Page 83 of Shelter for Morgan

Rhett could hear how proud he was of his sister.

“The students really listen to her and they offer up comments when she asks for them. I think if I’d had teachers like her in school,I would have paid more attention.”

“She had a tough time after our parents died,” Jacob sighed. “She had a couple of teachers who really took the time to work with her. I think that’s why she wanted to be a teacher, too.”

“Well, she’s a good one. And she cares.”

“Yeah. I just hope she doesn’t end up burning out. Any news about that teacher who had the job before her.”

“Not much. Morgan mentioned that there was a shooting and that-”

“A shooting? Morgan told me that the former teacher was out for a medical issue.”

Rhett didn’t like the angry tone in Jacob’s voice because it was directed at Morgan. “That’s what she’d been told, too.” He explained. “She only found out after she’d been working there for a bit, Jacob. Don’t over react to this.”

“Over react?”

OKAY. He was definitely pissed.

“My sister took over for a teacher who was shot? Where did it happen?”

Rhett wasn’t about to say anything, but it didn’t matter, really. Jacob was already in detective mode.

“I’ll look it up. Lord knows if I left it up to you you probably wouldn’t have said a damn thing to me. Are you covering for my sister now?”

Rhett pushed away from the wall as he spoke. “I’m not covering for her. She’s not a criminal that needs an alibi, but if that’s how you think of her, maybe that’s why she tries to keep things quiet. Look, Jacob, you’re my friend and you have been for a long time, but I’m going to tell you that when you talk about Morgan to me or around me, you better watch what you say and how you say it.”

“Oh, so this is because you’re dating my sister?”

“We’re doing more than dating, old friend. She’s moving into my room, but you should know that it doesn’t change the fact that if you’d talked about her before just like you’re talking about her now, I wouldn’t be happy.”

“You didn’t have to raise her, man. You didn’t have to pick up the pieces after our parents died. I’m taking care of her the only way I know how. If you’re not going to like it-”

“I don’t like it,” he made sure to enunciate his words, “and I won’t stand for it about her or to her.”

“She’s my younger sister, old friend. Don’t forget that.”

“I haven’t forgotten a thing, Jacob. Just as long as you remember that she’s an adult and I’m going to protect her and love her the way that I think she deserves to be loved. Like a grown woman who makes her own choices.”

“Yeah, well… you keep an eye on her, man. I’m going to look up this shooting thing and make no mistake, you and I will be talking about this later.”

“Fine by me.”

The phone call ended and Rhett lowered the phone so he could see the screen.

Morgan had changed it the day before when they’d been at home at night together. She’d taken a selfie of the two of them in bed together. It was safe for work, but the best part about it was the way they were cuddled up against each other.

It looked like they’d been together for years, not just a few months.

He saw her pale hand against the dark grey of his sheets and wondered again how he’d be able to get the size of her ring finger so that he could buy her a ring.

She might not be ready for a wedding ring, but he could give her something to show her how serious he was about the two of them.

He’d take things at her speed, like when she asked him if she should move into his bedroom. He’d been so nervous to push her that he hadn’t even brought up the topic. Thank god she just brought the question up so he didn’t have to struggle to find a way to broach the subject.

Now he just had to find a ring and a way of giving it to her that let her decide what it was.

The in-house speaker clicked on. “Rhett? Rhett, you have a visitor in the community room.”

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