Morgan’s family consisted of Becky and Talbot. Becky’s family was long gone and Talbot’s father was in a home with Alzheimer’s, no longer cognizant of anything but the most distant memories. Morgan hadn’t visited her grandfather in almost six months. He no longer knew who she was and found her eyes disturbing. With what Morgan had learned about the Gulatega, she had had momentary hopes that maybe, just maybe, her grandfather was affected by the creatures. She knew better. She would have sensed it. She was sure of that. But, just to be certain, she might drag Dorian by the nursing home on the way home. Home. She had just referred to Ruthorford as home. She looked at Dorian and smiled.
It was time to bring up one other thing. “When we get to Safe Harbor, I want a few moments to talk with Jenn.”
“I understand. You want to tell her in person.” He was smiling at her.
That too.
But, that would come after Jenn answered her questions. There was something she needed Jenn to explain to her. Not wanting to worry Dorian unnecessarily, Morgan took his hand and smiled. “I knew you’d understand.”
Jenn knew they were coming. You didn’t arrive at Safe Harbor unannounced. If you got past the layers of security to get to the front door, you could, at the very least, expect a firm tongue-lashing. At worst, you would be arrested and toted downtown to spend a few uncomfortable hours in the poky.
They turned into the gated drive. There was no call box. Safe Harbor had a functional gatehouse, staffed 24/7 by an armed guard. There were several surveillance devices scanning the entrance. If you weren’t on the list, you didn’t get in. The whole compound—and that’s what it was—had state of the art surveillance and security.
Dorian and Morgan each handed their driver’s licenses to the guard who shined a flashlight in their faces and studied them against the pictures on their identification. Handing back they ID’s, he pressed a code into the panel and the gate pulled aside. They followed the winding drive—done intentionally—around, up and over a raise and down into a valley, before they came upon the main house. As they approached, security lights flashed on. Morgan saw Jenn standing at the foot of the steps. Dorian pulled across and parked in a space directly across from the entrance.
Jenn was at Morgan’s door before the engine died. She pulled open the door and flung her arms around Morgan, almost throwing them both back into the car. Dorian just shook his head and headed up the steps where John was waiting. They stepped aside and spoke quietly while Jenn and Morgan squealed and hugged like pubescent teenagers. Jenn wiped the tears from her eyes and stepped away.
“I was so scared. I didn’t want to lose my best friend.”
“I was pretty scared myself.” Morgan looked over at the men and watched Dorian glance back at her. He purposefully led John inside giving her the privacy she had asked for.
Morgan turned serious. “Jenn, I have something I have to ask you.” She leaned back against the car, not moving forward to follow Jenn toward the building.
Jenn walked back to her. “What?”
“When we were driving to the cabin, I heard you call someone and tell them you had me. Who was it?”
Jenn looked confused. “What are you talking about?”
Morgan didn’t like the way this was going. She steeled herself. “You thought I was asleep. You pulled out your phone and called someone. If you value our friendship, you will tell me who you called.”
Jenn scratched her head. She honestly seemed confused and looked like she was trying to remember. Morgan watched her, her irritation rising. She didn’t want to think her friend could be influenced by someone like Rob or Ian. She found it almost impossible to believe, given her determination to protect endangered women and children.
Jenn dropped her hand as she became aware of the importance of Morgan’s question. “Morgan, I would never put you in danger. I couldn’t do anything so contemptible.” She walked around trying to remember. She pulled out her phone and tried to go back through her log. She searched and searched. Her eyes widened.
“It was Uncle Mike!” she yelped. “I remember now. He wanted me to get you away from all the brouhaha that was going on and I was so thrilled that I called him. I didn’t want to wake you so I assumed he would know what I meant.”
There were tears in Morgan’s eyes. She let the tears fall. It had been so hard to think Jenn wasn’t the friend she’d always accepted her to be. Jenn, in turn, started crying and put her arms around her friend.
Morgan hiccupped, “I am so glad. I couldn’t think of asking anyone else to be my maid of honor.”
“I know that,” Jenn cried, “Anytime one of us gets married—”
“How does December sound?” Morgan asked.
Jenn stepped back and wiped her eyes. “December?”
Morgan nodded.
“Oh my God!” Jenn screamed. “Dorian proposed! Oh my God!”
Dorian and John watched the women jumping up and down and Dorian turned to John. “I guess it’s okay to tell you Morgan and I are getting married.”
“You think?” John said stoically.
“What? No jumping and screaming?”
John smiled and held out his hand. “This will have to do.”
“You will be my best man, right?”
“I’ve always been the best man,” John joked.
They turned and waited for the women to join them.
****
Jenn led them into a large conference room. Morgan had been to visit Jenn many times at this facility, which Jenn also called home, but she had never been into the administrative wing of the facility. They settled around a large table, Jenn taking the chair at the end. Jenn’s air of confidence and professionalism displaced the shrieking, jumping friend in the parking lot.
“First,” Jenn said and smiled. “I have an announcement to make.” Jenn opened a folder in front of her. “Safe Harbor has been the recipient of a sizeable endowment.”
Morgan could see the excitement in the way the corners of Jenn’s blue eyes crinkled. Her heart beat a little faster for her friend.
“With this money, we can provide secure facilities in this and several more states. And, apparently, it’s just the beginning.” She took a moment to breathe and lightly bit her lower lip. “The reason I am telling you this,” Jenn looked at Morgan and Dorian and let her eyes pass over John, briefly, “is that the endowment is from the Abbott House.”
