"What if they don't?" Grace asked.
"But, I've never tried to lift something that heavy. What if I'm not strong enough? If I can't do it, Cait will die!" Morgan protested, caught in the weight of her fears, insecurity ratcheting through her.
"She'll die if you don't," Grace said, her words slapping Morgan in the face.
Morgan straightened and looked around at the people frozen in various states of shock and horror. This was a village who cared about their own, she thought, as tears ran down her face. They'd accepted Fiona without too much fuss, and many knew of the rest. Cait was a town favorite.
"Love can win, can't it?" Morgan whispered, turning to face Grace, her heart in her eyes.
"Yes, my sweet, beautiful child," Grace said gently.
She took Morgan's face in her hands and looked down at her. "Maeve. Morgan. Two incredibly strong and very different women, both housing the same soul. We're forever bound, you and I. You're never alone. My blood runs in your veins. My love, my strength, is yours. Love always wins," Grace said as she placed a kiss on Morgan's cheek and faded away.
Like a bolt of lightening, Morgan was back on her knees in the grass as people screamed in terror around her.
"Morgan! Save her," Fiona shouted at her, her voice raw with fear. Aislinn whipped her head around as she ran blindly towards Cait.
"Lift the car," she screamed at Morgan.
And so Morgan stood, her back straight, her hands in fists at her side. She began to walk slowly towards where Cait lay pinned, her life's blood flowing from her, and she imagined that big switch in her head flipping to on with more power than she'd ever had in her life.
Pandemonium erupted when the car began to shift on its own. Wobbling at first, rocking a little.
Fiona and Aislinn had reached where Keelin kneeled next to Cait's head. They all turned to Morgan, their faces grim.
"Do it!" Keelin screamed.
Morgan continued to walk forward, and the crowd fell away. The noise seemed to fade into the background as she focused harder than she ever had in her life.
The car lifted straight off of Cait, hovering above all of the women. The crowd fell quiet behind her, only the scream of a small child resonating with her.
"I can't take my eyes off of it! Where can I put it?" Morgan screamed, wanting to move the car from over the women's heads, but convinced if she broke her gaze away, the car would fall again, this time crushing them all.
A voice cut into the silence behind her.
"Up the hill, Morgan, just up the hill two car lengths. It's free there."
Patrick.
Morgan tried not to let tears blur her vision as she held the car and slowly moved it through the air as it wobbled dangerously over the women. She followed it with her eyes until it hovered above a clear space.
And let it down ever so gently.
A sob escaped Morgan as she began to run, never looking back, only focused on Cait.
"Oh God, oh, no, oh," Morgan sobbed as she knelt in a pool of blood around an ashen Cait.
"Take the baby," Fiona ordered, her hands already on Cait's body, Keelin following her lead. Aislinn had her hands at Cait's heart, her eyes closed, her body still.
"What do you mean take the baby?" Morgan shouted.
Fiona whipped her head around to glare at Morgan.
"The baby is in distress. She knows her mother is injured. You need to tell her it will be okay and hold her steady until we get Cait back," Fiona bit out and Morgan stared at her blindly, more terrified than she had ever been in her life.
"Nooooo." A keening wail broke through and Morgan glanced up in time to see Flynn and Baird holding Shane off of Cait.
"Let them work," Flynn shouted into his ear.
"The baby!" Fiona ordered and Morgan whipped her eyes back to Cait's body. Ignoring everything else, she slipped her hands beneath Cait's shirt, sticky with blood, and pressed her fingers onto her swollen stomach. Closing her eyes, she scanned Cait's womb until she found a very frantic flicker of life.
"Shh." Morgan communicated with her mind. "It will be okay."
"My mother!" the baby cried to her, its screams of fear echoing in her head.
"We've got her. You need to calm down right now or you'll make it worse," Morgan said sternly and then winced, hoping that she hadn't scared the baby.
The flickering seemed to slow a bit and soon Morgan could sense a regular heartbeat.
