“She probably just needs time to wrap her mind around everything. That poor girl has been through a lot in the past few weeks, not the least of which is meeting you,” Lexi said, nodding toward Patrick. “I don’t think you understand how difficult for someone outside your family to accept thatcroiesare real.”
“You did,” Patrick said. “So did Aunt Taryn, Aunt Maggie,—”
“No, she’s right,” Ian said, his expression more serious now. “None of them, including your mother, made it easy. Knowing the truth of it isn’t enough.”
“Neither is love,” Lexi said. “I fell in love with your father long before we ended up together. But it wasn’t until I allowed myselfto believe a happily ever after was possible that we figured things out. Even then it was rough going for a while.”
“Okay. So how do I get her to believe?”
“Be patient and show her that you’re there for her, no matter what,” Lexi answered.
Ian wrapped his hand around Lexi’s. “Andnevergive up. Fate knows what it’s doing, but you have to earn it.”
“Grandpa Jack said pretty much the same thing,” Patrick said.
“He’s a smart man,” Ian agreed.
Patrick’s phone buzzed.
He turned it over, his heart leaping when he saw Morgan’s name. “It’s Morgan.”
Morgan:Can we talk?
Patrick:Sure. I’m at my parents’. I can be at Frank’s in fifteen
Morgan:I’ll be here
Patrick looked up at his parents. “Morgan wants to talk.”
“Forget talking,” Ian said. “You should?—”
“Go,” Lexi encouraged. “It’s going to be fine.”
“Right,” Ian added. “And if talking doesn’t work, you should?—”
Lexi slapped her hand over Ian’s mouth before he could complete that sentence, but Patrick was already on his way out the door.
Morgan was waitingfor him on the porch when he pulled up.
She was sitting on the top step in her field jacket, phone in hand, her expression unreadable. She said nothing as he approached, which didn’t bode well. He gave himself a silent pep talk, telling himself that no matter what she said, he would handle it.
“I’ve decided to go back to Philadelphia,” she said.
His heart bottomed out somewhere around his spleen. “Morgan?—”
“I need to give notice. Collect my things. Deal with the apartment.”
“But—”
It took a moment for the words to register.
He looked at her. She was watching him with that patient, almost amused expression. The one she wore when she was waiting for him to catch up.
“You’re not going back?”
“Aren’t you listening?” she said, her lips twitching slightly. “Iamgoing back, but only long enough to resign and pack. I wondered if you might want to come with me.”
He’d go anywhere she asked him to. “You’re asking me to go to Philadelphia with you.”