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Skye opened the door for Mike. He smiled from her to Morgan behind her at the table.
“Hi, Morgan! Wondered if it was you when I saw Rowena’s car out there,” he sounded glad to have been right in his guess.
“Am I in the way? Do I need to move it?”
“No, you’re absolutely perfect where you are.” He assured her.
Skye was more conscious then ever of their greetings to each other. Morgan’s smile had extra wattage, and for a second Skye felt a surge of happiness as a comparison between this moment and the vapid look of Morgan under Jarrod influence, simpering and lost, hit her. This bright and shining Morgan was infinitely preferable.
“Just you and Morgan here, Skye?” he asked, looking around as if Hunter might be hiding somewhere. Skye bit back an angry retort.
“Just me, making sure Skye was okay,” Morgan said easily. “That was pretty intense back there. Thought she might need some company.”
Mike immediately looked guilty. “Thanks Morgan. Maybe I shouldn’t have left you here alone Skye? Sorry. I feel like I’m getting this all wrong. A manual on parenting would be helpful.”
“Except that you’re not my parent, Mike,” Skye spoke more sharply than she meant to, and felt terrible when Mike’s face fell. “Sorry,” she muttered. “It hasn’t been a great day.”
Mike took a deep breath, “You got that right. Not a great day at all. And you’re right. I’m not your dad. Not trying to be. I just want you to be happy, which to me also means safe. I have no clue about any of the rest of what I’m supposed to be doing.”
“You’re doing just fine,” Morgan assured him calmly, “Isn’t he, Skye?” her voice was pointed.
Skye took the hint. Being sulky wasn’t going to further their purpose, and besides, she hated seeing Mike look like a kicked puppy.
“Yeah, you’re all right, Mike.”
“Uh huh,” he said dryly. “So. What do we do about this?”
“About what?”
“Daniel wants you to keep away from Hunter. I don’t know what to make of all of that. But for me, I think there’s no harm in a little distance.”
The ache in Skye’s chest begged to differ, but it was an impossible point to make.
“Daniel’s okay,” Mike continued, “and I told him you were too. Was I right?”
“Sure,” Skye nodded. “I’m okay.”
“I’m glad you’re here actually, Morgan. I told Rowena that I’d take Daniel back out to Sunnyhills tomorrow morning. It’s on my way anyway. I have to head in to school, I’ve got some papers to grade. I work faster there, but I suppose I could pick them up and bring them here.”
“School on Saturday, what a joy,” Morgan teased. “Well, maybe I could stay the night here, and if we follow you back to Bliss in the morning, Skye can say goodbye to her dad properly? And hang out with us for the day?”
Mike looked relieved. “Does that sound all right, Skye? I’d feel better if you were with the Lauders tomorrow. You’re right, it has been rough on you and being alone right now probably wouldn’t be great.” He sounded like he meant it, even if keeping her away from Hunter might be somewhere there in his thoughts too.
“Sounds good. I’ll go get the spare bed set up.” She went quickly up the stairs taking her lukewarm sweet milk with her. She got clean sheets from the linen cupboard and made up the bed. Downstairs, Mike and Morgan laughed and chatted. Skye tuned out their banter, getting an overnight bag ready for the morning. It took her less than a minute to toss a change of clothes into her bag.
Feeling utterly hollow, she moved to the window where the grey night seemed to defy the late hour. She picked up her cooling mug again and gripped it for dear life, the raw edges inside hurting even more, making a liar of her. She was anything but okay.
Hunter, where are you?
