Christmas Haven (6 page)

“Looks like your mom’s got company,” he said, pulling up the driveway.

Julie glanced out the front window and recognized her sister’s VW Bug. Not good. Julie didn’t want to go into the house like this, an emotional wreck. She’d always been the good-natured child, grounded and ambitious, while Lana struggled with moodiness and disorganization. If Mom and Lana saw her like this, her emotions a tangled mess, it would freak them out.

She shot a glance at Morgan, who pulled up and parked in front of the house. Why wasn’t he freaked by her outburst?

“Lana will be happy to see you,” Morgan said.

Julie got out of the car, but headed in the opposite direction of the house.

“Jules,” he said, following her. “I thought we agreed, you aren’t running away.”

“I need a minute—can I just have a minute alone to get my head together before I go in there?” She kept marching, but he didn’t fall back. She stopped and planted her hands on her hips. “Alone means alone.”

“Not happening, not until this thing is resolved.”

“This isn’t high school, Morgan. I’m not your responsibility.” She almost choked on the words as they left her lips. The pained expression on his face made her turn her back to him. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”

He touched her shoulder again, only this time the contact dissolved her angst slightly. Every time he touched her she simultaneously felt joy and pain, the two warring for victory.

“You’re upset about Andy,” he said.

She jerked around to face him. “Which doesn’t justify lashing out at you in such a mean-spirited way.”

“No, it doesn’t.” They stood there for a good minute, her shame pooling between them.

“I don’t want Mom and Lana to see me like this,” she finally said.

“They’re your family. They’ll love you no matter what.”

I’ll love you no matter what, Jules.

She wondered if he remembered he’d said those same words to her just days before she’d left.

“We should go in.” He offered his hand and she took it, appreciating the warm, solid connection.

They walked up the driveway to the house and she relaxed her fingers, giving him permission to let go. He didn’t. He held on to her as if to say he wasn’t going anywhere. No matter what she’d done to him in the past, he’d be there for her.

She didn’t deserve his forgiveness.

“Awesome! Mom, they’re holding hands!” Lana called over her shoulder from the porch, then raced down the steps and wrapped her arms around Julie’s neck. “I’ve missed you, big sister.” Lana rocked side to side, and Morgan let Julie go.

Lana stepped back and clapped her hands. “My prayers came true. I’m so excited.”

“What prayers?” Mom asked.

“Please, let’s all go inside,” Morgan coached, glancing across the property. “We need to discuss a few things.”

“Like a wedding date?” Lana looped her arm through Julie’s and led her up the stairs. “The best Christmas present ever. Please make it a spring wedding. And outside, like at the Port Whisper Inn. Caroline’s gardens are beautiful.”

Overwhelmed with Lana’s enthusiasm, Julie could hardly get a word in edgewise.

“A wedding?” Mom said leading them into the kitchen. “That was quick. She hasn’t even been home for twenty-four hours.”

“There’s no wedding,” Julie corrected. “Lana jumped to conclusions.”

“But you were holding hands.”

They found spots around the kitchen table, Lana barely able to control her burst of energy. She was still hopeful that Morgan and Julie would get back together.

“Were you two off watching the sunrise?” Mom asked. “Re
member how they used to set their alarms for five and head down to Squamish Harbor Point to watch the sun rise?” she said to Lana.

“So romantic.” Lana grinned at Julie.

“We weren’t watching the sunrise.”

“But you were gone so early,” her mom said.

“I was leaving town.”

“What?” Mom gasped.

“Without seeing me?” Lana added.

Julie glanced at Morgan and he nodded his encouragement.

“I think something that happened at work has put me in danger. I came back home to distance myself from things, and apparently I’ve only made it worse.”

“What do you mean, worse?” Mom asked.

“I think they might be tracking me to Port Whisper.”

“Who are they?” Lana questioned.

“I’m not even sure.”

“One of the boys you counsel?” Mom asked.

“No, but a few of the boys are involved. I’d rather not get into too much detail.”

“We got word just now that one of the teenagers she works with was found dead this morning,” Morgan said.

“Oh, Julie, I’m so sorry.” Mom reached over and stroked Julie’s shoulder.

