Christmas Haven Read Free Page A

turn.”
    BANG!
     
    “No!” she screamed.
    “Julie, wake up.”
    She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see past the shooter’s black eyes…Morgan’s lifeless eyes. Heartbreak ripped through her.
    “Jules.” He pulled her against his chest. “Wake up.”
    A choke-sob escaped her lips as she clung to his leather jacket, willing the images away.
    “It’s okay. You’re home,” Morgan said.
    Boy, did she feel home as she leaned into his solid chest and inhaled the scent of pine mixed with aftershave.
    For a few seconds she basked in the feeling of security…of love. Then the flash of Morgan being shot, the life dimming from his eyes and the blood covering his shirt, shot a new wave of panic through her body.
    “I shouldn’t have fallen asleep,” she said, breaking the embrace and casting a worried glance out the back window. They were at her mom’s.
    “No one followed us,” Morgan offered as if reading her mind.
    She whipped the car door open and charged up the driveway, needing to get away from him. The front door swung open and Mom opened her arms. Julie welcomed the gesture and held on tight.
    “Hey, what’s all this?” her mom asked.
    Julie couldn’t form words past the terror of her nightmare.
    Morgan had been killed. Because of her.
    It had only been a dream, but it felt real. She wouldn’t be responsible for the death of someone she cared about, especially not Morgan. Hadn’t she hurt him enough?
    “Jules, what is it?” Mom pushed.
    “I missed you.”

    “Hey, Morgan,” Mom said over Julie’s shoulder.
    “Mrs. Burns,” he greeted with concern in his voice.
    “What did you do to my daughter?” she joked.
    “She fell asleep in the truck and had a bad dream.”
    Mom stroked Julie’s back. “Probably about work. Let’s get you some tea. Morgan, will you join us?”
    “No,” Julie said, breaking the embrace, but keeping her eyes on her mom. “He’s got someplace to be.”
    “Nonsense. I made chocolate-chip-bacon cookies especially for you, Chief,” she enticed.
    “How could I say no to that?” Morgan handed Julie her backpack.
    “Thanks.” She grabbed it, not making eye contact. “I’m going to wash up.”
    “Oh, okay,” Mom said.
    Julie rushed up the stairs, away from the nightmare, away from Morgan.
    “French Vanilla or Earl Grey?” Mom called after her.
    “You pick,” Julie said, not looking back. She couldn’t. The sight of Morgan, alive and well, standing in her hallway, would only send another wave of panic through her body.
    She tossed her backpack onto the bed and padded into the bathroom. A splash of cold water would shock her out of the fright of the nightmare. Whenever she’d been awakened by a nightmare as a child, Mom would have her splash water on her cheeks. After a few seconds she and Mom would end up giggling at the mess she’d made, essentially blasting the nightmare’s effects to smithereens.
    She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and splashed away. Two, three, four times. Studying her reflection in the mirror she whispered, “What am I doing here?”
    The nightmare made her realize she could have brought trouble to her hometown, perhaps putting innocent people in danger. Her mom. Her sister.
    “Morgan,” she whispered.
    She’d never forgive herself if anything happened to him because of Julie’s job. She’d left him years ago to give him the freedom to live his life and follow his own dreams. She knew if she’d committed to a life with him that he’d follow her to Seattle and attend college or find a job. But that wasn’t his path.
    His path had been to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a cop.
    “Enough,” she scolded herself. She had to stop thinking about the past and figure out a way to stay safe. To keep her family safe.
    “Maybe I shouldn’t have come home,” she whispered.
    But she desperately needed some time with Mom and Lana before she disappeared off the grid for good. She’d been careful to cover her tracks to