Christmas Haven (9 page)

They drove the rest of the way in silence, a good thing.
Morgan needed to strategize how he was going to walk into Dad’s room with Julie and avoid unnecessary tension. The last thing she needed was to be scolded by his father about a decision she made ten years ago.

A few minutes later they got to the hospital and went up to see his dad. Hesitating outside his room, Morgan said, “Give me a second with him first.”

“Sure.”

“Stay right here.”

“I will.”

Morgan went into the white, antiseptic room. Dad had his readers on the bridge of nose, deep into an article in
Time
magazine.

“Hey, Dad.”

His dad snapped off his glasses. “Morgan, I didn’t know you were stopping by.”

“I was in the city on an assignment. How are you feeling?”

“Today’s a B-minus day.” He smiled.

Dad had mellowed in the past few years. Morgan was thankful for that, thankful that Dad had enjoyed a few years of fun before the cancer had struck.

“What kind of assignment? Maybe I could help.”

“Actually,” Morgan pulled a vinyl chair closer to the bed and sat down. “It involves an old friend, Julie Burns.”

Dad’s face hardened. “I don’t understand. She left Port Whisper, what, ten years ago?”

“She came back. She’s in trouble.”

“Not your problem.”

“I’m making it my problem.”

“Don’t be a fool, Morgan.”

“I’m not a fool, I’m a cop. She’s in danger and she came to Port Whisper for sanctuary.”

“Well, she always was good at running, just like your mother.”

Julie wandered into the room before Morgan could stop her.

“Hi, Chief Wright,” she said, slowing as she got closer. “I was sorry to hear about your condition.”

Dad’s jaw hardened. “Thank you.”

“So, Morgan took over as chief. That’s exciting.”

“And helpful to you, isn’t it?” he said, pinning her with angry eyes.

“Dad,” Morgan warned.

“What?” Dad snapped.

“Be nice.”

“I’m all outta nice, especially for people who hurt my family.”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“Save it,” Dad interrupted her. “So you’re back in Port Whisper to torture my son?”

“That’s it.” Morgan stood. “We’d better go.”

“No.” Julie touched his arm. “I don’t want to ruin your time with your dad. I’ll wait in the family area.”

“No, you won’t. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“Come on, boy, don’t fall for this again,” Dad chided.

Morgan stepped up to the end of his father’s bed. “Please stop being rude. The past is the past. Julie’s in trouble and I won’t abandon her, and risk her being hurt, or worse.”

“She abandoned you without a second thought.”

“I’ve moved on,” Morgan said. “This is a professional relationship. Now, are you going to let go of the past or should we leave?”

Dad narrowed his eyes and studied Julie. Morgan could sense her start to edge out of the room. He reached out and held her hand to keep her close.

“What kind of trouble is she in?” Dad asked.

“Someone’s after her. She works with streets kids and witnessed one of them being kidnapped. She’s been getting threatening calls and her office was broken into. We just stopped by her apartment and it was ransacked.”

“You think it’s related to her work?” Dad asked Morgan.

Morgan figured it was easier for Dad to avoid looking at Julie. It brought back too many bad memories.

“Yes, sir, it looks that way,” Morgan said. “She doesn’t have much of a life outside of her job.”

“Gee, thanks,” Julie muttered.

“Am I lying?” Morgan said.

“Nope. Work consumes my life.”

“You think someone’s after her because she witnessed the kidnapping?” Dad pressed.

“Perhaps, but if that’s the case, why break into her office and her apartment? They thoroughly searched her place.”

Dad, back in cop mode, leveled Julie with intense eyes. “You know what they’re after?”

“Haven’t a clue.”

“Did they take anything from your apartment?”

“Not that I could tell.” She glanced at Morgan. “We didn’t have time to look around.”

“I wanted to get out of there, in case someone was watching the place.”

“She lives in Seattle,” his dad said. “The Seattle P.D. should be handling this.”

“I’m working with my buddy Ethan Beck. He’s a detective with the Seattle P.D. Dad—” Morgan paused. “Julie has moved back to Port Whisper temporarily and, well…I’ve invited her and her mom to stay in your house until this is resolved.”

Morgan held his breath, hoping his dad didn’t flip out in front of Julie.

