of scolding her, he took both her hands. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I understand.”

She glanced at him, waiting for him to expand on his comment. Instead, he shot her a humble half smile. “Let’s go back inside.”

“But the stranger—”

“Isn’t going to find you here. My deputy chief will call if anything breaks. Just—” he brushed her cheek with his thumb “—take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.”

“You mean…?”
The kiss?

“Dinner with your family,” he said.

He led her into the kitchen where Mom, Lana, Ashley and Sketch carried on a heated discussion.

“Everything okay?” her mother asked, glancing at Julie and Morgan.

“Fine, thank you. How’s the chicken?” Morgan asked Sketch.

“Awesome.”

Morgan let go of Julie’s hand. She immediately missed its warmth.

“What’s the topic of discussion?” Julie asked.

“Horizon Farms. It’s a new community project they’re opening outside of town,” Lana said. “It’s a place for troubled kids to straighten out their lives.”

“The trouble is their parents,” Sketch muttered.

“Why do you say that?” Mom pressed.

Julie eyed her chicken, wanting to enjoy the taste of Morgan’s lips a minute longer.

“If kids are screwed up, it’s because of their wacky parents.”

“You mean kids don’t have any responsibility for their actions? Even at seventeen and eighteen?” Morgan challenged.

“I’m saying, if the parents were normal the kids wouldn’t have—” he made quotation marks with his fingers “—issues.”

“I don’t get that,” Morgan said, cutting his chicken. “Teenagers want to be treated like adults, yet when things go wrong they blame their parents.”

“You wouldn’t understand. You had the perfect father,” Lana said.

Julie kicked her sister under the table.

“What?” Lana protested.

“No one’s perfect,” Morgan said. “It’s what you do with the situation you’ve been given that counts. Sketch decided to drop out of school and hack into computers.”

“I haven’t broken the law,” Sketch defended. “Besides, school is dumb.”

Morgan pinned him with a hard expression. “You know what I think? I think you’re a smart kid. You didn’t fit in, so you acted out.”

“Smart? I’m the high-school dropout, remember?”

“From what I’ve heard, you can do things with computers that would amaze engineers at Microsoft. So stop pretending you don’t have the brains. It’s insulting to those of us who struggled in school due to learning disabilities.”

“You mean…you—”

“Yep.” Morgan forked a piece of chicken. “I had two choices—feel sorry for myself, or plow on through. I chose the latter.”

“Yeah, well, your dad was probably behind you all the way. My mom is too busy with Mackie to care about my life, and all the stepmonster wants is for me to fail so he can ship me away somewhere.”

“Sketch, that’s not true,” Mom said.

“What about your grandma?” Morgan shot back. “From what I’ve seen, she cares more than two sets of parents. You’re lucky you’ve got her. I had a workaholic father and no mother. At some point I decided it didn’t matter. I set my own goals, and met them.”

As the discussion continued, Julie remarked on how much Morgan had changed. When they’d first started dating, he’d been insecure and angry, but over the years, he’d matured into a quality man with a personal strength that awed her. Sure, she’d brought him out of his shell in high school, but she couldn’t take credit for the man seated next to her.

A man, she realized, who was not the same boy she’d left behind.

“What?” he said, eyeing her. He’d caught her smiling.

“Nothing.” She buttered her biscuit and thought of the inappropriate kiss they’d just shared.

Inappropriate? Why? They were both adults, and he hadn’t exactly pushed her away.

It was inappropriate because she didn’t want to hurt him again, give him the wrong signals and set up an expectation she couldn’t possibly meet.

No, although her impulse was a stupid one, it was just that: an impulse. She’d apologize later and explain that it was a kiss of gratitude. Morgan had a way of making her feel safe, even when she knew someone was close, stalking her. Heck, he could be down the street.

Just then, Morgan reached out and touched her arm. “Sound good?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“We’ll go to church services tomorrow at nine. Or is that too early for you?”

“Are you sure that’s wise?” She didn’t see the value in sitting in a church where her stalker could easily figure out she might go on a Sunday morning.

“Well, we’re not leaving you home alone,” Mom said. “Everyone’s going, right?”

“Of course,” Lana said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Ashley answered.

Everyone looked at Sketch. “Okay, okay. I’ll be there.”

“Got anything nicer than a T-shirt and jeans?” Morgan teased.

“Hey, I’ve been to church with Gram before.”

“And we know she’ll be there, because she’s making the pastries for the reception after the service.”

A reception. Great. Sitting in church for an hour would be hard enough, but socializing for another hour with the locals? Julie didn’t have the energy for small talk, especially in her current edgy state.

The group broke into another round of discussion about Horizon Farms and the potential spike in crime in Port Whisper.