“I took all personal information from my office to prevent anyone from finding me here, but I got a threatening call this morning on my cell, which made me think they could track the GPS chip in my phone.”

“So she took off, not wanting to put the two of you in danger,” Morgan offered. He was backing her up. Why?

“And you brought her back,” Mom said.

“Running away never solved anything,” Morgan said. “You keep running and they keep chasing.”

“What should she do, Chief?” Mom asked.

“Just to be safe, we should move you out of this house.”

“But Mom’s not in danger,” Lana protested.

“We can’t risk it,” Morgan said. “There’s plenty of room at Dad’s place and I’d feel better if you both were close so I can keep an eye on you.”

“I don’t know, Morgan. I watch the Kotter twins after school three days a week, and I don’t think Angela could find alternate child care on short notice,” Mom said.

“You can watch them at Dad’s house.” Morgan turned to Lana. “And I’d prefer if you don’t go anywhere alone, Lana. Keep an eye out for strangers hanging around your shop.”

“Oh, okay, sure.”

“You should move in with your mom and Julie, too,” Morgan pressed.

“No way. I’m fine above the shop. There are always people around town.”

As Julie watched the plan unfold, her chest ached with regret. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Mom stroked Julie’s back.

“No, no, no.” Lana came around the table and hugged Julie from behind. “Don’t go there. We’re just glad to have you home, even if you brought drama with you.”

Julie glanced at Lara and a sparkle lit Lara’s gray-green eyes. “The three of us can do anything together, especially with the chief’s help, right?”

Julie hesitated and Lana poked her in the ribs, Julie’s tickle spot.

“Don’t.” Julie smiled and jerked away.

“Right?” Lana prompted.

“Right.”

The three of them had conquered just about everything after Julie and Lana’s father had died when they were teenagers. Her mom thought that’s what set off Lana’s moodiness, yet Julie had gritted her teeth and kept it together, put her head down and kept her grades up, her aspirations high. Dad would have wanted it that way, and Mom didn’t need two kids who were a wreck. It was bad enough that Mom had lost her husband.

“Morgan, are you sure it’s okay with your dad if we take over his house?” Mom asked.

“He’d be honored if you’d use it as your safe house, and quite frankly, I’m good with the construction aspect of things, but could use a woman’s touch to liven up the place. It’s kind of…dark.”

Dark, like his dad’s moods when no one was around. Jules heard the inference.

“The truth comes out,” Lana joked. “He’s going to put you two to work.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Just kidding, Chief,” Lana said.

“How long will we be staying?” Mom asked.

“No way to know for sure. Plan on a week.”

“Well, if we’re out of the house, I could have Trevor take a run at my hardwood floors. They’re in bad shape,” Mom said.

“Always seeing the bright side.” Julie smiled up at her mom.

“We should get you set up as soon as possible,” Morgan said. “Julie got the call a few hours ago, and although we don’t know if they can track the GPS chip in her phone, they could be on their way. Pack in terms of a week. I can always come back if you need something.”

“I’ll help.” Lana stood. She and Mom headed for the second floor.

“I’ll be there in a sec,” Julie said.

They disappeared up the stairs.

“Morgan, listen, I know this is incredibly uncomfortable—”

“It’s fine,” he said, pulling out his cell phone. “I’ve gotta make a few calls. Can I tell Ethan we’ll be there around two?”

He kept his eyes trained on the phone.

“Sure, that’s fine,” Julie said, frustrated that he’d shut her down. She wanted to thank him, apologize again…give him a hug.

Uh-oh.

He glanced at her. “You’d better help them pack. I need to run a few errands. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Okay.” Breaking eye contact, she headed for the stairs, frustrated yet relieved that he didn’t let her wander down an emotional road that could only lead to disaster, to Julie falling into his arms.

That could never be. There was too much pain associated with their relationship, and he’d never understood her need to do something bigger for humanity, like counsel runaways.

Even after this crisis was resolved, there was no way to go back, to repair their damaged relationship, a relationship meant to stay in the past.

She had to focus on her future and staying alive.

It wasn’t until they walked through Dad’s front door that Morgan realized Julie hadn’t seen the inside of his house. Never knowing what mood his dad would be in on any given day, Morgan couldn’t risk it.

