Return of a Hero (12 page)

“Call them,” Laura begged. “Don’t shock them by appearing unannounced, Morgan.”

She was right. Giving her a hug, he got up. “Come into the kitchen with me. I’ll make the call from there.”

“Do you still remember their phone number?”

He grinned and grabbed her hand, leading her into the other room. “That phone number haunted me for years before I found out what it meant. After I regained my memory, I knew it was my folks’.”

Morgan felt shaky as he picked up the phone and dialed. What would his parents say? What kind of reception would he get? Did they believe he was a traitor? The phone rang three times before it was answered.

“Trayhern residence, Rachel speaking.”

Morgan’s throat constricted. “Mom? It’s Morgan,” he rasped unsteadily. “I—I’m calling from Washington, D.C..” The silence seemed to explode with her shock. He heard his mother gasp and utter a small cry.

“Morgan? Morgan, is that really you?”

Tears stung his eyes, and his voice mirrored his emotions. “Yeah, Mom, it’s me. Look, I’ve got a lot of explaining to do, and I don’t want to do it over the phone. Can I fly down and see you and Dad?”

“Of course,” she sobbed. “Are you all right?”

“Sure, Mom. I’m fine.” Morgan glanced over at Laura. She was crying, too. He swallowed hard. “Dad? Is he okay?”

“Fine. Just fine,” Rachel assured him. “We didn’t know if you were dead or alive. Where have you been? And why haven’t you or the Pentagon contacted us?”

“Mom, I’m not a traitor,” Morgan whispered, his voice hardening. “Look, I’ll answer all your questions once I get there. I’d like to bring a friend of mine along—Laura Bennett. She’s important to me…and to what’s happened of late.”

“Of course, bring her with you.”

Exhilaration soared through him. “God, it’s good to hear your voice, Mom.”

“Oh, honey, you’ll never know how much your dad and I prayed for you. I’d let you talk to him, but he’s at the golf course right now.”

“That’s okay. And Noah? Aly? How are they?”

Laughing with joy, Rachel said, “Noah’s stationed down in Miami. He’s married now and has a beautiful daughter and another baby on the way.”

Pain jagged through Morgan. “A daughter?” How much had he missed in seven years?

“Yes. He’s married the loveliest woman, Morgan. Her name is Kit, and she’s so much like Alyssa.”

“How is my little sister?” he asked, choking up again at memories of Aly’s red hair in pigtails.

“She’s been a navy pilot for a year now. Graduated with honors from Annapolis and the Pensacola flight school.”

“I’ll bet she’s having a hell of a good time.” Morgan laughed, feeling the weight of years sliding off his shoulders.

“Aly recently married, too, but she’s continuing her career for now.”

“Good for her. Look, Mom, let me give the number where I’m staying. When Dad gets in, have him call me?”

“Of course, honey.”

Morgan repeated Laura’s number. He found himself wanting to continue talking, but knew it was wiser to wait until the family had gathered. “Can Noah and his family make it up to see us?”

Laura smiled, warming when he said “us.” She walked over and gripped Morgan’s hand, giving him a look of pride. Just the satisfaction in his eyes told her everything. It had been the right decision. For all of them.

“I’m going to call him and Aly right now, Morgan.”

“Look, Mom, don’t tell anyone except the immediate family that I’m alive and stateside. Promise?”

“Well…sure.”

He knew his mother well enough to know that without his warning against it she’d call every one of their relatives with the news. “Listen, I’ve got a lot of explaining to do. Right now it wouldn’t be wise to let the press or anyone we can’t trust get a hold of the fact that I’m back. Okay? Legally I’m still considered a traitor. If the authorities found out I was here, they might toss me in jail and throw away the key.”

“I understand, honey,” his mother agreed. “As soon as your dad gets in, he’ll call you. I know he’s going to be so happy. So happy….”

Morgan wanted to cry right along with his mother. He managed a lopsided smile filled with emotion. “We’ll make plane reservations right now, Mom. Chances are, by the time Dad calls, we’ll be booked on tomorrow’s flight.”

“I’m so happy you’re back, Morgan,” Rachel said, weeping. “Hurry home to us. We love you so much.”

“I love all of you,” Morgan replied brokenly. “Goodbye, Mom.”

“Hurry home to us, Morgan. Hurry….”

