Morgan wiped away a tear from her cheek. “He hurt me. I’m not going to pretend he didn’t. He sent me into a tailspin. It affected the way I acted toward Luke. It made me question everything.”
“This is all his fault!” Pearl cried out. “You wouldn’t be so distraught right now if Roderick hadn’t come barging back in with his secret agenda.”
“No, Mama it’s not all of his fault. I can’t go on blaming him for all of my woes. Part of being a grown woman is dealing with things head-on.”
“But he left you, he scarred you. And he’s only now come back because he wants something from you. He wants you to save his other child’s life. The one he raised.” Her mother’s voice was laced with bitterness.
“Mama, I’ve been praying non-stop about a lot of things. I’ve been hurting inside for a very long time. I used to pray at night after daddy left. Every time I asked God why he couldn’t make daddy stay. I didn’t understand why my father didn’t love me enough to stay around. And every ounce of hurt that situation made me feel has been played out in my relationship with Luke.”
“Why? Luke Duvall is a good man. It’s clear he loves you.”
Tears streamed down Morgan’s face and she let out a cry of pain. Her mother placed her arm around her and pressed her tightly against her chest.
“Oh my poor baby.”
“I messed up. Again. I was so torn up about daddy that I took it out on Luke. He wanted so badly for me to tell him that I love him.”
“And do you?” Pearl asked.
“Yes, Mama, I do. With all of my heart. But I couldn’t manage to say those words. Mama, I hurt him so badly. And I don’t think I can fix it this time. If you had seen the look in his eyes. He seemed broken.” She pounded her fist against her chest. “I did that to him!”
“Because of your father!” her mother spit out. “He crept back into town like a spider and got you all tangled up in his web.”
“He wasn’t forthright. And he did seek to use me for his own purposes.” She let out a sigh. “But I can’t say I entirely blame him. He’s trying to save his child’s life. And even though I don’t like the way he went about it, I have to start looking at my own self in the mirror and facing my own truths.”
Pearl wrung her hands. “You were dealt a raw hand, lovey.”
She reached out and smoothed her palm against her mother’s soft cheek. “Not entirely, Mama. I had you. And you stayed. And you gave me nothing but unconditional love and support. You showed me the way by loving me. And yes, it hurts to know that my own father may never truly see me and value me for who I am. He may never love me. Over the years he was never truly there for me. And in coming here to Savannah he did open up a can of worms by asking me to get my bone marrow tested.”
“I’d love to talk to him face-to-face.” Pearl crossed her hands in prayer-like fashion. “Lord, just give me five minutes with Roderick Lucas so I can straighten that man out.”
“You know that’s not your way, although I appreciate your fierce loyalty. Mama, we both have to let it go. Me, most of all. You’re not a bitter person. You radiate more love and light than anyone I know. You’ve let this anger consume you.”
Pearl nodded. “I know that God doesn’t want me to let these feelings of anger eat me up inside. Be kind and love one another. That’s what He asks of us. You’re my baby and I’ve always wanted to protect you against the slings and arrows of life. But from what I’m hearing, you’re fully capable of dealing with all of this head-on.”
“I’ve been praying about this since last night.” She took a deep breath. “You may as well know that I’m going to get swabbed, Mama. I’m going to do it.”
“Morgan!” her mother cried out. “Why?”
“Why? Because it’s what you’ve taught me my whole life. Give to a person in need. Maribel is in need. And it doesn’t matter that he came here under false pretenses. It doesn’t even matter that she shares the same blood as me. What matters is that she’s a human being whose life I could potentially save. That is reason enough to get tested, and if I’m a compatible match, help save her life.”
Pearl took her daughter’s face between her hands. “Oh my precious girl. You are such a beautiful, giving person. You are so wise, lovey. And you’ve taught me so much about forgiveness and having an open heart. Every night when I go to bed I thank the good Lord for bringing you into my life. The greatest gift of all.”