“Is Edith in danger, too?” Dad asked.

Dad had always liked Edith Burns.

“Julie got a threatening call and we didn’t want to risk her being tracked to the Burnses’ home. So yeah, both of them are moving in. In retrospect, I guess I should have asked first, but I figured they could help me spruce up the place, and my house is too small for guests.”

“And the neighbors will keep an eye on things,” Dad added. “How long will she be staying in Port Whisper?”

“We don’t know yet. Until the case is resolved and it’s safe for her to return to Seattle.”

And she would, Morgan reminded himself. Although his dad feared Morgan would fall back into love with Julie, there was no chance of Morgan letting that happen. He recognized this situation for what it was: temporary.

They chatted for a few minutes. Morgan filled Dad in on the happenings in town, and Dad shared frustrations about his condition. Julie smiled and nodded when appropriate, but didn’t say much. She probably sensed it was safer to remain quiet than give Morgan’s Dad something to snap at her about.

“I’ll check back in a few days,” Morgan said.

“I’ll be here.”

“Good to see you again, Chief,” Julie offered.

Dad offered a curt nod and went back to his article.

“Mom said they’ll have dinner ready when we get there,” Julie told Morgan, pocketing the phone.

“Sounds good.”

That was about all they said during the rest of the trip back to Port Whisper. Morgan sensed she felt bad about Dad’s verbal assault, but he didn’t know quite what to say, how to apologize. Truth was, Dad needed to move on.

And so did Morgan.

How do I do it, Lord? How do I let go of this buried resentment?

He remembered Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Wasn’t it about time Morgan forgave Julie with his whole heart?

Focus on the case, not the past.
Morgan lost count how many times he’d repeated this in his head over the past twenty-four hours. He’d keep repeating it until he was sure the past wouldn’t mess with his head and prevent him from keeping Julie safe.

He glanced across the front seat at his passenger. Julie’s face was tipped toward her side window, her eyes closed. He eyed the road, but that sweet image of her delicate features—her perfectly shaped nose, full lips and flawless skin—lingered in his mind.

She was just the way he remembered her, only when he’d dreamed of her against his will, she smiled more and her golden eyes sparkled when Morgan cracked a joke.

That sparkle was absent, at least he hadn’t seen a glimpse of it since they ran into each other yesterday. Had her job totally sucked that loving, hopeful energy from her? She seemed determined to help the teenagers survive the brutal streets, yet it was as if she expected them to fail.

She’d lost her faith, and Morgan wondered if it was God’s plan to bring them back together after ten years so Morgan could help her find her way back.

Her cell rang and she quickly grabbed it. So she wasn’t asleep after all.

“Hello? Hey, Mom. We’re just coming into town. Sure…okay. Love you, too.”

Julie closed the flip phone. “Mom asked if we could stop by the house. Lana’s picking up some things, but Mom forgot to tell her to get the fruit so it won’t go bad.”

“Lana shouldn’t have gone to the house by herself.”

“I’d like to see you try to tell Lana that. She’s one determined cookie.”

“Kind of like her sister.” He meant it as a compliment. Julie looked away, and he could tell she didn’t interpret it that way. In that moment he wondered who was emotionally beating her up more: Morgan or Julie?

They pulled onto her quiet street and turned into the driveway. Julie reached for her door, just as Morgan spotted movement by the side of the house.

“Hang on,” he said, placing his hand on her arm.

“What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer, hyper-focused on the side of the house. The moon cast an eerie glow across the property, giving off enough light to see…

A shadowy figure peering through the dining-room window.

SIX

“Y
ou don’t think they—”

“Stay here,” Morgan ordered.

He got out of the truck and closed the door, quietly. Stalking the perimeter of the property, he pulled out his firearm and came up behind the Peeping Tom.

“Police, don’t move.”

“Don’t shoot!” a voice cracked. A teenage voice.

“Hands where I can see them.”

The intruder raised his hands. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Turn around, slowly,” Morgan ordered, adrenaline rushing through his veins.

The kid turned around and Morgan instantly recognized him: Caroline Ross’s grandson, Sketch.

Morgan holstered his gun. “What are you doing here?”

“I… She’s inside and I wanted to talk to her,” he said, his hands still reaching for the sky.

“Put your arms down.”

