I heard her answering her phone so I turned the shower on and quickly got washed. Alan hadn’t been lying when he said Millwood would show up here himself and drag me to the match. As much as I wanted to stay, I needed to get going.
I had asked Mum about the money she had supposedly sent to dad. She denied, it just as I figured. Morgan had been right, I should never have doubted her.
After I was dried off and dressed I walked into Morgan’s bedroom to find her sitting on her bed, her face in her hands.
“What happened? What’s wrong?” I demanded, going immediately to her side.
She lifted her tearstained face and my stomach dropped. “It’s my mother.” Her lips were trembling. I smoothed her hair back from her face.
“Is she all right?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “No. She’s not. That was Mom’s cousin. My mother had a heart attack. She’s in the hospital.” She started sobbing and all I could do was pull her into my arms and comfort her as best I could.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so, so sorry,” I crooned in her ear.
“I have to get to her. She’s all alone.” Morgan pulled away and got to her feet. She looked totally overwhelmed.
“I thought you said her cousin called. So someone’s with her right?”
“Lisa doesn’t live near Mom. She can’t stay with her. My mom doesn’t have anyone nearby. There was only me, but now I’m here. God, I knew something like this would happen. I have to get back to Virginia. I have to get a plane ticket. I need to pack.” She went to her closet and pulled a bag from the shelf, sending a pile of clothes careening to the floor.
I got up and took the bag from her shaking hands. “Take a breath, Morgan. One step at a time.” I rubbed her back. “Let me call Mo, he can get you a plane ticket.”
“I can get my own ticket,” she protested.
“I know you can, but I want to do this for you. Let me.”
She nodded, obviously in shock; otherwise she’d put up more of a fight. “First thing you do is call the hospital and get an update on your mother.”
“Right. I should do that now.” She clutched her phone in her hand, her knuckles white. “Wait. Your game!” Her eyes were wide and frantic.
I kissed her softly. “Don’t worry about the match. You stay here, pack a bag. Mo will call you once your plane is booked.”
“Are you sure? Your mom will be there—”
“She’ll understand,” I cut in.
“Okay, I need to call the hospital.” I could tell she was in a daze. I left her to make the call and I quickly contacted Mo.
“Pay for it out of my account,” I told him.
I could hear Mo typing in the background. “I can get her on an eight o’clock flight from Heathrow. If she takes the train in an hour she can be there in plenty of time.”
“Book it. Get her a train ticket and get yourself one too.”
“Get one for me?” Mo asked, sounding confused.
“Morgan’s a nervous traveler. She’ll be worse with this going on. I need you to get her to Heathrow. Make sure this is as stress free as possible. Can you do this for me? She’s important to me, Mo.”
“Of course, Lucas. Tell her I’ll be by to get her in a half an hour.”
“Thanks, Mo. I really appreciate it.”
“If she’s important to you, she’s important to me,” Mo said.
“Thanks, mate.”
“Before you go, I wanted to let you know that I had your solicitor contact your fath—Mr. Parks. He’s shopping around a tell all about your childhood. We’ve sent a cease and desist notice.”
