Page 69 of Heal You
Framed photographs lined the walls, giving Morgan a glimpse of Jan at various stages of her life.Laughing at parties, holding a glass of wine, standing beside what Morgan assumed were family members.Then she spotted photos with Gillian and Finn on their wedding day in Vegas.Phil was still present in the image, but Morgan suspected Jan would de-Phil the place when she was ready to.
Morgan smiled as she cast her gaze to the heavy wooden staircase, the banister carved as it wound up to the next level.All in all, this place matchedexactlywho Morgan imagined Jan to be outside of the bar and her own flat.Strikingly elegant, a little chaotic, and unapologetically herself.“I found it just fine,” Morgan said as she turned in the hallway.“But I still don’t know what I’m doing here.”
“I told you earlier.Dinner.”Jan closed the door and pulled the bolt across the back of it.“But I know.You’re waiting for an explanation.”Jan stepped closer to Morgan and laid a hand on her chest as she leaned in and kissed her.“It’s so good to see you here.”
Morgan smiled against Jan’s lips, holding her by the waist.“It’s good to be here.You seem…different.”
“When your home is handed back to you, it’s hard to be anything other than thrilled.”Jan winked, took Morgan by the hand, and guided her through into the living room.“What can I get you to drink?”
“Oh, um…do you have a beer?”Morgan lifted the bottle of red wine in her hand and offered it to Jan.She would ask about the whole ‘home being handed back’ once they were sitting down and Morgan had taken it all in.“I picked this up for you on the way.I know it’s the one you prefer.”
“Thank you.”That earned Morgan another kiss.One she didn’t want to stop.As Jan deepened it, it seemed she was reluctant to end it, too.“You taste good.Real good.”
As Jan stepped away, Morgan took her hand and held her back.“Hey, what’s going on, babe?”
“Make yourself at home, and I’ll be right back with drinks.Then I’ll explain everything.”Jan dropped a kiss on the tip of Morgan’s nose and walked away.
Gorgeous place.Morgan eyed the sleek glass coffee table, its steel legs gleaming where the light from the chandelier above it caught.The Edwardian charm coupled with the modern design enveloped Morgan like a warm hug.The dark wood panelling, polished to perfection, stretched halfway up the walls until it met muted soft grey paint.She turned her attention to the impressive marble fireplace, imagining just how warm and cosy this place must feel in the winter.And then she eyed the plush grey couch adorned with geometric scatter cushions and matching throws.The blend of historic and contemporary workedverywell.
Glancing towards the floor-to-ceiling windows, dressed in sheer white curtains with velvet drapes beneath, Morgan appreciated the natural light they let in.She exhaled, wondering what the hell a woman like Jan could ever see in her if this was the kind of life she had.Morgan couldn’t say she’devercome across someone who could pull off a Persian rug so well in such a modern living room.
“Okay, I know you’re confused, but you could have at least taken your shoes off and sat down.”Jan handed Morgan a beer and grinned.“I’m home now.This ismyplace.A place you’ve earned more than the right to make yourself comfortable in.”
Morgan’s heart swelled as Jan gazed back at her.“He’s agreed to walk and leave it to you?”
“Basically, yes.”Jan sat down on what looked like a luxurious couch that would hold you hostage the moment your arse cheeks met it.“He’s already found a place to move his little family into.”
Morgan sensed a sarcasm in Jan’s tone, but she couldn’t blame her.It was one thing to find out your husband had been playing away, but to know he had a child on the way, too?No.Morgan couldn’t fathom how that must feel.
“You know,” Jan said as she reached out a hand and pulled Morgan down beside her.“I’ve been wondering what he would have done if I hadn’t found out about the affair.Would either of them ever come clean?Would Anais have pretended it was Gareth’s?”
“Yeah, that’s a fucked up situation to potentially be in.”Morgan blew out a breath.“Doesn’t bear thinking about really.”
“Thankfully, I’m not in that situation, and it’s not something I have to think about.”Jan curled her legs to the side of her and rested against Morgan when Morgan lifted an arm and hung it loosely around Jan’s shoulders.“Because I have you.”Jan tilted her head and kissed Morgan, sighing contentedly when she drew back.“And I really love having you over here.”
“Thank you for inviting me over.This place must have a lot of mixed feelings attached to it for you.”Morgan rested her beer bottle between her thighs and brought her hand to Jan’s cheek.“God, you’re so gorgeous that it hurts my heart.”
“Do you have to be at the bar in the morning?”Jan asked as she rested her head on Morgan’s shoulder.“Early…or at all?”
“I’m working the evening shift.Ben is opening up tomorrow.”
Jan slid a hand beneath Morgan’s hoodie and grazed her nails against her stomach.“May I introduce you to my bed tonight since I’ve spentso longacquainting myself with yours?”
A thrill rushed up Morgan’s spine at the mere thought of it.She’d hated that Jan was ever at the hotel, even though she spent most of her time at Morgan’s flat or the bar.Knowing that wouldn’t be something she had to worry about anymore only relaxed Morgan beyond belief.“I’dloveto acquaint myself with your bed.”
Considering they’d had Gillian and Finn to contend with over the last couple of days, Morgan felt remarkably good about this with Jan.And Jan… Well, she seemed to be on cloud nine.Could this last, or would Morgan come to find the same old thing she usually did?A broken heart and a tear-stained face.That’s not important right now.Morgan pushed those worries from her mind and kicked off her shoes.She would move them out of the way the next time Jan unwrapped herself from around Morgan.
“I don’t want you to run, but since I came back here this afternoon, this is all I’ve wanted.Being held on my couch byyou.It’s something I’ve thought about on several occasions now, but this evening is just…going to be perfect.”
Morgan sunk further down into the couch and sighed.“I’m so grateful to be here with you.”
* * *
Why didyou ever leave this place?!
Jan hummed along to the radio playing on the windowsill in the kitchen, preparing coffee before she woke Morgan and began her day.She didn’t have anywhere to be, Morgan didn’t either, but she did want to discuss the idea of Jan visiting Finn and setting the record straight.Morgan wouldn’t go for it—she and Finn went back many years now—but Jan just didn’t have it in her to leave it alone.How could she?If she didn’t address this, then Gillian and Finn may just sit back and wait for Jan and Morgan to break things off.Jan didn’t see that happening, so now her main worry was that she would lose touch with Gillian.That wasn’t something she was willing to risk.
She lifted her phone from beside the radio and considered whether she should send Gillian a text.Jan didn’t really want to warn them that she would be visiting.Not if either of them still had issues they needed to deal with regarding Jan and Morgan.So, she lowered it again and focused on the coffee cup under the spout filling with delicious, smooth caffeine.