Sketch slowly did as ordered.

“It’s dangerous to be here, kid. Who’s inside that you want to see? Lana?”

“No, Ashley. She texted me that she was helping Lana grab some stuff.”

Morgan glanced at the truck and waved Julie over, then redirected his attention to Sketch. “Why didn’t you just ring the doorbell?”

“I didn’t think she’d let me in.”

“Why not?”

“We had a—” he shifted from one foot to the other “—disagreement.”

“Who’s this?” Julie said, walking up to Morgan.

“Sketch, Caroline’s grandson. Sketch, this is Lana’s sister, Julie.”

“You’re her? The one Lana talks about all the time?” Sketch said.

“Well, I’m her only sister.”

Morgan glanced across the property, still tense from the potential threat. “Let’s get inside.”

Julie and Sketch walked ahead as Morgan stayed back and scanned the property for any signs of trouble.

Julie let herself in with the key and called out, “Lana?”

“Hey,” Lana said, popping her head out of the kitchen. “What are you doing here?”

“Mom wanted to remind you to get the fruit.”

“Oh, okay. We’re almost done packing up a few things. Oh, hey, Sketch. You here to help?”

“I found him lurking outside,” Morgan said.

Lana went up to Sketch and put her arm around his shoulder. “You never have to lurk, buddy. Come on, Ashley’s in the kitchen.”

“I’d better go.” Sketch looked unsure and anxious, a lot like Morgan had been when he’d first asked Julie out.

Morgan fought back the memory.

“You’re here, don’t waste the opportunity to make things right,” Morgan said.

On cue, Ashley came out of the kitchen. “Lana, I…” she glanced at Sketch. “Oh, hi.”

Awkward silence filled the room.

“Julie, this is my part-time assistant, Ashley,” Lana introduced.

“Nice to meet you.” Julie shook the girl’s hand.

“Let’s get everything together and head back to Dad’s house,” Morgan prompted.

Ten minutes later his truck was packed with supplies from food to special blankets to fiction novels. Morgan eyed the novels, mostly cozy mysteries.

“Mom said since she wasn’t sure how long she’d be staying at your house she wanted to make sure she and Julie had something to entertain themselves,” Lana explained as Morgan shut the hatch to the trunk. “Although I don’t know when she’ll have time to read. She’s got big plans for your dad’s house.”

“So, about the Christmas dance…” Sketch said to Ashley, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Do you, I mean, would you…”

“Just ask her already,” Morgan said.

Julie slugged him in the shoulder.

“What?” Morgan said.

“Sure,” Ashley said to Sketch.

He glanced at her, his face lighting up. “Cool.”

“Hate to break this up, but we really have to go,” Morgan said.

Ashley skipped to Lana’s car and glanced over her shoulder at Sketch. She cracked a smile and the kid grinned.

“I’ll text you,” Sketch called.

“Meet you at the house,” Lana said to Julie and Morgan.

As she and Ashley pulled out, Sketch fisted his hand. “Yes!”

A smile creased Julie’s lips.

“Can we drop you off?” Morgan offered, opening the passenger car door for Julie. She climbed into the front seat.

“Nah, I’m pumped. I’m gonna walk.”

“Good night, then.” He shut Julie’s door and Sketch blocked him.

“She’s in trouble, isn’t she?” He nodded at the car.

“That’s police business.”

Sketch waved him off. “Lana told Ashley what’s going on and Ashley told me. I can help. I helped Jake, remember?”

“Thanks, kid, but I got this handled.”

“If you change your mind, my email is [email protected]. Need me to write it down?”

“I can remember, thanks.”

“Cool.” Sketch took off, practically dancing down the street.

Ah, young love. If Sketch only knew what was coming next.

Morgan shook it off and got in the car.

“They make a cute couple,” Julie said.

Morgan didn’t respond, remembering how the town referred to Morgan and Julie as a cute couple, the couple mostly likely to…

He stopped himself. If he really wanted to let go of the past, protect Julie and help her find her way back to God, he had to release his resentment. Completely.

I can do it, Lord. With Your help, I know I can.

Julie woke up tired and anxious the next day. Not because of an uncomfortable bed or a spicy meal. The emotional turmoil of the past day and a half had gotten to her.