Around the World in 80 Men Boxed Set 31-35 (54 page)

“
Where's
Farfar?” Candace popped a small round sliced cucumber into her
mouth and slid a knee onto a tall bar stool next to the kitchen
island. Their mother turned suddenly as she hadn't heard the trio
walk in.

“
Oh..
hello.” Grace dried her hands quickly and reached out to
Morgan. “It's so nice to meet you, I'm Grace.” She looked
just like Candace, but with short blonde hair that that stuck up in
deliberate spikes on top of her head. It was a trendy look, and
Morgan never would have imagined his mother to look so young.

“
The
pleasure is mine, lovely to meet you, Grace.” She pulled Morgan
to the counter across the room and lifted the lid to the crock pot.
“I hope I've remembered everything. Normally, I make roast with
lamb and pickled cabbage. I know Americans don't usually eat it like
that and I...”

“
Does
it really matter, Grace?” The grandmother walked into the room
and closed the lid to the slow cooker. “Everything you make
tastes the same. I told you, you should have just bought steaks.
That's what American's eat, right, Misty?” Morgan closed her
eyes as the old woman walked through the kitchen, ignoring the stares
from the entire family. After a quick breath to steady her words,
Morgan responded.

“
Morgan.
My name, is Morgan.. not Misty.” Grandmother barely looked
behind her shoulder, then turned the water on to rinse the few pieces
of silverware in the sink.

“
Ah,
Morgan... Misty. It doesn't really matter, does it? Models take stage
names or something, don't they?” She dried her hands and
finally faced Morgan completely. “My name, is Bethany. It's the
name is I was born with, and the one I'll use until I die. See...
keep it simple.” She walked past Morgan and dropped her towel
in front of Candace. “Make yourself useful, your father didn't
intend for you to have
everything
handed to you, did he?”
She left the kitchen, and she also left everyone almost speechless.

“
I'm...
sorry.” Candace reached out and put her hand on Morgan's arm.
“She's a real bitch.”

“
Candace!
Don't say that about her, she's your blood!” Grace glared at
her daughter and was horrified that such a display had unfolded in
front of company. “Morgan, I apologize. She's set in her ways
and I'm afraid she comes off as rude at times.” Morgan wanted
to correct her, to say that it wasn't just coming off as rude, the
old woman actually put effort into it. Instead, she smiled and nodded
politely.

“
Farfar!”
Candace ran into the front room and greeted her grandfather at the
door. The old man was certainly a family favorite, and Morgan had
already known why.

“
Morgan,”
Markus approached her from behind and guided her gently to far end of
the kitchen, away from his mother. “This might have been a bad
idea. I'll be happy to take you to dinner, we can leave now and make
it to the city before dark.” Morgan loved that he offered, but
there was no way she was going to leave right then. Morgan stood
closer and kept her voice low as she answered.

“
Thank
you, but your mom worked hard on the meal and I can't disappoint
her.” There was another reason, but she didn't have to speak
that one out loud.
And that old bat isn't going to run me off.
Markus wasn't sure if that's what he wanted, but he decided that if
it made Morgan happy to stay, then it was settled.

Grace
had already cleaned, cut and added the potatoes to the pot before
Morgan returned to her side. “It smells wonderful.” Grace
smiled, hoping that Morgan was being honest, and opened the lid once
again.

“
Here,
let's have a little taste.” She grabbed a roll from the top of
the stove and tore it in half. Morgan gladly took her half and both
women dipped their bread. “Well?” Grace dipped her second
bite, as did Morgan. The roast gravy was hearty, hot, and full of
flavor. It was exactly as Morgan had remembered eating as a child.

“
I...
love... it!” Morgan reached in front of Grace and stole another
roll. “You in?” She taunted the woman with the bread and
Grace nodded quickly. Bethany walked in right then and broke up the
taste testing.

“
If
you think I'm going to eat that disaster
after
everyone has
had their mouths in it, you're sadly mistaken.” She turned
quickly and opened the refrigerator door. “I'll have a
sandwich, and the rest of you would be smart to join me.” Grace
dropped her bread on the counter and wiped her mouth quickly. Morgan,
on the other hand, dipped her bread once again.

“
Honestly,”
Morgan pushed a small crumb that tried to escape, between her lips,
“I would eat this if it fell in the floor and a dog walked
through it.” Morgan smiled and chewed her bite loudly, then
hugged Grace quickly. “It's wonderful, I can't wait for dinner.
Thank you so much for making this for me.” She openly reminded
Grace, had she paid attention, that the meal was intended for Morgan
and the old woman should have kept her opinions to herself.

“
I'm
sure I've eaten food that fell to the floor, but not sure if a dog
walked through it.” Farfar sat at the small breakfast table in
the corner of the kitchen and smiled at Morgan as she left the
kitchen. Yes, Morgan thought, he was someone that she could probably
like very much.

Less
than an hour later, with the potatoes finally done, everyone finally
sat in the dining room to start their meal. Bethany never showed,
which made the mood better than it had been for the family in quite
some time. Ten minutes in, and they were all enjoying the American
pot roast even more than Grace had anticipated. “Honestly, if
you all like it, I'll be happy to make it again for you.” Grace
was thrilled to have made something that they all enjoyed, and was
already thinking of when she could make it again for her family. She
had spent years sticking to her tried and true recipes, and a change
was something that she was greatly looking forward to.