A deluge of stored emotions and memories swelled through Morgan as he gently replaced the phone back in the cradle. He felt Laura slide her arm around his waist, drawing him into her arms. Holding her for a long time, he finally whispered, “That was my Mom. She was glad to hear from me.”

Laughing shakily, Laura hugged him tightly. “Of course she was!”

The heavy walls he’d erected around his heart fell beneath Laura’s embrace. With a groan Morgan held her close “You’re something else, Laura Bennett…” He pressed his mouth to the smooth slope of her cheek, inhaling her flowery fragrance.

Kissing him quickly and stepping away out of fear at the strength of her own emotions, Laura said breathlessly, “Let me call Dr. Taggert and get this examination out of the way. You should stay here and wait for the call from your dad.”

Laura’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled with incredible happiness. Morgan quelled his desire to grab her and bring her back into his arms. “No, I’ll go with you. Dad will call back if necessary.”

She nodded, unable to stop smiling. “I’m so proud of you, Morgan.”

Reaching out, Morgan gripped her fingers. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Laura. So much bravery in such a little package.” He grinned. “What do you say we get this show on the road?”

He was achingly boyish in that split second. Laura saw the years of pain and tension fall away from his lined features. For a moment, the breath was stolen from her as she watched his mobile mouth broaden with a genuine smile. His eyes had lightened in color, the shadows in them no longer present. Yearning to reach out, draw him to her and love him, she said huskily, “Yes, let’s get this show on the road, Captain Trayhern. We’ve got dragons to slay.”

Laughing, Morgan spanned her small waist, lifting her off her feet. “Sweetheart, I’m no knight in shining armor. More like Don Quixote with you as Sancho Panza at my side.” Gently he set her down, sliding his hands across her shoulders, up her neck to her cheeks. “Be my faithful squire?” he asked, studying her darkening blue eyes dancing with gold highlights.

Sobering, Laura nodded, drowning in the silver fire of Morgan’s eyes. “Yes, I’ll be your partner in this battle. We can’t lose, Morgan. We have truth on our side.”

He caressed her lips with his, feeling them part beneath his exploration. “You’re so sweet and innocent,” he breathed against her.

Closing her eyes, Laura molded her lips to his mouth, feeling the texture and strength that was only him. “My belief in you is all I need.”

Groaning, Morgan devoured her offering, kissing her hotly. Laura sagged against him, and Morgan felt his world narrowing to only her unshakable belief in him. As he tasted the depths of her mouth, lost in the sweetness, he knew that, together, their strength would see them through hell, if necessary. Drawing back gently, lightly kissing each corner of her smiling mouth, he admitted that every day presented potential devastation. But looking into Laura’s radiant blue eyes, he found the determination he needed.

As he stroked her flaming cheek, threading his fingers through the silky strands of her hair, Morgan could hardly wait to introduce Laura to his family. They would love her on sight, he knew.

The phone rang just as Laura opened the door and entered the foyer of her home. She tossed her coat and purse on the couch, having to reach over a welcoming Sasha to pick up the extension. Elated because Dr. Taggert had said that her eyes were in perfect condition, she answered the phone breathlessly.

“Hello?”

“Laura, this is Jim Woodward.”

Her joy dissolved. Morgan was giving her an odd look as he came in and closed the door. “Oh, Jim…”

“Don’t sound so happy to hear from me.”

Rallying, Laura said, “I’m sorry. What is it you want?”

“Just to make sure you’re all right. I’m still doing research on Ramsey. I’m hoping the CIA might shed some light on this for me.”

She sat down, rubbing her brow. “Jim, why don’t you just drop this?” Frustration built in her. Laura knew Jim’s penchant for thoroughness. Often he’d accompanied her down to the photographic vaults in the basement of the Pentagon. Terror leaked through her. If Jim found photos of Morgan, he’d turn the information over to law enforcement officials. And then they would arrest Morgan.

“The guy bothers me,” Woodward responded tightly. “His face…I know it! It’s bugging me and I want to put all the puzzle pieces together.”

Laura sighed, watching how Morgan’s features had closed when he found out it was the marine captain on the phone. “Fine. You do what you want, but leave me out of it. I don’t want to hear about this again, Jim. Do you understand?”

“I’m sorry I’ve upset you, Laura. But I’ve got to pursue this matter. Goodbye.”

Laura put the receiver down, giving Morgan a desperate look. “That was Jim Woodward. He’s still trying to identify you through photographic files and a CIA search.”

