Page 70 of Shelter for Morgan

CHAPTER TWELVE

MORGAN

Morgan found herself in a strange setting a few days later.

While she’d met Thora and Kylie, she found herself invited to lunch on a Saturday when Palmer was on shift.

Kylie and a young woman named Aylin showed up to the apartment building to give her a ride to the low key event, but even as Aylin turned around to talk to her,“Have you had a lot of time to get around the city and discover different places around San Antonio?”

Morgan’s cheeks heated up with the memory that instantly popped up in her head. “I’ve seen the murals in the underpass.”

“Oh!” Aylin grinned at her. “You’ll have to tell me about that. Rook keeps telling me we have to go walking around downtown, but while I’m normally not a big walking for walking’s sake, I would love to see some murals!”

“They’re really lovely and so vibrant with color!” Morgan leaned forward and hoped that Aylin could see how much she’d enjoyed the sights. “Palmer heard about the area from Taco.”

Kylie, who was driving, gave her a quick look in the rear-view mirror. “Sorry, for a second I thought you were talking about an actual taco. I forgot that there was a firefighter who the others call Taco.”

“He was really sweet to tell Palmer about it. That night… Well, that night was amazing.”

Aylin and Kylie shared a knowing look as Kylie stopped at the red light in front of them.

“We’re so happy that Rhett found someone like you.” Kylie stepped on the gas pedal as the light changed to green.

“He’s a good man.” Morgan felt her heart swell when she spoke about him. “But he didn’t really find me,” she felt her tone soften even as she was barely holding back a laugh, “my brother

foisted me off on him.”

Aylin gave her a big beaming grin and laughed out loud. “I’ve never seen anyone foist anything on Rhett.”

“Well, he’s helpful. I don’t think Jacob gave him a chance to say no.”

Aylin reached out her hand and Morgan took it in her own, happy to feel Aylin’s reassuring touch. “Rhett’s been so different since he met you. My dad’s commented on it and I’ve been to the firehouse a few times bringing food over from my mom. I almost didn’t recognize him the other day.”

“Really?” Morgan asked. “How so?”

“He was smiling when I came around the corner, heading for my dad’s office. I almost tripped over my feet seeing him smile. And it’s all because of you.”

Kylie pulled into a driveway and Morgan looked out over a big grassy field toward a bunch of food trucks gathered around a large area of tables and benches.

Off to the side was a large movie screen.

“Oh,” Morgan gasped, “is this a drive-in theater?”

“Better,” Aylin grinned, “it’s a sit-in theater. We’ll set out blankets down on the grass and get food for the movie. My mom is already there holding a space for our group. We’re still waiting to see if Thora’s going to join us, but Sage is coming with her little boy.”

“He’s not that little,” Kylie laughed. “He’s grown up fast!”

“Sage?” Morgan tried to remember what she’d heard about Sage.

“Oh! She’s with the firefighter they call Fish. Right?”

Aylin nodded. “Callan Bass. The Fish nickname is pretty easy to figure out and he married Sage so they’re raising her nephew together.”

Kylie parked in a spot near the front line of food trucks. “Milo is a sweetie.”

The three ladies got out of the car and headed through the group of food trucks toward the grassy area.

Morgan recognized Aylin’s mother from the photos she’d seen in Chief Blaise’s office at the fire house.

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