Christmas Haven by Hope White Page A

energy from her? She seemed determined to help the teenagers survive the brutal streets, yet it was as if she expected them to fail.
    She’d lost her faith, and Morgan wondered if it was God’s plan to bring them back together after ten years so Morgan could help her find her way back.
    Her cell rang and she quickly grabbed it. So she wasn’t asleep after all.
    “Hello? Hey, Mom. We’re just coming into town. Sure…okay. Love you, too.”
    Julie closed the flip phone. “Mom asked if we could stop by the house. Lana’s picking up some things, but Mom forgot to tell her to get the fruit so it won’t go bad.”
    “Lana shouldn’t have gone to the house by herself.”
    “I’d like to see you try to tell Lana that. She’s one determined cookie.”
    “Kind of like her sister.” He meant it as a compliment. Julie looked away, and he could tell she didn’t interpret it that way. In that moment he wondered who was emotionally beating her up more: Morgan or Julie?
    They pulled onto her quiet street and turned into the driveway. Julie reached for her door, just as Morgan spotted movement by the side of the house.
    “Hang on,” he said, placing his hand on her arm.
    “What’s wrong?”

    He didn’t answer, hyper-focused on the side of the house. The moon cast an eerie glow across the property, giving off enough light to see…
    A shadowy figure peering through the dining-room window.

SIX
    “Y ou don’t think they—”
    “Stay here,” Morgan ordered.
    He got out of the truck and closed the door, quietly. Stalking the perimeter of the property, he pulled out his firearm and came up behind the Peeping Tom.
    “Police, don’t move.”
    “Don’t shoot!” a voice cracked. A teenage voice.
    “Hands where I can see them.”
    The intruder raised his hands. “I didn’t do anything.”
    “Turn around, slowly,” Morgan ordered, adrenaline rushing through his veins.
    The kid turned around and Morgan instantly recognized him: Caroline Ross’s grandson, Sketch.
    Morgan holstered his gun. “What are you doing here?”
    “I… She’s inside and I wanted to talk to her,” he said, his hands still reaching for the sky.
    “Put your arms down.”
    Sketch slowly did as ordered.
    “It’s dangerous to be here, kid. Who’s inside that you want to see? Lana?”
    “No, Ashley. She texted me that she was helping Lana grab some stuff.”
    Morgan glanced at the truck and waved Julie over, then redirected his attention to Sketch. “Why didn’t you just ring the doorbell?”

    “I didn’t think she’d let me in.”
    “Why not?”
    “We had a—” he shifted from one foot to the other “—disagreement.”
    “Who’s this?” Julie said, walking up to Morgan.
    “Sketch, Caroline’s grandson. Sketch, this is Lana’s sister, Julie.”
    “You’re her? The one Lana talks about all the time?” Sketch said.
    “Well, I’m her only sister.”
    Morgan glanced across the property, still tense from the potential threat. “Let’s get inside.”
    Julie and Sketch walked ahead as Morgan stayed back and scanned the property for any signs of trouble.
    Julie let herself in with the key and called out, “Lana?”
    “Hey,” Lana said, popping her head out of the kitchen. “What are you doing here?”
    “Mom wanted to remind you to get the fruit.”
    “Oh, okay. We’re almost done packing up a few things. Oh, hey, Sketch. You here to help?”
    “I found him lurking outside,” Morgan said.
    Lana went up to Sketch and put her arm around his shoulder. “You never have to lurk, buddy. Come on, Ashley’s in the kitchen.”
    “I’d better go.” Sketch looked unsure and anxious, a lot like Morgan had been when he’d first asked Julie out.
    Morgan fought back the memory.
    “You’re here, don’t waste the opportunity to make things right,” Morgan said.
    On cue, Ashley came out of the kitchen. “Lana, I…” she glanced at Sketch. “Oh, hi.”
    Awkward silence filled the room.
    “Julie, this is my part-time