“Right back ‘atcha,” she murmured. “You have been both mother and father for me. I can’t ever thank you enough for your sacrifices.”
Both dabbed away tears as they smiled at one another.
“So, since you seem to possess the wisdom of the ages, what are you going to do about the man who loves you? Seems to me that you have to make things right.”
“Yes, I do,” she answered. “I can’t live without him. And even feeling this way for a few hours is agonizing.” Her mind was whirling with a hundred different ideas about how to best approach Luke. She had no idea if the door had closed on a future between them. It was terrifying to imagine that he might reject her. Or that it might be too late to bridge the gap.
She looked at her mother as fear once again threatened to consume her. “Mama. Pray with me. I need some help. I need to know how to lay myself bare to Luke and tell him everything that’s lying on my heart. I want him to know that I love him. And I need to do it right now.”
“Happy endings don’t just happen. You have to do the work. You have to fight for them.”
Fancy Tolliver
Chapter Ten
Luke’s nose was buried in contracts when a loud crashing noise caused him to look up from his desk. Callie was striding toward his desk looking like a woman on a mission. Her pretty face was marred by a frown. Her gait hinted at unbridled fury. One thing he knew for certain. He didn’t have time for this!
“Callie! You can’t just come storming in here!” Luke made a mental note to remind his secretary, Jonathan, to screen visitors before they came barging in. Even family members were supposed to be announced via intercom.
Callie slammed her purse down on his desk. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.
Luke shook his head. “I have no idea what’s going on with you, but I’m sort of in the middle of something. Why aren’t you at Savannah House?”
“Because I’m standing right here in front of you fully prepared to knock some sense into that too-handsome-for-your-own-good face of yours.”
Luke stared Callie down. He raised an eyebrow in her direction. In order to simplify things, he was just going to cut to the chase. “I appreciate you sliding that compliment in, but seriously I don’t have time for meddling sisters who want to interfere in my love life.”
“I can’t believe what I just heard from Fancy. That it’s over between you and Morgan. You just reunited with her. And you guys are great together. Giving up on that is really lame.”
“Were great together,” he snapped. “As in done, finished, end of story.” He wasn’t a man given to fury, but he felt something rising up inside him that had the potential to be explosive. He felt like a keg of dynamite ready to explode.
“The Luke I know and love so dearly is not a person who throws in the towel!” Callie’s cheeks were flushed and her voice was raised. “You’re a fighter!”
All of a sudden it was just too much for Luke. His heart was broken. His spirits were low. He was sitting here working on contracts and business deals when he really wanted to be burying his head in the sand and grieving the loss of his dream about making a life with Morgan.
He shot up from his chair. Callie’s eyes went wide. He jabbed his finger in the air. “Enough! Give up? Are you serious. I’ve been fighting for almost three years to be with the woman I love. I’ve let Morgan know in every way imaginable that I was committed to our relationship. I’ve done everything but beg her to love me, to be with me, to adore me the way I worship her. I’ve prayed so many prayers God must be sick of me. So forgi
ve me if I don’t want to hear you telling me that I haven’t fought hard enough. The only thing I haven’t done is bleed for her.”
He was breathing so fiercely now he almost felt light headed. Luke reached for the side of his chair to steady himself. A pain shot up his leg. He didn’t feel so well.
“What’s going on in here? I can hear the shouting all the way down the hall.” Their father, Lionel Duvall, burst into the room with an irritated expression stamped on his face.
This was the last thing Luke needed or wanted at this moment. Although he’d already told his father about breaking up with Violet, he hadn’t yet told him about his love for Morgan. Knowing how much Lionel had been championing a relationship between him and Violet, Luke feared that he would automatically be opposed to him being with Morgan.
And so he’d been waiting for the perfect time to introduce Morgan to his family as the love of his life. They’d known her for years as one of Callie’s best friends and he knew everyone loved her. In light of their break-up, there would be no need for any announcements or introductions.
