Chapter 14

“Andrea, what on earth are you going on about, dear?”

This had been the moment Andrea was dreading. Her family had arrived at the hospital and was now occupying her room, waiting for what she was going to say next. But it was the next piece of news that was going to cause the most upheaval. She had contemplated waiting until she was out of the hospital in the next day or so, but she just wanted the whole confrontation over and done with. Besides, if it got nasty then the ward nurse could just toss her family out.

“Mother, look. I have tried and tried to accept the plans you had for me and Joel, but I just can’t do it.” Andrea gripped the sheet so hard her fingers hurt.

“Andrea, darlin’, what—why now? I thought we were fine with this.” Joel perched on the edge of the hospital bed and looked at her worriedly.

Andrea sighed with frustration. “We were, for a while, anyway, but didn’t you feel there was something missing in your life, Joel? Something important?”

He shook his head.

“No? Well, I did. And I still do. Coming to New York has been the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Andrea, don’t be ridiculous. You’ve been shot, dear God. It’s made you confused. Once you’re back in Charleston, you’ll see everything is fine.” Andrea’s mother talked to her like she was ten years old.

“I’ll arrange some time off from the office, and we can spend it together. How about that, sweetheart?” Joel looked over at Jefferson Worthington and received a small nod in return.

“No. I. Am. Not. Going. Anywhere.” Andrea emphasized each word carefully.

“Of course you are,” her mother said imperiously. “I don’t think you understand that you were shot, Andrea. You could have been killed. And what are the police doing about this? No, it’s too dangerous here. You’re going back to Charleston. Isn’t that right, Jefferson?”

Her father cleared his throat. “Andrea, sugar, your mother’s right. Don’t go making any rash decisions right now. You’re upset. You had a horrible thing happen to you, after all.”

“This is most certainly not a rash decision, Daddy. Coming to New York has been a wonderful experience for me.” She looked up at her father, taking in the large aquiline nose and graying temples. She always did think he was a handsome man, and judging by the number of society women who congregated around him at the soirees the Worthingtons held, other women thought the same thing. He was handsome, debonair, and very smart, and Andrea felt she was like him in a lot of ways.

“A wonderful experience?” Andrea’s mother said in exasperation. “Please, Andrea. Look at yourself. Do tell us why this has been the best thing that ever happened to you.”

Andrea gritted her teeth at her mother’s words. “I found myself, mother.”

“Found yourself? We didn’t realize you were missing,” her mother said.

“Now, Virginia, allow the girl to speak her piece.”

“Jefferson, she’s speaking sheer nonsense. When we get her home, we should look into some kind of therapy for her. She was shot. She’s obviously been traumatized, and they aren’t taking decent care of her here in this—this—place.”

“Mother, will you just butt out?” Andrea exploded. “I’m fine and I’m staying right the hell here.”

“Don’t you talk to your mother like that, young lady.”

“Well,” her mother said, “you have got the nerve.”

“Just stop it, both of you. I’m staying here. I can’t leave. Not now.” Andrea snapped her mouth shut, cursing herself for the outburst.

“Not now? What’s that supposed to mean?” Virginia glared at her.

“Never mind. It’s not important.”

“Something’s certainly important enough for you to stay here in this godforsaken place. If you even remotely expect us to leave without an explanation, you are so very sadly mistaken, missy.”

“Dear God, y’all are killing me here. I’m really not up to this right now,” Andrea said with a groan.

“Just tell us why, and we’ll leave. It’s as simple as that.”

Virginia didn’t budge from her badgering.

“Virginia, maybe—”

“No, Jefferson. She’s expecting us to just accept her decision. I do not accept that. I will not accept that.” She turned back to Andrea. “You’re my daughter, and you owe me an explanation.”

“I don’t owe you a damn thing. For God’s sake, Mother, I just got here. Things are just starting to fall into place for me here.”

“Fall into place? And where does getting shot come in that plan?” Virginia’s voice hardened.

Andrea could see the signs. Her mother was about to shift into domineering mode. If she didn’t stop this now, her mother was going to take matters into her own hands and it wouldn’t be pretty.

“You seem to forget, Mother, this is my life, not yours. I have the right—”

“Have the right? And look what you’ve done with it.”

“I want you to stay out of this. Daddy?”

“Now, Virginia, dear, Andrea is right.”

“Stay out of this, Jefferson,” Virginia said in dismissal. Andrea watched her father back away once more. She felt sorry for him. Well, she wasn’t going to become him. She wanted her own life, and she would fight for it.

“Andy, honey. Just what are you talking about?” Joel moved farther up the bed and attempted to hold Andrea’s hand. Andrea pulled her hand away. “What I’m talking about, Joel, is that I want a life far away from Charleston, one of my own making, mistakes and all.”

“But I’ll be here,” he said.

“Yes, you will, but you’ll be bringing Charleston with you. Even if we get married here, there will still be the social gatherings, the expectations, the parties, and the families.”

“But you enjoy those things, honey.”

“I used to enjoy those things, Joel. Not anymore. My life has changed and I want more. New York City can give me more.”

