The Right Thing

by McDonald, Donna

  “Take the money back to your father. Tell Gerald—just tell him I love him and found enough cash for everything and didn’t need his. You better hope he buys the story,” Thea told him.

  Morgan scooped up a bite of pasta. It tasted like nothing to him.

  “Tell me what you used the cash for, Thea. Maybe I—look, if you need the money, really need it, I wouldn’t mind helping you myself,” he offered.

  If she had a good reason, Morgan decided, he would give her his life savings.

  “Why would you do that, Morgan? Feeling guilty about sleeping with a potential criminal?” Thea asked harshly. “I don’t need anything from you, least of all money.”

  “Explain this situation to me then. If I’m wrong about any of my conclusions, you haven’t done a damn thing to convince me differently,” Morgan told her, forcing himself to eat, hurting that Thea could be so ugly about what had happened between them. “And I don’t sleep with people I’m investigating. I’ve never had to in order to get the job done.”

  “Well, you for damn sure didn’t have to climb into bed with me to find out what you wanted to know,” Thea said harshly. “You could have just shown a little faith and asked me instead of accusing me of taking money from your father.”

  She took a final bite, polishing off her plate.

  “I didn’t sleep with you to investigate you,” Morgan denied, ignoring her denial of the rest.

  “Well, I don’t believe you. Right now you couldn’t do much to prove to me there’s a human heart beating inside that empty shell of yours. I’m not telling you a damn thing. You can come home with me, and I’ll sit up with you while you go through my house legitimately. We can go to the office here and get that out of the way right now if you want. Make sure you tell the authorities tomorrow that I fully cooperated with your fraud investigation,” Thea told him sarcastically.

  Morgan didn’t like her tone, the hurt on her face, or the coldness she had about the situation. There was no regret, no humility, and still no sign of remorse. It was a side of her that surprised and disappointed him.

  “I was never trying to hurt you, Althea. I was trying to protect my father. He left a receipt at the bank and when I asked him what the cash was for he lied to me. I started looking into it because taking that money out every month leaves him about three hundred dollars left to live on. He can’t fix his car or the house or do normal things. I didn’t believe it was you when I slept with you Thea. I didn’t,” Morgan told her. “I didn’t believe it until I saw you take the money today.”

  “So I’m guilty simply because your mind can’t think of any reason why I wouldn’t be guilty?” Thea asked sadly, pushing her empty plate away. She doubted Morgan Reed ever gave anyone the benefit of the doubt. “When you finish eating, I’ll load the dishwasher and we’ll lock up. Unless you’ve got some place in mind to lock me up for safe keeping tonight, I’m going the hell home—alone.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” Morgan told her, standing. He scraped his remaining food into the trash. “I hadn’t thought about anything beyond telling you what I knew. I’ll take out the trash while you finish washing up.”

  Thea slid off the stool and walked to the dishwashing area with their plates. “You know, Morgan, if you had walked through that door earlier today and asked the right question in good faith, your father would probably have confided in you. Now I absolutely understand why Gerald kept it from you, and I’m not going to betray him to try to save my reputation with a man who has no faith in me.”

  “If I let you go home alone, will you promise to talk to me tomorrow?” Morgan asked, his hand on back door.

  “What other choice is there? You’re trying your best to ruin the only life I have, Morgan Reed. Just know that the next time you touch me, I’m taking out your bad leg and going for your crotch. When I get done, you’ll never be able trick another woman into bed again. So be warned,” Thea said coldly.

  “Thea, I didn’t trick—never mind,” Morgan said, giving up trying to explain his actions and taking the trash out.

  When he came back, it was to find a frowning Thea, purse in hand, waiting at the kitchen door.

  “Don’t forget Gerald’s money,” she said coldly, watching to make sure Morgan picked it up from the table.

  Morgan tucked the envelope of cash into his pocket, thinking it odd that he’d left it before. “The truth always gets found out, Thea. I really don’t want to hurt you more than is necessary.”

