Chapter 24

Morgan arrived back at the hospital promptly at noon. Glen and Kelly told her there was no change in Wyatt’s condition and the doctor on duty promised to stop back by at the end of his shift.

“I’ll be here. If anything changes, I’ll call you,” she promised. The couple left, and Morgan took the seat next to his bed. She told him about hanging out with Quinn and how happy she was to see her friend.

“Grady’s been by. He’s going to help me with a minor issue,” she said. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. Grady is a good guy. He and Grace make such a cute couple.”

Morgan told him about her grandmother’s wedding dress, how she suspected she and Gerard would settle on a date soon. “I’m going to miss her when she’s in Toronto. She’s spoiled me by always being around.”

She kept the one-sided conversation going, chatting about whatever popped into her head. And the hours passed. At one point, Morgan could’ve sworn his finger moved, but she knew it was wishful thinking.

By late afternoon, she ran out of things to say. Morgan closed her eyes, leaned her head on Wyatt’s bed, and dozed off. A nurse arrived, and she bolted upright.

“You’re going to get a crick in your neck. Let me find you a reclining chair.” The nurse hurried out. A hospital attendant wheeled a chair in a short time later and swapped it out for the one she’d been sitting in.

Although more comfortable, Morgan found she was too far away from Wyatt. She slid it forward, grabbed his hand, and rattled on again, this time talking about the Wynn Harbor Inn project.

A muffled thud near the door caught her ear. She found Wyatt’s parents standing in the doorway.

“How is he?” Kelly asked.

“No change, although I talked his ear off,” Morgan joked.

“Wyatt wouldn’t mind one bit,” she said. “I knew someday our son would find the love of his life. I had no idea it would be an Easton.”

“And it might not have been if my mom hadn’t requested me to come here for the reading of her will. And then there was my bicycle crash, which is how Wyatt and I met.”

Glen chuckled. “I heard the story. Wyatt said his first thought was you were a hot mess.”

“And now I’m his hot mess.” Morgan grinned.

“He wouldn’t have it any other way.” Kelly swapped places with her. “Thank God he never settled down with you-know-who.”

“Amber?”

“That woman.” Kelly wrinkled her nose. “Was nothing but trouble.”

Glen told her Grady stopped by Wyatt’s place and filled them in on what Amber had done. “I dare say she’s beginning to sound somewhat unstable.”

“I agree,” Morgan said.

“Grady and I discussed it. I believe he has a solution to convince Amber to leave Easton Island.”

Morgan was certain if anyone would know, it would be Glen Dawson, a former Easton Island police officer.

Kelly pressed her finger to her lips. “We need to let Grady tell Morgan how he’s accomplishing the next to impossible task.”

“I’m intrigued,” Morgan said. “Do you think he’ll succeed?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she leaves Easton Island by this time tomorrow.”

“I hope you’re right.” Morgan stifled a yawn. “I think I’ll head home to get some rest.”

Wyatt’s parents promised to let her know if anything changed and thanked her for keeping him company.

During the drive to Looking Glass Cottage, Morgan thought about what Glen had said. Would Grady be able to convince Amber to leave, or at the very least leave Wyatt and her alone? She hoped so.

*****

The next twenty-four hours passed by in a blur, with Morgan splitting her time between the hospital and home, only staying away long enough to check on Locke Pointe, get some rest, and grab a quick bite to eat.

She pulled another all-nighter and was on the fence about heading home to get some sleep. Mainly because the doctor believed Wyatt was close to coming out of his medically induced coma.

Morgan hoped to be there when he did, but as the hours passed, she needed a break. Kelly and Glen finally persuaded her to leave, promising they would let her know when the doctor finally made the decision.

Despite setting the alarm clock for only a few hours, Morgan woke up refreshed. In fact, she felt better than she had since the moment she found Grady standing on her doorstep with news of Wyatt’s accident.

She showered and put on comfy clothes—stretch pants and a T-shirt, clothing suitable for sitting in a hospital room for hours on end.

Quinn was already up and had fixed a big breakfast. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“I’m starving.” Morgan rubbed her hands together. “What can I do to help?”

“Pour some juice. It’s almost ready.” Quinn plated their food and carried it to the bistro table. “Grady stopped by earlier. I told him you had been at the hospital all night and were sleeping.”

“Did he say if he had news about Amber?”

“Yes. He wouldn’t tell me what it was. He promised to stop back by.”

While the women ate, Morgan and Quinn threw out guesses about what had happened.

“Wyatt’s father thinks Grady has figured out a way to convince Amber to leave, or at the very least, stop harassing me.”

“I bet he threatened to throw her butt in jail,” Quinn said.

“You think so?”

“Sure. I mean, she trespassed and was talking smack about a fire. This is serious stuff.”

“But she left after I warned her,” Morgan said.

Quinn shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

The friends finished and made quick work of clearing the dishes. While they were cleaning, Wyatt’s mother texted to let her know Doctor Houghton planned to wake Wyatt up.

“This is it.” Morgan set her cell phone on the counter. “Wyatt will be awake soon.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Quinn clapped her hands. “I guess you don’t need me hanging around any longer.”

Morgan’s smile vanished. “You’ll be leaving.”

“That’s the plan,” Quinn said. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.” Morgan turned away so her friend wouldn’t see how emotional the thought made her. She quickly reminded herself Quinn had a life of her own, would soon have her dream job and there was no way she would try to persuade her to stay.

“Grady is here.”

Morgan ran outside and met him in the driveway. She could tell from the look on his face he’d heard the good news. “The doctors are waking Wyatt up.”

“I figured you already knew. I can’t wait to tell him how much trouble he caused us,” Grady joked.

“Right? I’m just thrilled he’ll be around so we can give him a hard time.”

“I have an update.”

“About Amber?”

“She’s gone.”

“Gone from Easton Island?”

Grady placed his hands behind his back, looking pretty pleased with himself. “When I took her into custody and she found out she was going to be charged with not only trespassing but arson threats, the judge cut her a deal. Leave Easton Island and he would dismiss the charges.”

“What if she comes back?” Morgan asked.

“If she comes back, she’ll be arrested again and the charges will stick. She’s been ordered to stay away from Easton Island for a year.”

“She can’t come back for a year?” Quinn let out a loud whoop. “You’re free from her for a good twelve months.”

Morgan hugged him. “Thank you, Grady. You’re the best.”

“You’re welcome. Glad I could help.”

“Morgan told me she was renting a small house in Easton Harbor,” Quinn said.

“And broke her lease. She was whining and crying about losing her deposit.”

“I thought she was renting month-to-month,” Morgan said.

“No. She had a six-month lease and now she’s out of some cold hard cash. I guess she should’ve thought about that before she started harassing people and causing trouble,” he said. “I say good riddance.”

“You and me both, Grady. You and me both.”