Page 73 of Lemon Crush

“I seem to be.” She had no idea how much activity I was capable of now. “Anyway, it’s not like those fancy restaurants you worked at in college. This is a beer-and-nachos crowd and I’msitting at the stool behind the bar most of the time. I think being more active is actually helping me build up some stamina.”

Phoebe squeezed my arm supportively. “I can tell you that having those shiftsandthe billing done by someone I can trust has been a load off my mind and cankles. She’s not even on the payroll, because she’s a stubborn Retta, so she’s doing it all for tips. Uncle Wade is so happy he doesn’t have to deal with the computer anymore, he said he’d pay her more than my current salary to do it.”

“That’s the truth,” I heard Wade mutter.

“She’s also agreed to do a little yoga with me,” Bernie lied through her teeth. I’dneveragreed to yoga. “Well, I offered her free lessons. I’m still talking her into it.”

Morgan sat back in her chair, her expression mystified. “I wasn’t gone that long, was I? Did we slip into an alternate universe? How is it that no one told me this was happening? Do you still write books for a living?”

At least I knew she’d be happy about this. “I do still write books. In fact, I think I’ll have something to send my publisher as soon as Chick finishes his read-through. He’s coming to stay for a few months, by the way, so you’ll finally get to meet him in person.”

They’d talked on the phone once or twice over the years, and I already knew they’d like each other.

I saw a moment of genuine relief on her face. “That’s wonderful news, August. But I feel like I’m still catching my breath here with the rest of it. When I left, you were standing at the airport in pajamas with steam pouring out of your car. Before that you barely left the house. Now you’re working at the bar, renting out the apartment, having company and making all sorts of unexpected decisions. It’s a lot to take in. Even if you decided to give it to me in manageable doses instead of all at once.”

Had it been that obvious?

The silence at the table was uncomfortable. I really should have given her more warning, but since she’d left for Italy, things had been too busy for me to dwell on how easy it was to make all these changes that had felt impossible a month before, or how she might react to them.

“I decided it was time to do more than talk about next steps,” I finally said, remembering her last words at the airport. “So, I started taking some.”

“It’s perfectly understandable to me.” Saint Lucy came to my rescue again. “Hurricanes have a tendency to make a person reevaluate their priorities.”

I’d take the assist, even though I’d made the car and apartment decision before the hurricane.

“That’s the truth,” Gene tossed in helpfully. “Remember Ike, babe? Two weeks with one generator and no water, apart from the neighbor’s pool.” He shuddered dramatically. “I haven’t been the same since.”

The set of Morgan’s shoulders relaxed microscopically and she smiled at Lucy and Wade. “Whatever the reason, I’m grateful you were both there. Especially you, Wade. I can’t imagine what would have happened if she’d been alone.”

“She would have been fine.” Wade’s voice was more gravel pit than melted honey at the moment. “She took care of all three dogs after Ann dumped yours and helped me deal with most of the damage before Lucy even showed up.”

Was he defending me? I didn’t need it, not with my sister, but I couldn’t say I hated the feeling.

“Please don’t get me started on Ann,” Morgan muttered.

“I’d like to point out that both ofmyfriends did the same thing Wade did,” Gene said to his wife. “Left their homes in the dead of night and brought generators and ice to your sister as well as checking on Wade’s.”

“Yes, but your friends are crazy, dear,” she responded, swiftand sweet. “They’d make house calls in a tornado to prove they could. Wade is too sensible for that.”

“That’s fair,” Rick and Lucy agreed in unison, making the rest of us chuckle in relief.

Maybe now we could change the subject.

“It sounds like we owe all of you for taking care of things while we were away.” Morgan pushed back her chair, ignoring the groaned denials as she got to her feet. “We’ll talk about paybacks later, but right now I need to borrow my sister for a few minutes.”

Or maybe not.

She held out her hand for me and I rose, not looking at anyone but her as she led me to her bedroom, where we could talk in private.

“Morgan, I’m sorry I didn’t?—”

She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I automatically lifted mine to return the squeeze. “Are you okay?”

When she pulled back to look at me, her deep-set green eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Do you know what I did every day on the cruise?”

“I’m hoping you’re about to say you had fun.”

“I read Mom’s journals on the balcony.”

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