“We shouldn’t assume that because these kids have had a rough journey that they’re going to act out and cause trouble in town,” Mom said. “What do you think, Chief?”

“I think—” he paused and glanced at Julie “—everyone deserves a second chance.”

The next day Julie found herself in church for the first time in six years. She remembered the week she’d stopped going, right after she’d lost her first client, Phillip Bratton, to a violent, gruesome death. And somehow after that, she’d had a hard time both coping with the pain and believing in God. Where was God when Phillip lay bleeding in the street?

The choir sang beautiful hymns, infused with love and celebration. She could almost feel the glory of God float across the congregation, who seemed enthralled by the music, the prayers and the sermon.

About forgiveness.

Julie fidgeted, dug in her purse and popped a cough drop. Anything to distract herself from Pastor Peterson’s words. She just couldn’t deal with them right now.

It wasn’t just his words that made her anxious. It all felt so…foreign.

After the service, Morgan stayed close as Julie, Mom, Lana, Ashley and Sketch made their way to the community room where Caroline put out freshly baked scones, breads and Christmas cookies.

“Julie? Julie Burns?” A thirtysomething woman with a bright smile gave her a hug.

“Hey, yep, it’s me.”

The woman stepped back. “You don’t remember me, do you? Wendy Metter, from biology?”

“Oh, right, Wendy. You look—wow, you look great.”

Wendy had been height- and weight-challenged, and always had had a bubbly personality.

“Thanks. Married life agrees with me.” Wendy motioned a tall man in a navy suit over. “Brian, this is a high-school friend, Julie Burns.”

“Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand.

“I can’t believe you’re here. And with Morgan.” Wendy winked.

No matter how many times people did that, it still irked Julie.

“They were high-school sweethearts,” Wendy explained to her husband. “Brian and I have been married just over a year. He came to town to help build the new resort, and never left.”

“Tell me more about the resort,” Julie asked, hoping to divert them from the topic of Julie and Morgan’s non-romance.

Brian, a pleasant man, described the hundred-room resort, complete with indoor water park, live entertainment and spa. He seemed passionate about the project, and obviously adored Wendy. He would touch her sleeve and interlink his fingers with hers as he spoke. It made Julie happy to know such a sweet girl had found true love. She deserved it.

And you don’t?
a voice taunted.

“If you could excuse us,” Morgan said to Wendy and Brian. “There’s a peach-walnut scone over there with my name on it.”

“Sure, sure.” Wendy gave Julie another hug. “I’d love to catch lunch sometime.”

“That sounds great.”

“Are you at your mom’s?” Wendy asked.

“No, actually we’re staying at Morgan’s dad’s house.”

The minute the words left her lips, she saw the wheels turning in Wendy’s green eyes.

“Mom’s having her floors redone and Morgan offered to let us stay there,” Julie clarified.

“Oh, oh, right.” But from Wendy’s quirked eyebrow, she wasn’t buying it.

“Nice meeting you,” Julie said to Brian.

As Morgan led her away, Julie glanced over her shoulder and spotted Wendy whispering into her husband’s ear.

“Jules,” Morgan said, warning in his voice.

“What?”

“They don’t mean any harm.” He stepped up to the coffee urn and poured her a cup, complete with sugar and cream. “What did you think of the service?”

“Okay, I guess.”

“Just okay, huh?”

“I’m sorry, Morgan. I’m not much into religion these days. I told you that.”

“You don’t have to be into religion to appreciate the sermon. Here, have a scone.” With metal tongs, he put one on a plate and handed it to her.

Just then, the deputy chief, in full uniform, cut through the crowd, heading straight for Morgan. Julie’s heart sped up. Had he discovered the identity of the stranger?

“Chief,” Scott said. “Sorry to bother you at church.”

“No problem, Scott.”

Lana came up beside Julie. “Margaret Sloan’s been asking about you. Come on.”

Julie glanced at Morgan.

“Go ahead. I won’t be far.” Julie watched Morgan and Scott wander off into a quiet corner.

“Hey, don’t worry. He’s not going to leave you,” Lana said.

Her sister’s words hit Julie square in the chest. She realized how much she depended on Morgan, and not just for protection.

“Julie!” Margaret Sloan said, throwing her arms around Julie.

There’d been too much hugging today, too much socializing for Julie’s taste.

“I hear you’re in Seattle. As a social worker?”

“I counsel street kids and try to help them find their way back to a healthy and stable life.” She sounded like an automaton. But it was safer to click into professional mode than to expose the intense emotions that tangled her stomach into knots on most days when she worried about the kids.

“Wow, I’m so not worthy,” Margaret joked. “I market party supplies. Hardly a worthwhile endeavor compared to what you do.”