Page 91 of One Kind Goal

Austin stopped in front of the cottage she’d indicated. “Did Sawyer leave?”

“Looks as if he might have. Maybe he got hungry or something.” She got out of the car and raced to the front door, ready with the key. As soon as she busted into the cottage, she knew he hadn’t gone out for a bite to eat. She could feel that Sawyer wasn’t there without checking to see if his stuff was in the bedroom.

Morgan pulled out her phone, thinking she’d missed a call or text while meeting with Trixie, but that was wishful thinking. She wasn’t surprised to see she hadn’t missed anything.

Except Sawyer.

“Did he go after Nia?” Austin asked.

“I’m assuming,” Morgan said, not sure what to do next.

“That’s ill-advised,” Bryant said from the doorway where he leaned. “He could hurt his chances of being able to see his daughter. Rash moves generally work against people.”

Morgan was about to hit Sawyer’s contact on her phone to plead with him to come back so they could work on this problem together. Her gaze connected with the Pegasus in the corner of the living room instead, so she walked over to it. She stared at the folded piece of paper taped to the winged horse, part of her afraid to read whatever was on it.

Finally summoning up the courage, she pulled the paper free and unfolded it. Wavy handwriting—done by a right-handed guy forced to use his left—took up the center of the sheet.

Dear Morgan,

I have to get Nia. Thanks for being so kind to her. I hope you understand I have to put her first.

Sawyer

“Do you understand?”

Morgan jumped, not realizing Austin had come up behind her and had read the note over her shoulder.

“I absolutely understand,” she said. “But he needs to understand I’m not going to let him fight on his own. I wasn’t kind to Nia for the hell of it. I fell in love with her.”

“And you love Sawyer.” Austin rested his hand on her shoulder.

“I do. So much I want to build a life with him and Nia.” She crumpled up the note and threw it to the ground. “He might think he can’t have both his daughter and me, but I’m going to show him how ridiculous that is. I need to go to Rhode Island.”

Austin pulled out his phone. “I’ll get you a fast ride there.”

Fifteen minutes later, Morgan sat beside Charlie as she choppered toward Rhode Island. She took the time on the trip to organize her thoughts, to strategize, to quell the anger that wanted to rise up, knowing Sawyer had chosen to leave instead of talk to her first.

“He’s not thinking clearly,” Charlie had said when Morgan had voiced her feelings. “His emotions are in control right now, not his intellect or common sense. Remember, he’s hurt and his actions are guided by that hurt.”

It killed Morgan that Sawyer was hurt. She desperately wanted to comfort him, but he’d embarked on this as if it was a solitary quest. Maybe he didn’t want her help.

Too bad. He was getting it.

Even if he wasn’t interested in continuing their relationship, Morgan intended to do whatever she could to help him be able to see Nia. She’d witnessed first-hand how much they enjoyed each other’s company. A father and daughter should not be separated when all that father wanted to do was love his child.

Morgan thought of her own parents. Taken too soon from her and her siblings, they were the most wonderful parents a person could hope for. They’d made sure all their children’s needs were met and managed to make all five of them feel special despite working full time. Her parents had never complained about their lives. They loved having a family.

Then they were robbed of everything due to that car accident. Her parents would never have the chance to spend more time with their children. Sawyer, however, did have that chance, and Morgan was going to make sure he got it.

Charlie touched down at a small airfield where Austin had arranged for a car and driver to meet them. Once again, Morgan owed her brother—and Charlie—for their support.

“Good luck,” Charlie said as Morgan got out of the helicopter. “Put your heart in charge, Morgan, and everything will work out.”

Morgan accepted Charlie’s outstretched hand and they gave each other a squeeze. “Thanks for everything.”

With a nod, Morgan released Charlie and jogged to the waiting car. She gave the driver the address for Carina’s house that a contact of Austin’s was able to dig up, and soon the Rhode Island coast streaked by the windows. Far less snow dotted the landscape here than in Vermont and the ocean was as gray as the sky above it right now. Morgan had visited Rhode Island before and knew it to be lovely, especially by the water, but it wasn’t lovely today.

Eventually, the driver turned into a neighborhood full of medium-sized houses, and Morgan’s heart beat faster. Confronting Carina could go terribly. Bryant had counseled her to search for Sawyer and not engage with Carina until they had legal representation, but Morgan didn’t agree. This situation needed a personal touch. A lawyer might be the right thing to do, but as Charlie had advised, Morgan was putting her heart in charge.