"That's a good girl. We all love you and your mother very much. We are taking care of her. You'll be able to see her soon," Morgan promised the baby and she saw a warm glow begin to surround the baby as she spoke.
"You're doing good, Morgan, keep holding her. Cait's lost a lot of blood. Both of their lives are in danger," Fiona said curtly.
Morgan gulped and nodded, talking to the baby with her mind.
"Your mom is one of the best women I know. You'll grow up to be just like her. You'll love this town where you are going to grow up. It's located on the water and has all sorts of wonderful things to see and do," Morgan babbled, pouring all of her energy and love into Cait's womb, visualizing a cocoon of light surrounding the baby.
Morgan was dimly aware of Fiona and Aislinn chanting while they ran their hands over Cait, sweat pouring off their brows. Fiona's body shook with emotion and power as they held their hands to the worst of Cait's wounds. A hum of energy began to surround the woman as they worked over Cait's body, each woman doing her part to save one of their own.
"Hold on, little one, just hold on until I tell you it's time, okay?"
A small voice reached her mind again.
"Yes," the baby said simply, seeming to enjoy the cradle of light Morgan held her in.
A flash of light shot past Morgan's face and she whipped her head back, narrowly missing the stream. It shot into the chimney of a nearby house, exploding it in a fantastic display of bricks flying into the backyard.
Cait moved beneath them, moaning.
"We need to get her inside. This baby's coming," Fiona warned, looking ashen, her brow covered in sweat.
"She'll hold. She told me she would," Morgan whispered, refusing to break her tenuous hold on the baby.
"Lift her. Men, help!" Aislinn cried and in seconds Shane was cradling Cait under her arms while Patrick and Flynn lifted her feet. Baird hovered behind them looking anxious.
"To my house," Aislinn ordered and the men began to trot up the street. Morgan ran with them, her hands never leaving Cait's belly.
"Don't let my hands leave her belly," Morgan barked out, her eyes briefly meeting Patrick's before she returned to Cait's stomach.
"We won't," Shane said fiercely.
They maneuvered themselves awkwardly up the hill towards Aislinn's house next to the gallery. Baird ran ahead and opened the door, ushering them inside.
"First floor guest bedroom. Back left," he ordered and they followed him down a hallway. Morgan felt a picture slide off the wall as her elbow hit and she could only hope it wasn't an invaluable piece of art as it fell to the floor.
"Boil water," Fiona shouted behind them and Morgan saw Aislinn zip off towards the kitchen.
They entered a room with a beautiful bed with a wrought-iron bedframe and a wedding ring quilt on it, and Morgan tore her eyes away from Cait for a second.
"Move the quilt," she ordered and Baird snagged the quilt from the bed, throwing it over a rocking chair in the corner.
The baby sent a panicked cry to her brain.
"It's okay," Morgan murmured, not caring if she looked crazy to the men. "Your mom won't leave you. She'll be okay," she crooned, urging the baby to hold on.
Fiona whisked into the room, a cup of liquid in her hand.
"Hold her head up," she ordered to Shane. Shane dutifully did as Cait blinked wearily, moaning quietly.
"Drink," Fiona ordered.
And Cait drank.
Moments later, Cait began to cough, and then she began to cry.
Tears clouded Morgan's vision as Cait
reached up with one arm and hooked it around Shane's neck, pulling him to her so she could kiss him.
"I hate to break this up, but you have some work to do," Fiona said gently, smiling through her tears.
Cait looked up at her, her face weary.
"I don't know if I can do it," Cait whispered.
"You can," Morgan interrupted, and Cait's gazed whipped to her.
"Your baby's fine. She, I mean it's ready." Morgan blushed, realizing that she had given it away. Cait began to laugh as Shane's mouth dropped open.
"A girl!" She sighed and smiled, her gaze returning to Fiona.
"You saved me," Cait whispered.
"Well, who was going to pour my pints for me?" Fiona asked, wiping a tear away.