“It’s my fault, daddy.” Callie brushed tears away from her cheeks. “I was in the wrong. I’m so sorry, Luke,” she said in a choked up voice. “Please forgive me for shooting from the hip like that. I should have just kept my big mouth shut.”
“Why are you crying?” Lionel asked Callie. He had a scowl on his face. He swung his gaze toward Luke and held up an envelope high in the air. “And pray tell what is the meaning of this letter you left on my desk?”
Everything was happening all at once. Luke felt as if his head might explode. This morning he’d left a letter for his father asking for some time off so he could pursue the gig at the Savannah Blue’s House. As gently as possible, he’d explained that he wanted to divide his time between Duvall and his singing.
Sensing his father’s inflexibility, Luke had decided to lay it all on the line. Take it or leave it. “I’m serious about it, dad. I can’t live a fulfilled life if I ignore the artistic side of me that wants to sing. And whatever you might think about my choices, there are people out there who really believe in my talent.”
Morgan. She’d always been his biggest fan and his fiercest advocate. She’d encouraged him to pursue a career in singing. And he would always love her for that, along with a million other reasons.
“Luke. I have no doubt that you’re talented. You’re a Duvall after all. But all of these life changes are happening all at once. Ending things with Violet. Deciding to pursue a singing career and work part-time here at Duvall. Are you having a not so midlife crisis?”
“No!” Luke said in a raised voice that got the attention of both Callie and his father. They were both staring at him with wide eyes. “For the first time in my life I’m stepping up and claiming my life. Clearly you think there’s something wrong with that, but I don’t.”
“You’re a Duvall, son. Duvall men don’t go gallivanting all over the place singing on stages,” Lionel huffed.
“Daddy, haven’t you gotten tired of meddling?” Callie huffed. “I thought you’d learned your lesson a few months ago when Mac showed up in Savannah and your deception unraveled.”
Lionel glared at his daughter. “I love my children. Your happiness means the world to me. If that’s meddling, then so be it.”
Luke raised his hand to his forehead. It was pounding. He’d never had a headache quite like this one before. He hadn’t slept very well last night. Perhaps he was overtired and dehydrated.
Suddenly, all he could see were bright silvery stars in front of him. He shook his head then rubbed his eyes. A feeling of such weakness came over him. He felt his legs giving out.
“Luke. What’s wrong?” Callie asked.
“I-I feel strange all of a sudden. I can’t focus—” he told her. He felt himself slumping to the ground.
“Luke. Open your eyes.” His father’s voice called to him from nearby.
Right before he lost consciousness, Morgan’s face appeared before his eyes and he heard Callie frantically crying out his name. Then everything faded to black.
**
Morgan’s cell phone buzzed insistently. Her head was still wrapped up in her conversation with her mother. Luke. She had to find him. She needed to make things right with him and tell him from the bottom of her heart that she loved him. Madly. Deeply. A forever type of love. She’d been forced to live without him in her life once before. It had been a hideous existence, filled with regret and yearning and devastation. She had no intention of reliving that horror.
Morgan didn’t recognize the number flashing on her phone, although it was a local number.
“Hello. Who’s calling?” she answered.
A deep voice came on the line. “Morgan. This is Jax.”
“Hey Jax. How are you doing?” A slight pause ensued.
“Not too well at the moment. I won’t beat around the bush. It’s Luke. Something’s happened. He’s in the emergency room after collapsing at the office. We’re all gathered on the fifth floor while he’s being operated on.” Morgan heard Jax as if through a wind tunnel. After a while all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart and a thunderous noise buzzing in her ears.
Morgan quickly ended the call and sprinted into action. She grabbed her purse and keys, then raced out the door. The drive to the hospital was agonizing. Jax hadn’t given her any details about Luke’s medical emergency which caused her to speculate about it during the car ride.