“You...” Joel hesitated. “You didn’t find someone else, did you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Joel,” Virginia butted in to say. “She’s been here only a few weeks. She couldn’t possibly—”

“I have met someone else, Mother.”

“How could you!”

“I’ve discovered a friend, Mother. Someone who has shown me there’s more to my life than what I had. She’s become very important to me.”

“She? Did you just say she?” Virginia’s mouth opened in shock.

“She’s a person I work with, Mother. A friend. I’ve never had a real friend before.”

“Andrea, please. You’re just talking complete nonsense. Of course you have friends.”

“No, I haven’t. Most were simply the daughters of all of your society friends. And I hate to tell you this, but for all their designer clothes, expensive educations, ridiculous plastic surgeries, contracted marriages, and classless affairs, not a single one of them is worth a damn.”

“Don’t talk about your friends like that. You’ve been a part of their lives for many years,” Virginia said in a huff.

“That’s because I didn’t know any better. Now I do. Do you know what it’s like to have a real friend? Someone who knows all about you and accepts you just as you are? Someone who gives you everything and asks for nothing in return? That’s a special gift and not one that I’m prepared to give up.”

Virginia glared at Andrea. “What’s going on here? What’s she holding over you?”

“Good God,” Andrea said, with an eye roll. “She’s not holding anything over me. She’s done nothing but be a friend to me, a real, honest-to-goodness friend.”

“You cannot be serious here,” Joel said. “Andrea—honey—we can still go ahead with the wedding plans despite this slight hiccup.”

“Why do you think I came to New York?” Andrea tried to keep her temper in check.

“Obviously to be difficult,” Virginia said, her tone tinged with sarcasm.

“No. I did it to get away from you and your constant godforsaken harping. And in doing so, wonder of wonders, I have actually found someone that I enjoy being with. Morgan has been a godsend to me. For the first time in my entire life, I can finally be myself without all this pretentious bullshit.”

“Morgan?” Virginia said.

Andrea sighed heavily. “Yes, that’s her name.”

“Morgan. Sounds like a man.”

“She’s anything but that, Mother.”

“So when do we get to meet this... Morgan?” Virginia said the name with obvious distaste.

“When I feel you can be civil to her. She’s done absolutely nothing wrong, Mother. She’s gone out of her way to make me feel at home here, and despite what might be going through your mind right now, she’s done so without expectation of a favor returned.”

“Now wait one minute—”

“Are you going to stand there and say it isn’t true, Mother?”

Virginia’s mouth slammed shut. “Just as I thought.” Andrea hadn’t wanted the confrontation to end up this way. “Please, all of you, I just need some space. I want to call off this wedding and see where New York leads me. Okay?”

Her gaze turned to Joel. “I’m sorry, Joel, but I just can’t do this.” She looked long and hard at him, trying to convey in a look what she didn’t want to say with words. Don’t think that I don’t know about your girlfriend, Joel. Don’t make me say it. Joel stared back and when Andrea’s eyebrow lifted he nodded.

“If that’s what you want, darlin’.”

“That’s what I want, Joel.”

“Well,” Virginia said, “I for one won’t accept this.”

“Then go home, Mother.”

“Oh. My. God. You cannot be serious.” Virginia’s voice dropped to barely a harsh whisper.

Andrea turned her gaze to her mother. “Completely serious.”

“I see. How much is it going to take for her to lose her interest in you?”

“Way more than you could ever offer, Mrs. Worthington,”

Morgan said as she entered the room.

Virginia Worthington completely ignored Morgan and instead kept her focus on Andrea. “What’s really happening here?”

“I don’t know. Call it fate, I guess,” Andrea said. “Fate has brought us together.” She paused for a moment. “There must be a reason for all this, and I’m going to find out what it is. So I need space to figure it out, and I’m going to take it, free of your interference.” Andrea turned to look at her father. “Daddy?”

“Yes, sugar.” Jefferson Worthington had been noticeably quiet during the argument.

“Do you have anything to add to this conversation?”

There was silence. “Well, honey, it’s a bit of a surprise, but I think I might have to agree with your mother on this one.”

“That’s it?” Sadness edged Andrea’s voice. “Doesn’t anyone want to wish me well?”

“I’m happy for you,” Morgan said. “I might not agree with your choice, but I’m happy that you’re happy.” She looked at Andrea. “I’m sorry. I was outside the door and heard everything.”

Morgan placed the roses she had brought with her on the bed before she turned to face Andrea’s family. She extended her hand.

“Mr. and Mrs. Worthington, I’m Detective Sergeant O’Callaghan. Morgan.”

“Detective?” Virginia looked at her with some disdain. She made a move to politely shake Morgan’s hand.

“Yes, ma’am, with the New York City Police Department.”

Joel stood nearby and Morgan took it upon herself to shake his hand.

“So. You’re this Morgan person my daughter seems to think is so important.”

Andrea clenched her teeth and tried to catch Morgan’s eye. She hadn’t wanted to drag her into the family feud, but it seemed she now had no choice in the matter.

“Yes, ma’am, I suppose I am.”

“So—Detective—” Virginia put a slight emphasis on the word.

“This is how you do your job with regard to my daughter?”