"Free pints for life," Cait whispered and then worry crossed her face. "I feel so weak, I'm scared. It was so scary, everything that just happened, I saw the car, I thought…I thought I died." She hiccupped out a sob as Shane wrapped his arms around her again. The baby began to move in distress again, its heartbeat fluttering rapidly.
"Shh, you're fine. She's just a little emotional." Morgan spoke to Cait's stomach and had the woman pausing.
"Is she upset?" Cait whispered.
"She just got a little scared when you started reliving the moment. I think she's ready to meet you though." Morgan smiled gently at Cait.
"Will I be okay?" Cait looked at Fiona, her eyes wide with worry.
"Aye, you'll be fine. We're all here," Fiona said and Cait looked around. Morgan glanced up to see all of the women and their men standing around Cait's bed.
"Love wins," Morgan said.
"You're right," Cait said and Morgan jumped, not realizing she had said it out loud.
"Let's bring this baby girl into the world," Cait said and smiled, reaching to hold both Shane and Fiona's hands.
Morgan smiled and then sent all of her love to the baby, giving her a nudge in the right direction.
Chapter Thirty
Morgan slipped out as soon as she knew the baby would be delivered in good health. Aislinn's guest room was small and Morgan figured that Cait would want some private time with Fiona and Shane.
Her body felt like it had been run over by a truck and her eyes ached. She scanned the room, looking for Patrick.
"He went to man the pub. Everyone went there to wait and hear about Cait," Baird said.
Morgan nodded, not saying anything.
"You should go there," Baird said.
"I might," Morgan said noncommittally. She looked down at her bloodstained clothes. "I'd like to shower first. Give Cait and everyone my love. I'll…I'll be back," Morgan murmured, nodding at Baird as she tried to move past him.
"Morgan, if you need to talk…I'm here," Baird said gently.
"I just need to be alone," she whispered, at her emotional limit for the day, just needing a moment by herself to breathe.
Morgan slipped out of the back door and took the side streets to her apartment, jogging along so as not to chance running into a villager while she was exhausted and covered in blood. Morgan reached her apartment door and on a sob, she ran up the stairs to her room, jamming the key into her door, wanting more than anything to just be alone for a moment.
Pulling off her bloodstained clothes, Morgan pushed into the bathroom and stepped into the shower, not caring that the water was cold.
And let it all out.
She cried into the cold stream of water as it began to turn warm, slumping to the floor of the shower to let the water run from her. Pink water, the remnants of Cait's blood, flowed between her toes, getting sucked into the drain. Morgan wished she could wash away what had happened so easily.
Patrick hadn't stayed. He hadn't said a word to her, she thought as she tilted her head up into the stream of water.
And, yet.
He'd yelled to her. When she needed help most, Morgan thought. Her mind flashed back to the car hovering in the air and her fear of not being able to place it down safely. Patrick's voice had cut through her fear to help her.
Even when Patrick had been mad at her. Even when he didn't understand what was happening, he'd had her back, she thought.
That's just because he is kind hearted, and loves Cait, she told herself. If he really cared about her, he would have spoken to her after what had happened. Something.
An image flashed through Morgan's mind of the people surrounding her when she'd lifted the car.
Shock.
Horror.
Disbelief.
Morgan shook her head.
Nobody would ever look at her the same. And, they'd certainly judge Patrick for it. She'd always be known as his crazy girlfriend. She'd ruined everything, Morgan thought.
Realizing what she had to do, Morgan began to sob even harder, wrapping her arms around her legs, hating the decision that she had to make.
Morgan knew that she had to go.
Hours later, the tears still flowed as she packed her bags. Looking around at her apartment that she loved so much, her eyes landed on her bed. She trailed her hand over the comforter, remembering the nights that she and Patrick had spent there.
She was doing this for him, Morgan thought determinedly.
Her phone dinged with a text message and Morgan hurried over, hoping for good news.
Healthy baby girl! Cait wants you to come by tomorrow. She needs sleep now. Both mom and baby are doing well.
Morgan blinked down at the text message, happy that she had been able to help, grateful that Cait and the baby had been spared. Her body swayed as she looked at her phone and she realized that she was about to drop from sheer exhaustion.