Was it a stroke? An accident? Her mind whirled with the possibilities. What if he didn’t make it? Jax’s voice had betrayed his own fear and nervousness. Luke’s condition had to be critical.
Please Lord, let him be alive. Please let him live. Even if we’re not together, please let him be a part of this world.
Fear unlike any she had ever known had her in its grip. This was far worse than any other fear Morgan had ever dealt with. The dread of losing someone she loved beyond all measure threatened to choke her.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear hath torment. The passage from John spoke to her, providing her with comfort. For so long she had been living in fear and blocking out the blessings of what she’d found with Luke. Love. True, real and enduring love. Luke had never wavered in his love for her and his belief that they would be wonderful life partners for each other. He had fought tooth and nail to be with her. At every turn she’d fought him. She had always had one foot in the relationship and one foot out. Morgan had allowed her fear of abandonment to destroy their second chance at love.
And now, all she wanted to do was run to Luke. To tell him what he meant to her. To shout it from the hospital rooftop if necessary.
The last time Luke had been in the hospital Morgan had remained at a safe, discreet distance. Even though her heart had been breaking, she had stayed off to the sidelines. She had hidden her love away like a dirty little secret. There was no way in the world she was going to do that this time around. She loved Luke. And he loved her in return. He’d proven it over and over again.
When Luke had been hit by the car, Morgan hadn’t stepped up. She had still been masking the fact that she loved Luke. This time she would move mountains to be at his side. If the worst happened—which she prayed it didn’t—she wanted to be at Luke’s side as the woman who loved him beyond all reason.
Morgan raced to the fifth floor. As she ran to the front desk, she heard her name being called by a deep, masculine voice. Jax, Callie’s husband, stood there, a frantic expression etched on his face. Her heart pounded even louder.
“Jax! Where’s Luke? What are the doctors saying?”
He ran his hand through his dark mane of hair. “He’s in surgery. It’s a blood clot. They needed to snip it before it reached his brain. They think it was the result of the accident.”
Morgan gasped. She had known it was serious, but this sounded life threatening. She knew enough about blood clots to know they could be fatal.
Please, Lor
d. Watch over Luke. Give him strength. Give him full healing.
“Let me take you to the family waiting room,” Jax said, taking her by the arm and leading her down the hall. When he pushed open the door, Morgan saw a large group of family and friends gathered together. Luke’s parents were holding each other while Callie stood with her cousins, Case and Charlotte, along with their parents.
Callie rushed toward her, tears flowing down her cheeks. “Oh Morgan, I’m so happy you’re here.”
Morgan broke down, overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation and the distressed expression on Callie’s face. “I’m sorry, Callie. I know you must be so angry with me about Luke, but I know how wrong I am. I wish I could run to him right now and tell him.”
“Shh,” Callie crooned, still tightly holding on to her. “You love him, Morgan. I can see it in your eyes and it’s written all over your face. All that matters now is that he makes it through this.”
Morgan swiped at her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t know what to do other than pray. And wish I could be with him.” She couldn’t imagine never talking to Luke again or getting the chance to tell him that she loved him. Regret pierced her straight in the heart.
“Just sit with us. Be with us. Pray with us,” Callie said.
“I will,” Morgan said with a nod.
For the next hour Morgan sat with Luke’s family and waited for any news from his surgeon. Just when she thought she might explode from worrying, a doctor in scrubs came hurrying into the room calling out for the Duvall family. As they huddled around Dr. Stein, Morgan almost crumpled to the ground in relief as Luke’s condition was revealed to be guarded. He had made it through surgery and the blood clot had been snipped.
“Praise the Lord,” Morgan called out as other members of Luke’s family expressed their joy and relief.
“Can his immediate family members see him?” Lionel asked. Morgan could see the deep worry lines etched on his face. In the last few hours Lionel Duvall had aged at least ten years.
For Love Alone (Secrets of Savannah Book 4) Page 14