“Mrs. Worthington, I would give my life to protect your daughter.”

Andrea stared at Morgan, hardly daring to believe what she heard.

“Then why didn’t you?” Virginia asked with barely concealed venom in her tone.

“Mother!” Andrea broke in.

Morgan shook her head at Andrea. “No, she’s right. I should have looked after you better.”

“No, stop it,” Andrea said softly, hearing the guilt in Morgan’s voice. “You couldn’t have done anything. The shooter waited for me. I would have been shot no matter what you did.”

“Shooter? He deliberately shot you? I think I’ve heard more than enough. Jefferson, we have to get her back home, now. New York is no place for her. This is ridiculous. She had a perfectly acceptable position back in Charleston, one that didn’t put her life in danger.” Virginia stood glaring first at Morgan then at Andrea, her hands on her hips. “And what are you doing about finding this offender? You should be at your desk doing just that and not bringing flowers to a sick friend.”

“May I point out, Mrs. Worthington that the sick friend is your daughter. You should be pleased that she has someone here to visit her.” Morgan paused. “Yes, it’s a dangerous place, Mrs. Worthington, like any large city, but we—I—will do everything in my power to keep her safe.”

“Well, it hasn’t been very effective to date, has it?”

Andrea watched Morgan’s reaction to her mother’s verbal attack. She had known that pain on many occasions and could sympathize with the impotence Morgan must feel at not being able to fight back. Her mother had a way of humbling even the most venomous of enemies.

“Ma’am, it’s one thing to insult me personally, but to insult the police force is unacceptable. They put their lives on the line every single day to protect people like you.”

“Like me? Are you insulting me, Detective?”

“Mother—” Andrea tried to interrupt, tried to head Virginia off and prevent her further wounding Morgan.

“No ma’am,” Morgan said, and her voice held ice. “But you will respect the profession. You might not like me—”

“That’s an understatement.”

Andrea opened her mouth to speak then thought better of it. She was so proud of Morgan. Not everyone could stand up to Virginia Worthington’s nastiness.

“I will not allow you to insult the memory of all the officers who have died in the line of duty in this city. They deserve your respect and your gratitude. Surely even in the South there’s respect for an officer of the law.”

As Morgan drew herself up even taller, Andrea felt a little thrill rocket through her chest.

“Your daughter,” Morgan said, “has chosen an admirable profession at which she excels, one that is greatly needed in a city such as New York, and I’ll work day and night to find the person responsible for injuring her.” Morgan’s gaze touched Andrea before it returned to Virginia. “That said, Mr. and Mrs. Worthington, the department extends its best wishes for a swift recovery for your daughter. Two uniformed police officers are on guard outside your daughter’s room until she’s discharged from the hospital. After that, she’ll be under the care of the New York City Police Department until this person is caught. And punished.”

Andrea fought an urge to jump out of her bed and throw herself at Morgan for a hug.

“Andrea. If you’ll excuse me...” Morgan stepped toward the door.

“Wait,” Andrea said.

Morgan turned.

“When will I see you again?” Andrea asked, almost plaintively.

“Some time soon. Get better. Quickly.”

But the tone in Morgan’s voice told Andrea everything. Now was not the time to talk of mundane things. Morgan left the room, leaving Andrea stranded alone with her family. She bit her lip. “I’m very tired right now. Leave me, please.” She barely controlled her anger as she spoke. She was in no shape for a pissing match with her mother.

“Andrea—” Virginia started to speak.

“Goodbye, Mother.” With those two words Andrea dismissed her family, watching as they reluctantly headed toward the door.

“I’d like a word alone with Joel.” She waited until her parents had left her alone with her now ex-fiancé. “Come here and sit.” She patted the edge of her bed.

“I think everything’s been said,” Joel said stiffly.

“I suppose it has, but I wanted to say goodbye without my mother hovering in the background.”

“Are you sure about this, Andy?”

“Look, Joel, don’t try to convince me otherwise, okay?” He sat there downcast. “And don’t try that pathetic wounded look either.”

“You’re the one breaking the engagement.”

“You’re no angel either. You think I don’t know about Jennifer? We both know that this marriage was a sham. A big Southern society sham.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“All those poker nights? Working late? Get real. Do you have any idea how many of our friends have seen you out with Jennifer? I’ve always known.”

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

“I didn’t care. Can you believe that? I was just keeping the families happy by doing this. I’d get a husband and children, and everyone would be happy. I was living a lie as well.” Her eyes bored into his. “At least I’m being up front about it.”

“It could still work.”

“Yes, it could if I wanted it to work, but I don’t. I’ve let things slide in my life for a long time now, but no more. I have a chance to make a difference here, and I’m going to take it. It’s my life, and I’ll do things my way.”

“So, that’s it, then.”

“Yes, that’s it. I hope we can remain friends.” But the look in Joel’s eyes told her that might not happen for a while. “If ever you’re in New York, look me up.”

“Goodbye, Andrea.” Joel placed a kiss on her cheek and walked out.

Would that be the last time she would see Joel? Maybe time was the best healer of all. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, she felt a great burden lift from her shoulders. She was free to live her life the way she wanted to.