Page 12 of Delivery After Dark
“She’s doing okay,” Tiffany said. “Good days. Bad days. You know how it is.”
“I do, and I’m sorry she’s hurting.”
“Thank you for caring.”
“Of course. I heard she used to come to the gym with her dad. Tell her she’s got a lifetime membership for whenever she wants to use it.”
“That’s so sweet of you.”
“Tell her I’m thinking of her, and I get what she’s going through.”
“I’ll do that, and thank you again.”
“Everyone here has been so very good to me. It’s the least I can do.”
“You should come for dinner some night,” Blaine said. “You can tell Ashleigh yourself about her gym membership. She’ll think it’s cool.”
“I’d love to.”
Blaine shook Morgan’s hand. “We’ll be in touch.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Chapter 4
After the chief and his wife had moved on to visit with others, Oliver turned to Morgan. “That was really nice of you to think of Ashleigh.”
Morgan shrugged. “I feel for a kid struggling to understand things most adults can’t handle.”
“Dara and I lost our three-year-old son in an accident. I was a fully grown man and almost didn’t survive that loss. I can’t begin to imagine how a child would cope with such a thing.”
“I’m sorry about your son.”
“Thanks. We’re doing better, but it stays with you, as you certainly know.”
“It reshapes you into a whole different version of yourself.”
Oliver glanced at him, moved by the profound observation. “Yes, it does. That was well said.”
“If you ever want to grab a beer with someone who gets it, I’m your guy.”
“Thanks, Morgan. I’ll definitely take you up on that.”
“Please do. I need it as much as you do.”
Everyone wanted a moment with Morgan, so Oliver went to find Dara and Monique, who were seated again at their table with Linc.
“How’s he doing?” Dara asked.
“He seems to be okay, all things considered. Are you guys ready to head home?”
“I am, but Monique is going to hang out with Linc in town.”
“And what are your intentions, young man?”
The other three stared at him, mouths agape.
Oliver snorted with laughter. “I wish you could see your faces.”