  “Well, that’s the enormous difference between us, the thought of hurting you never crossed my mind at all. I guess you wouldn’t know what that’s like,” Thea said sadly, handing him a piece of paper with some numbers on it.

  “Here’s my cell so you don’t have to badger anyone else to get it. Since you caught me in the act, maybe now you’ll stay the hell out of everyone else’s business. If you do anything more to my family and friends, I fully intend to press charges against you.”

  Thea locked the door of the restaurant behind them and headed to her car.

  Morgan stood by his SUV, the money envelope heavy in his pocket. He should be elated that he’d solved the mystery. Instead he was grieving because he’d just completely alienated the only woman he’d ever come close to falling in love with.

  And now five hours too late, Morgan’s famous instincts were singing a song he’d rarely heard in his life.

  They were telling him he had been totally wrong.

  Chapter 10

  “Didn’t expect you to be home this morning,” Gerald said, coming into the kitchen at seven and seeing Morgan sitting at the table. “What did you do? Sleep in your clothes?”

  “I haven’t been to bed yet,” Morgan said. “Thea and I had an argument and it’s kept me up all night thinking about it. I made coffee a few minutes ago.”

  Gerald poured a cup and brought his coffee to the table, taking the seat directly in front of Morgan.

  “Want to talk about it?” he asked, pointing to Morgan’s chest. “I’m trying to ignore the blood on your shirt and failing.”

  Morgan shook his head and looked at his clothes. He hadn’t thought to change. “No, I don’t really want to talk about the state of my shirt. No real damage was done.”

  He took the envelope from his pocket and slid it across the table to his father.

  “Thea said to tell you that she loved you and that she found all the money she needed from another source. She asked me to bring this back to you. It’s an envelope full of cash, Dad.”

  Gerald sighed and frowned at Morgan. “Of course it is. It took me three months to talk Thea into letting me help out. The woman cries every time I give money to her, but she has always honored my wishes until now. Did you say something to her about this money, Morgan?”

  “We had an unpleasant conversation about many things,” Morgan said honestly. “Why are you giving Thea an envelope of cash every month, Dad?”

  “Every month? How the hell do you know it’s every month? You been looking at my bank records, son?” Gerald asked, sipping his coffee, his hand trembling with a building anger that he didn’t want to let fly.

  It was a bitter pill to swallow to think his son had gone through his private records without his knowledge.

  Morgan thought about trying to explain his reasons, but nothing was going to change what he had done. And he was not in the habit of lying. He was in the habit of being more truthful than most people.

  “When I asked you about the cash withdrawal last month, you lied to me. So I looked into it. I needed to know the truth because I was worried about you,” Morgan said.

  “So you intend to rationalize your actions by trying to make this my fault for not telling you what you have no business knowing?” Gerald asked, pushing the coffee away from him. “What a piece of work you’ve turned out to be. Have I done anything to indicate I’m not capable of taking care of my own business?”

  “No, sir,” Morgan said quietly. “No you haven’t, but I was concerned because i
t left you so little to get by on every month.”

  “It’s always about the evils of money with you, isn’t it?” Gerald said sadly, tortured by a disappointment in his son so keen that it cut like a knife. “Well, let me put your mind at ease. I knew exactly to the penny what I had left each month. And it’s none of your damn business if I spend every dime foolishly and end up eating cat food. It’s my money and I will use it any way I want. Are we clear on that?”

  “Yes. Okay. I’m sorry I overstepped,” Morgan said contritely, nodding. “What—what was Thea doing with the money? I need to know, Dad.”

  “Why? What difference could that make to you now? Will it change anything you said to her yesterday? Your nose is turning black and blue. Who punched you, Morgan?” Gerald asked, his voice hard and unflinching now.

  Morgan was repentant. Anyone with eyes could see that written in the worry and concern on his face. But Gerald was not in the mood to feel sorry for his son or forgive him.

  “I asked you a direct question. Answer it if you want me to answer you back, or this conversation is over.”

  “Thea,” Morgan said hoarsely. “Thea bloodied my nose.”

