“I understand,” Debbie said. “My folks have been gone for several years now. Dad died of cancer and Mom two years later in an accident. I was nineteen when Mom died. It left me with a seventeen-year-old brother who was nursing a chip on his shoulder. It took me six years to reclaim him and another two to get him out of school. He graduated last year from Oklahoma University with a marketing degree.”

“And where did that leave you?” Morgan asked softly. There was a lot of giving in Debbie’s story, but not much about what she’d had to give up.

“Free to come take care of you,” she answered. “And that’s what I’m about to do. Where do you want me to start?”

Morgan shrugged. “Well, I certainly appreciate it, and don’t think I don’t know what an effort this was on your part. And, as for monetary arrangements, I’ve opened an account for you at my bank. Your pay will be deposited twice a month. Here are some counter checks until yours come back from the printer.”

“I didn’t intend for this to be so…businesslike,” Debbie said. The mention of money made her blush. “It’s not like I had a job I couldn’t bear to leave. Grocery checker isn’t exactly high on a high school counselor’s list of career opportunities. I can have the job back as soon as I return. My boss already said so. I was simply looking at this as a…vacation. I’ve never been to California.”

He smiled crookedly, reminding her of Cole. Just the thought of him made her lose her concentration. And then Morgan continued.

“As for where to start…look around. It’s all a mess, and I don’t think this will feel like a vacation. Believe me, you’ll earn every penny of it. If you hadn’t come, I would have had to hire extra help until I’m well. That wreck on the freeway broke more than my leg. I can’t seem to recoup my enthusiasm for anything.” He hugged her gently. “I’d a lot rather it be you here than some stranger.”

She smiled.

He continued. “And I may have to send you out to buy a whole new set of dishes. I can’t seem to find half of them. Glasses are scarce, too.”

“Hmm,” Debbie mused. “Well, I’ll tell you what! Why don’t you go out to the fabulous lounge chair by the pool. Take the morning paper with you. I’ll be out later with something cool for you to drink. That’ll give me time to sort through all this without disturbing your rest.”