Page 97 of Shelter for Morgan

Startled and fearful, she tried to sit up.

Palmer sat upright in the chair beside her bed, drawing her attention.

“Pal-”

Coughing, she held onto his hand tighter as she tried to lift her other arm to touch her chest.

Tried, but failed.

“Wha?”

Palmer was standing beside her bed, gently rubbing at her shoulder. “Take it easy, Morgana. Relax for a moment.”

Relax?

Her throat felt like it was on fire. “What-”

“Hey, sis. Give the man a break and take a sip of water, okay?”

Sis?

She looked over at the other side of the bed and saw her brother standing there with a comically yellow plastic up in his hand. “Jac-”

She started coughing again, the pain in her throat doubling in a heartbeat.

“I told you, man. She’s not the best patient.”

Jacob leaned in with the cup held in his hand, his other hand holding the straw in place.

“Try and drink a sip of water so that you can catch your breath.”

He held the straw right before her lips and smiled when she wrapped her lips around the straw.

“Small sips,” he prompted her and she looked up at him with a grateful smile.

Then she leaned forward and took a few slow sips of water before she let the straw go.

“Jacob?”

He sat on the side of her bed and shook his head. “You come all the way down here from the big city to the suburbs and end up trying to become a sardine.”

“Jacob!” Palmer was on his feet, his gaze burning a hole in Jacob’s head.

“It’s okay, Palmer. It’s okay.” Morgan reached for his hand and she felt her fingers twining with his. “It’s just the way he deals with his feelings.”

Palmer looked at Jacob and Morgan saw the look that passed between the two. It looked like Palmer was making it clear with his eyes that he wasn’t okay with the ‘joke.’

Jacob leaned in closer and grinned at her. “Nice to know you’ve got a protector here, too. Makes me feel okay that you came down here by yourself.”

Morgan looked up at Palmer and smiled. “I’m not by myself anymore, Jacob. I’ve got Palmer with me.”

Palmer leaned in for a kiss and she felt his lips tenderly press against hers. She sighed as he moved away.

“I’m so thankful that you were there.”

Palmer leaned closer. He reached an arm across her body and braced his hand at her hip. “Do you remember that?”

She opened her lips to speak, but paused for a moment. “I remember being afraid. I remember… trying to get help. But…” Morgan’s eyes closed for a moment before she spoke again. “I don’t remember why. I don’t remember anything between the accident and… and when I went back to school to get my grading book.”

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