  Gerald snorted. “I figured as much. Sorry I missed seeing that. I’d have been rooting for her.”

  “She got a punch in for you,” Morgan told him, rubbing his stomach. “I didn’t see the second one coming until blood was pouring from my nose.”

  Gerald laughed harshly, glaring at his eldest for being stupid enough to ruin the best relationship of his life.

  “Angus insulted Thea in public once,” Gerald said tightly. “She threw a full beer glass at his head. It went soaring back behind the bar like a missile and barely missed him. It shocked the hell out of him and the rest of us who were watching, and it shattered the big mirror behind the bar. It was worse when Angus realized missing him was accidental. I’ve never seen her that angry since. What did you say to Thea?”

  Morgan sighed. “Mostly I asked her questions she refused to answer. The worst thing I did was wrestle her to the floor after she hit me. I did threaten to have her arrested if she didn’t cooperate. Nothing much worse than that.”

  “Nothing much, he says,” Gerald said, laughing harshly and shaking his head. “You made the best woman in the world feel like a bad person for no damn reason. You might never understand the full extent of the damage you’ve done to her.”

  “Well I might if someone would tell me what the hell is going on,” Morgan said, exasperated with feeling like shit and not being able to do anything about it.

  “Get cleaned up and dressed,” Gerald ordered, standing. “I’ll show you what Thea did with the money. I don’t care anymore what you think about me. Before that though, we need to be straight. One day I may need you to mind my affairs, but until that time, I want you to stay the hell out of my business. Are we clear?”

  “Okay,” Morgan said quietly. “I was just trying to protect you. I thought someone was trying to take advantage of you.”

  “Yeah,” Gerald said sadly. “That’s exactly what a jaded, bitter man like you would think. It would never occur to you that most people are good, not even people you love. I feel sorry for you, Morgan, but all the sorry in the world won’t convince you. A man like you needs evidence. So get your ass moving. We need to be somewhere before eight.”

  “Fine,” Morgan said, rising from the chair. Any information was better than none. He wasn’t real keen on going another round with Thea yet, that was for sure.

  *** *** ***

  There was no need to stand in the hall of the nursing home this time and hope for a glimpse of what was going on. Morgan followed his father into the room after he flipped a sign on the door requesting they be left alone with the occupant.

  The woman’s face lit up with pleasure when she saw his father walk in.

  “Gerald?” Delilah said, smiling. “I’m so glad you came by this morning. I woke up with the most glorious feeling. It was like the fog finally lifted from my mind.”

  “Delilah, you’re glowing today. If I’d have known you were going to feel this good, I’ve have climbed in through your window last night,” Gerald teased, going to the bed and kissing the woman full on the lips. Today was a good day, he thought, holding her face in his hands and giving thanks. “Good to see you feeling better, sweetie.”

  “Who did you bring with you?” Delilah asked, sneaking a peek at the brooding man hovering in the doorway.

  “This is my son, Morgan. Morgan, come meet the love of my life. This is Delilah Carmichael,” Gerald said.

  Morgan walked to the bed and took the fragile hand reaching out to his own. His voice was rough and a bit unsteady as he carefully shook her hand.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Carmichael.”

  A sick feeling of dread hit his stomach. He suddenly knew with clarity he wasn’t going to like what he learned.

  The woman smiled and laughed at his formal address.

  “Delilah, please. Mrs. Carmichael makes me feel so old,” she said, leaning back on the bed and closing her eyes.

  The silence went on so long that Morgan got very uncomfortable. He looked at his father, who was just sitting quietly by her side on the bed, his gaze fixed on the woman’s peaceful face. Morgan could tell he was being purposely ignored.

  Some five minutes later, the woman opened her eyes again, as bright as ever.

  “I’m so sorry. The medicine makes me very sleepy,” she said with a soft laugh.