She looked at her bed again.
"Tomorrow, I'll go," she said and crawled beneath the comforter, asleep before her head hit the pillow.
****
Morgan awoke in the dim light of morning to another ding from her phone. She pushed herself up and rubbed her hands over her face, trying to shake the fog from her brain. She closed one eye and squinted at the clock.
6:00 a.m.
Grumbling, Morgan reached for her phone to see who the text was from. Her thoughts immediately went to Patrick and her heart lifted for a second before she remembered that she was leaving today.
Sighing, Morgan swiped the screen.
I need you to open the gallery today. We have a tourist bus coming and Cait needs my help. Thanks, the text from Aislinn read.
Her mouth dropped open and Morgan began to text back, thinking up some excuse as to why she couldn't make it.
"Damn it," Morgan cursed and put the phone back down without sending a text.
She couldn't just walk out on Aislinn. She was the first person who had ever taken a chance on Morgan.
Sighing, she crawled back into bed and pulled the pillow over her head, pushing her nervousness away. She'd just have a heart-to-heart with Aislinn later on today and then she would be free to go.
On her own, once again.
Chapter Thirty-One
"What am I doing," Morgan moaned as she finished getting ready for the day, her eyes drifting to her suitcases stacked in the corner. She sighed as she pulled her long hair into two braids on either side of her face, the mindless task soothing her. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since the scone for breakfast yesterday. Moving to the kitchen, she popped a piece of bread in the toaster oven and sipped at her coffee, trying to calm her scattered mind. Her emotions were raw and ran dangerously close to the surface. Morgan knew she would have to keep them buried if she was going to function at work today.
Morgan buttered her toast and bit in right away, barely tasting the food. Why hadn't Patrick called her? She must have scared him, Morgan thought, nerves skittering through her belly. Except he'd helped her. So why hadn't she heard from him? Morgan's thoughts continued to careen around her head in a cycle of insecurity and sadness as she grabbed her purse and her sunglasses and left her apartment.
Stepping into the sunshine of the early morning,
Morgan caught sight of the cheerful flags that just yesterday had filled her with such excitement. Wanting to stay out of sight, she took the backstreets, wandering past people's kitchen windows, hearing the murmured discussions over breakfast. She dipped her head and kept her eyes on the ground, not wanting to speak with anyone.
Arriving at the courtyard to the gallery, Morgan couldn't help but glance at Aislinn's house. She wondered how Cait was doing. A part of her itched to see the baby that she had communicated with yesterday. Instead, she lifted the latch and went into the gallery, switching into work mode as she thought about what would be the best items to sell to the tourists. Morgan refused to think about the decision she had made.
Agatha had brought in her ribbons earlier this week so Morgan pulled a low table out from the store room and spent a good twenty minutes wrapping the ribbons around the packages, smiling at how cute they looked. She anticipated strong sales. Her smile dimmed a bit as she realized that she wouldn't be around to give Agatha the good news.
Glancing at the clock, Morgan realized that she couldn't put off opening any longer. With a heavy heart, Morgan went and unlocked the door for what would possibly be her last day at the gallery. She pulled the shades, letting the morning sunlight slash through the windows to warm the honey-toned wood floors. She wandered around the room, her eyes taking in the beauty of Aislinn's painting, knowing that she would miss this place more than any other that she had left in her lifetime.
The bells over the front door tinkled, making her jump and a flush cross her face. Turning, she pasted a bright smile on her face.
Aileen stood there, a rose in her hand, a warm smile on her face.
"Aileen!" She was quite possibly the last person that Morgan had expected to see. A thread of nervousness slipped up her back.
"Morgan, I know our relationship got off to a bad start but I wanted to be the very first to thank you," Aileen said, coming to a stop in front of her and holding out the rose. Morgan looked at it in confusion.
"What. Why?"
"For saving Cait. We all love her. And I don't care how you did it, I just care that you did," Aileen said gently as Morgan took the flower from her.
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