Morgan nodded, his eyes hooded. “There’s nothing we can do to stop him, Laura. Let’s get packed. Our flight is at eight tomorrow morning. I’ll take Sasha over to the kennel for you right now.”

She rose, all of her happiness returning. Morgan had already agreed to bring the baby robin along in a small cardboard box. He’d assured her that his mother would love the baby bird and probably dote over it. “Okay….”

Taking Laura in his arms, Morgan gave her a game smile. He saw the worry in her eyes. “Hey, this is going to get a hell of a lot worse before it’s over, Laura. If you’re going to nosedive like this over one snoopy captain, what are you going to do when the heat’s really applied?”

Leaning upward, Laura kissed his mouth, relishing the returning strength of his response. The thick hair from his mustache grazed her skin, sending a delightful prickle through her. “You’re right,” she whispered.

“I’ve been in tight spots before,” Morgan told her, cupping her chin, gazing into her eyes. “Even if Woodward does get something on me, I’ll be gone. He won’t know we’re in Florida because I’ve given the airlines an assumed name. The tracks leading to me end right here.”

“I just hope he doesn’t stumble onto your real name,” she muttered. “Knowing Jim, he’s probably going back year by year through those photo files.”

“He’s got seven years to plow through before he finds me,” Morgan reassured her. “Come on, we’ve got things to do. And frankly, I can hardly wait to get home.”

Chapter Seven

M
organ wiped the nervous sweat from his brow as they drove up to the Trayherns’ two-story stucco home on the outskirts of Clearwater, Florida. His heart was pumping hard in his chest, and his mouth was dry as he parked the rented vehicle. He felt Laura’s hand on his.

“It’s going to be fine,” she told him, giving him a warm smile.

“Home,” he croaked. “It’s just as I remember it….” Palm trees dotted the sloping landscape, and vivid red poinsettias bloomed in colorful profusion along the concrete walk and across the front of the house.

Morgan got out of the car, staring at the front door. He noticed his mother first, then his father. The shock of seeing them rooted him to the spot. All his fear dissolved at the sight of joy and welcome in their faces, not disappointment, as they hurried down the steps to the walk.

“Go ahead,” Laura urged, squeezing his hand. “Go meet your parents.” She gave him a little shove in their direction, following behind him.

“Oh, Morgan!” Rachel cried, throwing her arms around him.

“Mom—” He folded her tall, thin form against him, a sob tearing from deep within him. His mother was young-looking despite her fifty-six years, with the same sparkling green eyes, winsome smile and short black hair, now textured with silvery gray tones.

Laura stood back, tears in her eyes. She saw Chase Trayhern’s piercing blue eyes fall first on her as he approached. Although in his early sixties, he looked much younger. His face was square, with a pronounced aquiline nose and a generous mouth that could either thin in disapproval or… He smiled a welcome to her, and Laura felt as if the sun had embraced her. Holding her hands against her heart, she felt how privileged she was to see Morgan reunited with his parents.

Chase stepped forward, throwing his arms around Morgan’s broad shoulders. “It’s good to have you back, son,” he said, his voice quavering.

Morgan held both his parents, their heads bowed against him, all of them momentarily unable to speak. His mother’s quiet weeping, her strong, slender arms around him, broke down the last of the walls holding old grief and pain. He cried with them, time ebbing to a halt around them.

They stood locked in one another’s arms for a long time. Finally Morgan raised his head, his eyes awash with tears. His voice was little more than a croak. “Laura?” He unwrapped his arm from his dad and held his hand out to her. “Come here.”

She smiled unsteadily, moving forward to take Morgan’s hand. Hastily wiping her tears away, she allowed him to pull her into the circle.

“Mom, Dad, you’ve got to meet Laura Bennett. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here.”

Shyly Laura held out her hand to Rachel Trayhern. Instead Morgan’s mother threw her arms around Laura, hugging her tightly.

“We owe you so much,” Rachel said, sniffing. “Thank you, Laura.”

“Well—I didn’t do much—”

Rachel pulled another handkerchief from the pocket of her green apron. “Nonsense. Here you’re crying as much as I am,” she said, smiling through her tears as she pressed the cloth into Laura’s hand.

Blotting her eyes, Laura smiled up into Chase Trayhern’s stern features. How much Morgan looked like him, she thought, as she extended her hand to him. Chase gripped it firmly, and rasped, “You’ve got to be quite a lady to have found our son and brought him back to us. Thank you.”