  Gerald nodded and patted Delilah’s hand. “You’re fine, sweetie. A beautiful woman like you is worth the wait. Besides, I’d have eventually kissed you awake when I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

  She laughed again. “Are you ever going to marry me, Gerald Reed?” Delilah demanded, her voice full of amusement.

  It was the first time in his life Morgan had seen so many raw, unchecked emotions crossing his father’s face. Most of it disappeared in a matter of seconds, the rest passing when his father cleared his throat on a husky laugh.

  “Damn straight I am. The minute you get out of this place, I’m renting the church and getting the minister,” Gerald told her, voice confident and sure. “I love you, Delilah. I want nothing more than to marry you and make you my wife.”

  “I love you too, Gerald,” Delilah said sincerely, then laughed again when she considered how intimate the conversation was. She turned her head to Morgan. “Are we embarrassing you?”

  Morgan forced himself to smile, even though he wanted to run from the room and jump off a cliff somewhere to escape. “Embarrassing me? Are you kidding? I find you and Dad to be inspiring.”

  Her eyebrow raised. “I see you inherited your father’s way with words. You should meet my daughter-in-law, Althea. She could use a sweet-talking man in her life. I don’t think that girl has dated since my son died. Are you single, Morgan?”

  Morgan swayed and had to ease himself down into the chair by her bed before his legs gave out.

  “Yes, I’m single. Is she as pretty as you? Tell Dad to hook me up,” he joked, hearing the woman laugh again.

  “See—sweet talker, just like your father. Gerald, how long have I been in here? It feels like forever. I’m so tired of hospitals,” Delilah complained, closing her eyes as the all-too-familiar tiredness moved over her.

  “It’s only been a couple of weeks,” Gerald lied, just like he did every time she asked that question. He’d gotten really good with offering creative answers to it.

  “You know how it is Delilah. With a weak ticker like yours, they need to know you’re completely well before they’ll release you. You just worry about getting well, honey. I’ll be waiting when you get out,” he said easily.

  “I can’t wait to get married. I love you, Gerald,” Delilah said, drifting off into sleep.

  “I love you back, Delilah,” Gerald said, lifting her hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss into her palm.

  After fifteen minutes of silence, Gerald heard her soft snoring. He motioned fo
r Morgan to get up and follow him out. Gerald left the door to the room slightly open and flipped the sign back.

  “We can leave now. The medicine makes Delilah sleep a lot, even on good days like today. I’ll return at ten and read to her for a while.”

  “She’s a nice woman, Dad,” Morgan said as they walked back down the hall. His father’s only answer was a nod.

  They got into the SUV, and Morgan headed home.

  “When I go back later, in all likelihood Delilah won’t remember me,” Gerald told Morgan, resignation heavy in his tone. “The medicine gives Delilah clarity for about an hour after she takes it. Then the dementia returns. The medicine is experimental and costs seven hundred dollars a month. I want you to understand that it’s worth every penny of it to me to get to talk to the real Delilah for a few minutes every day.”

  “Dad,” Morgan said, his throat tight with anguish. Thea’s punches had hurt less than hearing the real explanation. “Why didn’t you just tell me that’s what you were doing with the money when I asked you the first time?”

  “I didn’t think you’d understand my need to do all I can for Delilah Carmichael when I was already sleeping with another woman. You don’t exactly have the most open mind when it comes to all the shades of gray in the world, son. I didn’t need your black-and-white judgments of what I was doing on top of everything else,” Gerald said. “It’s hard enough to get through the days as it is.”

  “I’m not that bad a person,” Morgan complained, frowning at the windshield. “I think I would have understood if you had explained it to me. Thea refused to answer my questions at all. I didn’t know what to believe.”

  “Really? Why did you automatically believe the worst of Thea even though you’ve been sleeping with her? If making a good woman mad enough to give you a bloody nose didn’t show you the truth about yourself, I don’t know what it’s going to take,” Gerald told him.

  Morgan let the silence between them drag out as they pulled into the driveway of his father’s house.

  “What’s Thea’s role in this?” Morgan asked, ignoring his father’s chastisement and the question hidden within it.