Morgan listened to Jenn’s voice hitch. She watched her eyes glisten with tears. She reached out and covered Jenn’s hand, squeezing gently. Jenn looked at her. “I had no idea. I mean…you…” she stopped as tears fell. She took a tissue and dabbed at her eyes.
“Congratulations, Jenn,” Morgan said. “You deserve it. You probably know more about the Abbott House than I do at this point. I am so happy for you. I know how long you have worked and dreamed for this."
Jenn nodded, tears brimming. She sniffled and straightened. “Damn it. I knew I would do that. I told myself I wouldn’t, but damn—there I went.”
That was the friend Morgan knew. She grinned at her. Jenn grinned back and reached to gain control of her emotions once more.
“I did want to go over a few things before you go see Meadow. Bask called me. John has told Kayla and Meadow that Ian has gone back to Scotland. You went to visit him, when he called you for help. You couldn’t help him, so he’s returned to Scotland.”
Morgan looked at Dorian. He took her hand in his. Warmth spread through her, pushing back the weight of the sadness that threatened. She didn’t know how much Jenn knew. She looked at John, whose handsome stoicism wasn’t betraying anything. He gave her an almost imperceptible nod. She remained quiet. With the other hand, she reached into her pocket and touched the envelope that was for Meadow from her father. The sadness was almost more than she could bear. She squeezed Dorian’s hand.
“Shall we go see her highness?” Jenn stood. “She’s become quite popular here. There aren’t many children right now so she’s getting a ton of attention. A ton of spoiling, too, I might add.”
They followed Jenn out of the business wing and up the stairs. Off to the right was a large open area with couches, tables and chairs for games, and a huge flat-screen television on one wall. Morgan looked at Jenn.
“Yes, it’s new. I figured they deserved it.”
Meadow jumped up as soon as they entered the room. She’d been sitting at a table working on a large puzzle. She was wearing flannel pajamas with unicorns on them. All that remained of her bandage was a small gauze pad behind her ear.
“Uncle Dorian!” she squealed and launched herself at him. Morgan was amazed at the youthfulness of the just turned thirteen year old. “Aunt…Miss Morgan,” Meadow corrected and turned to her rather shyly.
“It will be Aunt soon, so I guess we ought to practice,” she hugged the young girl.
Another squeal. “Really? Can I be in the wedding?”
“Meadow,” Kayla admonished.
“Of course you can.”
Meadow grabbed Morgan’s hand and drew her over to the table. A picture of a castle, with unicorns in front of it, was slowly taking shape. Morgan reached in her pocket and drew out the envelope.
“Your father asked me to give this to you. He’s sorry he missed your birthday.”
She handed it to Meadow, who took it gingerly, like it was the most precious thing in the world. Meadow moved to the chair at the table and, after looking at her mother, tore open the envelope. She reached inside and pulled out a beautiful card and a small bundle, wrapped in lavender tissue paper and tied with delicate ribbon. For something so simple, it was very beautiful. Meadow read the card, tears gathering in her eyes, set it aside and slowly opened the bundle. As she unfolded the paper, a locket fell into her lap. She lifted it. On the front was an inlay of a white unicorn, rearing. The sparkle in its eye came from a dark lavender gem. It was encircled by a silver Celtic braid. She gently opened the locket. Inside, on one side, was a picture of Ian holding Meadow in his arm. On the other was tiny portrait of a gorgeous woman, sitting regally, yet with wild flowing hair. Hair the color of Morgan’s.
Meadow looked at her mother. “It’s Daddy’s Nanna. And me and Daddy.” Tears brimmed and fell.
John stepped forward. “Here, princess, let me.” He took the delicate locket in his large hand and with easy movements, unlatched the chain and hung it around Meadow’s neck.
Meadow smiled up and him and reached for the locket, holding it in her small hand. “It’s so warm.” She smiled at her mother. “Daddy says it’s been in his family forever and it was time for me to have it.”
“Well, I think it’s time for this princess to say goodnight, go to bed, and dream of unicorns.”
Meadow turned to Morgan. “Thank you so much.” She hugged her, picked up the envelope and card, and hugged Dorian, John, and Jenn in turn. She started down the hall. She turned back, “it’s okay if you want to work on the puzzle.” She turned around and walked down the hall with her mother.
“Did you see the stone?” Morgan whispered to Dorian.
He nodded and changed the subject. “Do you think Jasmine is up to receiving visitors?” he asked Jenn.
“Have you ever known me
not
to be up to receiving visitors, you lunkhead?” Jasmine’s sexy voice trilled behind them.
Morgan spun around as Jasmine joined them. She walked straight into Dorian’s arms and hugged him tightly, reached up and kissed him on the cheek. She looked into his eyes for a moment before turning to Morgan.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” she walked over and put her arms around Morgan. It was not a cursory hug. She wrapped her arms about her and held her. Morgan slipped her arms around the other woman and hugged her back. A small burst of energy passed between them.
Jasmine stepped back, looked at Morgan with twinkling eyes. “Welcome to the family,” she said with warmth.
“Thank you, Jasmine. I mean that.” Morgan didn’t have a clue how Jasmine knew they were getting married.
Jasmine looked wonderful. A small yellowing bruise on her cheek and a tiny purplish scar beside her lip were the only evidence of the brutal attack. That healing trait must have been passed on to her.
Morgan took her arm. “I am so sorry—”
“Don’t!” Jasmine said firmly. “I mean it. You had nothing to do with what happened. The fact that you knew him doesn’t put you at fault.” She led them over to the couches.
“I am getting some excellent counseling sessions, from a counselor here and from Dr. Yancy.”