The quiet didn't last long, however, before the interviews began.Carl Anderson was a former warehouse attendant for the local cable company. He had long gray hair, which he kept tied up in a ponytail and was thin enough that a strong breeze would force him to struggle simply to walk. He stood just under six feet and had the longest fingers Morgan had ever seen. Still, outside of his aged Ichabod Crane look, he seemed to know his stuff when it came to running a supply warehouse and Morgan told him to show up Monday at seven in the morning ready to start receiving supplies. Neal Rutherford had always maintained that he didn't want his employees wasting time at Home Depot. It took time away from actual work. Therefore, each of his offices had a warehouse fully stocked with the necessities and if something out of the norm was required, the warehouse manager would make sure it was there before it was needed. They would house supplies, as well as tools. In some offices, they even had their
Morgan glanced at his watch for the tenth time that morning. He had to admit, he was nervous. Jeannie was due any minute to drop Dustin off and he wasn't sure he was ready to see her new boyfriend. He was glad she had someone in her life, but there was a difference between knowing it and actually seeing it. He was quite content remaining in the knowing-it-only column. Of course, that made no sense to him, considering he was quite content banging any skirt that sat still long enough.He took a deep breath as he tossed his pen onto his desk, reaching for his cold mug of coffee. He took a bigger gulp than he would have had it been hot. He was unable to concentrate on work at the moment and it wasn't just the imminent arrival of his son. It had been almost a week since he had heard from Jacqui, since he kissed her goodnight on her front porch. He thought of reaching out again. While she had seemed happy to hear from him the next day, he wasn't sure how she took his advice about her father
Jacqui left Lily in charge and took the rest of the day off. As she shut the door to her office, Lily had smiled at her, saying, "I think I approve of this new habit of yours, taking off early. You need it. You work too hard." Jacqui was about to snap at her for her intrusiveness but realized Lily's teasing was exactly what was needed. Jacqui was trying to loosen up and that meant allowing friendly banter into the workplace. It reminded her of the old days when Marc ran the company. It was an atmosphere that needed to return. She just hated that it was Morgan who had made her see it.It wasn't the only thing he had opened her eyes to see. It was also the reason she was leaving work early. She had made up her mind about allowing her father to return to his own home and now she needed to make the arrangements and talk to Sophia. Bert Clydesdale was not an invalid, just paralyzed. There were a ton of things they could do to make his life easier. One of the first was to make his house mo
Jacqui left Lily in charge and took the rest of the day off. As she shut the door to her office, Lily had smiled at her, saying, "I think I approve of this new habit of yours, taking off early. You need it. You work too hard." Jacqui was about to snap at her for her intrusiveness but realized Lily's teasing was exactly what was needed. Jacqui was trying to loosen up and that meant allowing friendly banter into the workplace. It reminded her of the old days when Marc ran the company. It was an atmosphere that needed to return. She just hated that it was Morgan who had made her see it.It wasn't the only thing he had opened her eyes to see. It was also the reason she was leaving work early. She had made up her mind about allowing her father to return to his own home and now she needed to make the arrangements and talk to Sophia. Bert Clydesdale was not an invalid, just paralyzed. There were a ton of things they could do to make his life easier. One of the first was to make his house mo
"Mommy!"She felt the little body wiggling around her feet, tiny shoes banging against the backside of the desk. "Who is that talking? A ghost?"Tiny giggles bounced off the desk walls. She felt the child-sized fingers trying to tickle her legs. She gave a slight jump, careful not to hit Maggie with her adult-sized knees. She let out some small gasps as she cried, "There is a ghost!"Maggie laughed even harder as Jacqui pushed her desk chair back and reached under the desk, snatching the little girl into her lap. "It's not a ghost. It's a Maggie Monster!" She held her daughter to her chest and covered the tiny neck with kisses. Maggie squealed as she tried to push away and make her escape.Jacqui took a deep breath as the memory faded. There was so much she missed. She smiled down at the little boy. "Then he's a lucky little boy to spend his day with his father."She ignored Morgan's raised eyebrows at her sudden change of opinion as she glanced back at him. "I'm sorry for just droppin
From the driver's seat, Jacqui stared at the front of her house. She wasn't sure she was ready to be alone in such a big place again. Yet, she knew it was the right thing to do. Her father had endured her nonsense and control long enough. He deserved to be in his own home, surrounded by his possessions and memories, instead of hers. It wasn't for his benefit that she had basically kidnapped him. It was for hers. If he returned home, then she would be alone with her memories, memories she was able to keep at bay for two years. A knot formed in her stomach, nausea threatening to overwhelm her, tempting her to change her mind. Tempted, but not persuaded.With a deep breath, she opened her car door, determined to see her decision carried out. Passing through the doorway, she sought out her father and Sophia. Both were in the kitchen having an afternoon snack. Jacqui smiled at the crumb cake and the smell of fresh coffee that wafted up to her as she walked behind the counter to fix her own
Staring out her office window at the river that flowed beside her house, her eyes settled on the dock where she had spent so many nights with her family as the water drifted past. She could already hear the ghosts of the house calling out to her, their memories screaming for her attention. Perhaps it was time to sell the house and start completely from scratch. She still had not been able to bring herself to venture out onto the back patio with all of its luxuries. There was still so much surrounding her that she heard Marc's voice calling to her and Maggie's squeals as she played. Her father's presence helped drown them out, but when he moved back home, she was afraid those voices would once again drive her to a depression she might not be able to overcome.She picked up a picture frame from the corner of her desk. Marc had his arms wrapped around her and his chin on her shoulder as they stood in front of The Karston Foundation building as the ribbon was cut. His smile called out to h
Dustin leaped from the back of the sofa and flung himself at his father's back, his boyish scream alerting Morgan to stop whatever he was doing and catch his son. The four-year-old had no fear, trusting that his father would always be there to catch him. It was that trust that caused Morgan to rethink the way he was living his life.Dustin laughed as he swung on his father's back. Morgan couldn't help but get caught up in the laughter. Reaching behind him, he grabbed Dustin's legs, pulling the little boy around while growling as he leaned down and pretended to eat his son's belly. The little boy just wiggled as he squealed in his daddy's arms.Once Jeannie had left, Morgan finished a couple of quick tasks and then left for the day. They grabbed some ice cream and then he took Dustin to see his new room at Daddy's. Standing in the doorway of his son's room, his arms across his chest as he leaned on the door frame, Morgan absorbed the giddiness of the little guy as he ran around his room