As Julie scanned the dark living room, filled with dark furniture, a cherrywood bookcase spanning the wall and black leather furniture, he realized to an outsider it must look awfully, well, depressing. Her gaze landed on Dad’s recliner, positioned directly across from the television. Dad was in his own world when he sat there, eating pretzels out of a plastic bowl, watching the news. A scene replayed itself in Morgan’s mind: the day Morgan and Dad got into a fight over Morgan’s C in history. His father had lectured that Morgan needed the grades to get into college, but at that point Morgan didn’t care.

He hadn’t met Julie yet.

“If you painted the walls a lighter shade it would really brighten things up,” Edith offered, jerking him out of his flashback.

“Yeah, sorry. I know it’s pretty depressing in here,” Morgan offered.

“It’s not depressing, just, well, male,” Edith joked. “You sure your father won’t mind us changing things?”

It had been fifteen years since a woman worked her magic in the house. It was long overdue.

“He won’t mind,” Morgan said. “I’ll probably sell it when…” His voice trailed off. “Well, eventually I’ll have to sell. I’ve got a place of my own down the block.”

Dad was dying. Morgan didn’t talk about it much, and tried not thinking about the hole it would leave in his life. Morgan had grown up with one goal in mind after his mother left: make his dad proud.

Julie placed her hand on Morgan’s arm as if she read his thoughts. He clenched his jaw to steel himself from her touch. He resented it, feeling vulnerable all over again. She would leave him again, after this case was resolved. He couldn’t let her get too close.

Breaking contact, he headed for the stairs. “Rooms are up here.”

He led them to the three bedrooms upstairs, which suddenly looked bleak when he saw them through the women’s eyes. “Here’s Dad’s room. Edith, you can stay in here. I’ll change the sheets before Julie and I head into Seattle.”

“Just leave them out,” Edith said. “I can do that.”

“And across the hall is my room,” he continued.

Jules stepped up beside him, but he didn’t look at her. Dad hadn’t changed Morgan’s room much since he’d left for the service, then college. After graduation, Morgan spent a few years with the King County Sheriff’s department, then Dad got sick, and Morgan decided to apply for his job in Port Whisper. It gave the locals comfort to have one of their own taking over as police chief, and Morgan didn’t miss the sparkle of pride in his father’s eyes.

Morgan had finally done it. He’d made Dad proud. Yet he hadn’t wanted to move back in. Morgan needed to strike out on his own, be an adult in his own home, yet be close enough to help Dad when needed. So, Morgan had bought his own bungalow a few blocks away.

“Down the hall is the third bedroom, which Dad uses as an office, and the bathroom. It should be in pretty good shape, but I’ll give it the once-over before we leave.”

“Nonsense. Bathrooms are my specialty,” Edith said.

“Where are you going to sleep?” Julie asked.

“The office. There’s a sofa bed in there. I’ll get your things from the truck.” Morgan stepped around them, practically sprinting down the stairs.

What was the matter with him? He guessed the edginess was due to the reality of Julie being so close, living under the same roof, Morgan seeing her first thing in the morning, saying good-night before she went to his…her room.

The situation felt so surreal, and he suddenly questioned his decision to invite them to stay at his dad’s. Was this just about protecting them, or did a part of Morgan have another motivation?

He grabbed two suitcases from the truck and started for the house.

“Hey, Chief!” Anderson Green called from his back porch next door. “Got company?”

“Yep, Edith Burns and her daughter, Julie. Edith’s having some work done on her floors.”

“Julie Burns, eh?” Anderson winked.

“She’s just here for a visit. Don’t start anything. The gossip mill is already full.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Have a good day.”

“You, too.”

Morgan headed up the stairs, imagining Anderson and his buddies at Wednesday coffee shooting the breeze, and Anderson dropping the bomb about two women moving in with the chief of police. But Morgan couldn’t worry about appearances and idle gossip. His goal was to protect Julie and her mom, resolve this mess she’d been sucked into and send her back to Seattle.

Keep your eye on the ball, buddy.

As he got to the top of the stairs, the back door opened and Julie shared a wry smile. “Mom’s already at work on the kitchen.”