“
Don't
bother, they're just being polite in front of Megan.” Morgan's
eyes instantly went to Grace who had already dropped her gaze to her
bowl. A deep breath wasn't going to help, not again.

“
Morgan.
My name, is Morgan. Shall I write it down for you?”

“
Oh,
you can write? How lovely. I didn't think that was a requirement for
strippers.” Bethany spewed her venom and left the dining room
before Morgan could speak. The table, again, fell silent. Morgan
dropped her napkin and followed Bethany into the kitchen.

“
Model.
I'm a model, not a stripper.” Bethany scoffed as she walked
past Morgan and put a fresh pile of linen napkins on the island.

“
Mindy?
Do you know where this was imported from?” She pointed to the
red counter top and ran a finger across the perfectly polished
finish. Morgan huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Of
course you don't. It's enameled lava, taken from a volcano in France.
It's the best in the world.” She sat down gracefully and
propped an elbow on the cool surface. “It's also, the most
expensive. Now, tell me, why would a woman like me... who could live
in such extravagance, care what a little harlot from the States has
to say?” Morgan's temper shot through her body like fired
ammunition, and nothing was going to stop her from speaking.

“
Well,”
Morgan propped her own elbow on the counter, and leaned forward to
stare Bethany in the face, “I don't care what it's made of, so
you'll have to factor in the interest of your audience before you can
lay claim to bravado. Second, and this is important so pay attention,
I'd love to know how much money you've earned in your life.”
Morgan stopped for just a moment as shock registered on Bethany's
face. “I thought as much. You're a sponge, sucking up
everything around you, yet offer absolutely nothing. If it's money
you're bragging about, I've already made more than you ever will. If
it's nice things, then you can thank your son for his sacrifice. If
it's just you being a bitch, then I assure you, I can win that battle
hands down.” Morgan stood upright and removed her elbow.

“
You
know nothing of our ways!” Bethany stood and faced Morgan as
her hands balled into tight fists at her sides. “Respect is
given to your elders! I know they don't teach that where you're from,
but it's something you need to learn, Morgan.”

Morgan
smiled and took a step closer to the older woman. “Good, you
remembered my name.” She took two steps to leave, then turned
and whispered her final words. “Bethany, where I'm from, we
love our elders because they're worth loving. That's something that
you
should learn.” With that, Morgan returned to her
dinner with the family.

Chapter
Fourteen

“
I
can't believe it! She was speechless... I don't think I've ever seen
that before.” Markus opened the door to the cottage and stepped
aside for Morgan to walk through. They had finished their meal, in
which not much was said after Morgan returned to the table, then
Markus excused them both directly after.

“
I'm
so sorry, Markus. Sometimes my mouth just won't close, and I end up
saying things I shouldn't. I'll apologize tomorrow.” She
entered the living room and took her phone from her pocket and placed
it on the coffee table. It was true that Bethany should never have
treated her in the way she had, but Morgan knew better than to say
things to the family of a client that she'd have to regret. Markus,
on the other hand, didn't share her feelings.

“
Ah,
she's done so much since my dad died. Making me move from my home
after I spent half of my inheritance on renovations, forcing my mom
to stay there when she was set on starting fresh in the new home,
watching Farfar build the cottage just to tell him that he can't live
in it... it's just been a battle that none of us wanted to fight. I
guess you could say that it all had to come to end eventually, and
we're probably close to that point.” Morgan listened, and
wondered how much of an inheritance he had been left if half of it
went to the family home that his mother occupied. There was no polite
way to ask, so she tried a different angle.

“
So..
about your fish food business. Will it cost much to get it going?
When were you planning on getting started?” Those were
questions that she had genuinely been curious to know, but she also
hoped it would lead to more information. Curiosity had always been
her weakness. Markus stood next to the small fireplace and looked out
to the kitchen before answering. With a deep breath, he told Morgan
the truth. “That's just a dream, Morgan. Something I've wanted
for many, many years. What I'll end up doing is investing the rest of
my money into Farfar's clothing store. He loves what he does,
especially tailoring suits since he's done it for so long, and
grandmother wants to make sure we keep his business going. Without
thinking, Morgan was quick to respond.

“
But,
it's not your responsibility, Markus. Besides, he should probably
have retired years ago so that he can enjoy his golden years, don't
you think?” Markus shook his head and looked to the floor.
Americans couldn't understand the way things were done in Norway, and
he wasn't going to teach her everything in one night.

“
We
take care of our own, Morgan. If he wants to work, then the family
has to support his decision. Even if that decision is...,”

“
If
the decision is Bethany's and not his.” Markus agreed again,
and sadness filled his eyes as he spoke.

“
You're
right, I don't understand how things are done here. But I do
understand love, and it's a two way street.” His silence told
her that the conversation about his grandparents had ended, and it
was time to move back to current events. “Markus, truly, I'm
sorry about tonight. Again, I'll apologize first thing in the
morning.”

“
No,
it's one thing to treat us that way, but she can't do it to our
guests. Our respect can only go so far.” Morgan understood, but
still felt as if she had stepped out of line with Bethany. “Besides,
I like feisty women.” Markus smiled and removed his shirt, then
tossed it on the couch next to the spot that Morgan was then about to
occupy. She loved how quickly he changed his mood, and also loved the
mood that he'd obviously changed into.

“
If
I didn't know any better,” Morgan settled onto the camel
colored sofa and leaned back, “I'd say you were flirting with
me.” She yawned and brought her hand up, covering her mouth
from yet another rude act.