Page 47 of Easton Island: Old-Fashioned Christmas
“Tristan’s a good kid,” Brett said. “And you’re a great uncle. Clearly, he loves you.”
“And I love him.” Jeff started to say something and abruptly stopped. Morgan suspected it was because of the others in the room, listening in. “He needs a stable home and family who are around more than me.”
Morgan hurriedly changed the subject. “I don’t know about you, but one of the best Christmas gifts we’ll get is having the power back on.”
“Thank you for the presents. I love them all.” Quinn slowly stood. “Esther and I are heading home to check on our place too.”
“I took a drive into town right before breakfast,” Ben said. “The main roads are clear. It will take a while before the plows get to the side streets. If you stick to the main roads, you should be fine.”
The room emptied until only Prissy, Morgan, and Elizabeth remained.
“Tristan seems like a good kid,” Prissy said.
“He is,” Elizabeth agreed.
“I can’t put my finger on why, but he looks vaguely familiar, like I’ve seen him before. Is he related to you, Morgan?”
Chapter 20
Prissy pinned Morgan with a stare and repeated her question. “Are Jeff and Tristan Blakely related to you?”
“In a roundabout way,” she answered truthfully.
“Prissy,” Elizabeth admonished. “You need to turn that inquisitive brain of yours off once in a while.”
“I’m sorry, Morgan. Ignore a prying old woman’s inappropriate questions.”
“It’s all right.” She patted her arm. “I would love to elaborate on your question, but I would have to swear you to secrecy, and I don’t want to put you on the spot.”
“Like Prissy did to you.” Elizabeth linked arms with her sister-in-law, gently yet pointedly guiding her toward the door. “I hope you return home and find everything safe and secure.”
“Without frozen pipes.”
“Precisely.”
Reaching the hallway, Prissy paused. “Thank you for inviting me to stay and for offering Naomi shelter during the storm. She doesn’t deserve your kindness.”
“I would hope that had I found myself in a similar situation she would have done the same.”
“I need to pack my bags.” Prissy thanked her again and left.
Morgan tracked down an empty box and began gathering her gifts. “Thank you for the thoughtful presents, Grandmother.”
“I’m glad you like them. I absolutely adore the earrings you bought me. They’ll go perfectly with the cocktail dress I picked up for the New Year’s Eve party Gerard and I are attending.”
“I knew the minute I saw the earrings they were meant for you.” Morgan crumpled the last bits of wrapping paper. “I should check on Chester.”
“Before you go, I have one more gift.” Elizabeth motioned her granddaughter toward the tree. Reaching inside, she removed a petite box, roughly the size of a ring box, and handed it to her. “I found this while cleaning out one of the last storage bins in my closet.”
“You’ve already bought me so many nice gifts.”
“I didn’t buy it.” Elizabeth patted the top of the wingback chair. “Have a seat.”
“I’m intrigued.” Morgan untied the evergreen-colored ribbon and slid her finger under the edge of the tape, peeling it back. Setting the paper and ribbon on her lap, she lifted the lid.
A decorative pin sat tucked in the velvet folds of the box. On closer inspection, she realized it was a family crest with an intricate design and inlaid diamonds set atop a sapphire stone. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
“The Easton family crest. Brett has the other one. I knew I had two, but only recently found this. It’s yours.”
