Page 48 of Easton Island: Old-Fashioned Christmas
Morgan carefully plucked it from the folds and held it up to the light. “A blue jay next to a tree, along with a shield. Did you and Grandfather design this?”
“We did not. It’s been in the Easton family for many years. I believe Garrett’s great-grandparents designed it, although I’m not sure about the timeline.”
“I’ll treasure it forever.”
“And hopefully pass it on to your children.”
Morgan placed the pin back inside. “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”
“I know you will. Brett may someday pass his on to Tristan.”
“Speaking of Tristan, I was thinking about inviting him to tag along with me to check on Locke Pointe and Looking Glass Cottage.”
“To get him out of the house where you can chat in a more neutral location,” Elizabeth said.
“I’ll let you know how it goes. Hopefully, Jeff won’t mind.” Morgan gave her grandmother a gentle hug. “Thank you for everything. You made Christmas special.”
“As did you, bringing crafts to keep us entertained, not to mention helping me decorate the tree.”
Knock, knock.
The women turned to find Naomi standing in the doorway, overnight bag in hand. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all.”
“Priscilla is out front waiting for me. She’s giving me a ride to Morgan’s house to get my car. I wanted to tell you goodbye and to thank you again for your hospitality.”
Elizabeth crossed the room. “You’re welcome. If Garrett had been here, he would have done the same.”
Naomi mumbled under her breath, causing Elizabeth to arch her eyebrow. “I did not steal him from you. Good heavens, after all these years, I would have thought you would have reached the same logical conclusion.”
“But Garrett isn’t here to confirm or deny,” Naomi haughtily replied.
“No, he’s not.”
“Someday the truth will come out.”
“It’s already out, and you are sadly mistaken.”
Morgan tensed, sensing the fragile truce between the women was about to be blown to smithereens. She wasn’t wrong.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Naomi snapped. “I had hoped we could finally, after all these years, act like adults and be civilized.”
Elizabeth briefly closed her eyes. “Perhaps it’s time for you to leave before the conversation devolves even more than it already has.”
“Yes, it is.” Naomi snatched up her bag and stormed off. Moments later, the front door slammed.
Morgan pressed her hand to her forehead. “That ended…on a sour note.”
“I’m beginning to believe Naomi isn’t happy unless she’s arguing with someone,” Elizabeth joked.
“She seems to fly off the handle fairly easily. If she’s this wound up about losing Grandfather decades later, she must have been a barrel of laughs right after it happened.”
“When it finally sank in all that Naomi had lost, she was desperate to get Garrett back. Even now, she’ll tell anyone who will listen that I was the evil interloper who ruined her life and stole her man.”
“At least she’s consistent,” Morgan said. “I’m almost sorry I called to ask you if she could come stay.”
“Regardless of how nasty Naomi can be, I’m glad you did. I would never forgive myself if, God forbid, something happened to her and we could have prevented a terrible tragedy.”
