Bound, Chalen D. [notion reading list txt] 📗

not my dress.” Morgan peaked in the box.

It was pretty though.

“I know.” Millie began to take it out of the box. “I picked out another one because Carson saw the other one. Take off your clothes. Let’s try it on.”

Morgan listened and stripped off her clothes as the other McPhee girls helped Millie pull out the dress. They all Helped stuff Morgan into the dress and Stepped back. Victoria began to cry. Grandma dug in the box.

“Hey, we forgot to put on the veil!”

“Veil?” Millie walked over confused.

“Yeah, Right here.” Grandma wiped it out.

“I didn’t order a veil. Maybe it’s a bonus gift.” Millie dug through the box.

“What are you looking for?” Liv asked.

“Maybe they gave her shoes.”

“You didn’t buy her shoes!” Liv demanded.

Everyone looked at Millie.

“Whoops.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Grandma placed the Veil in place. “The dress it long. Hey! She can wear the red heels!”

“Yes!” Liv and Millie said together.

“No!” Her mother said.

“Can I go barefoot?” Morgan asked.

“No!” Grandma, Millie, and Liv said.

“Yes!” Victoria said. There was a knock on the door and Liv slipped away.

“Why can’t I be barefoot?” Morgan asked.

“Because-“

“Carson!” Liv cut Millie off, and slammed the door. She ran to the kitchen. “It’s Carson!”

They all hurried to get the dress and veil off. Morgan went out on the porch and shut the door.

“Hey!” She hugged him around the neck.

“Why did Liv slam the door in my face?” He asked, hurt. “I thought we had an understanding.”

“The dress arrived and they had stuffed me into it. They didn’t want you to see me.”

“Oh.” He smiled, “My Moms throwing a pre-wedding Party with My half of the family.”

“And I have to go,I’m guessing.” Morgan sighed.

“You’re the guest of Honor.” Carson Grinned at her. “You have to Come.”

“That means we have to stay for the whole thing.” Morgan damned herself. “How long is it?”

“Two hours.”

“Two hours!” Morgan yelled.

“Baby,” Carson hugged her to his side, and waved to an old Woman across the street.

She waved her cane in the air and went up the walk.

“Who was that?” Carson asked. “I’m getting a strong feeling you know her.”

“Why me?” Morgan asked.

“Because no random old lady would shake her cane at me of all people.”

“I used to fee her cats when I was younger. We ate breakfast every Sunday.”

“So what happened?”

“Her Daughter died and she shut everyone out.” Morgan looked across the street. “She still looks after the girls and I.”

The door opened.

“Here Carson.” Millie gave him two boxes. “These are the bridesmaid dresses for your brothers wives, and then Emily’s flower girl dress.”

“Thanks.”

“Please tell them not to ruin it. They’re silk and it would suck to get stains on them.”

“Will do.”

“And I’m keeping your dress here Morgan, because you’re clumsy.”

“Thanks.” Morgan said in a flat voice

. Carson smiled and kissed her head.

“We’ll be late.”

“Tell Mom I got to go. A dinner party.”

“Alright.” Millie shut the door.

“You are a little clumsy.” Carson said, as they headed down to the curb.

“Well you talk in your sleep.”

“Really?” He raised his eye brows. “What do I say?”

“Nothing.” Morgan said, annoyed. “You sleep like a log. You’re very boring to watch.”

“You watch me sleep?” He grinned. “I feel loved.”

Morgan sighed and got into the car.  

Carson left Morgan in the living room to get a glass of wine, and as soon as he disappeared in the crowd, a little old lady descended on her. Morgan thought she was cute.

“Are you pregnant?” The old lady asked with a hint of snob.

Morgan thought she wasn’t all that cute anymore.

“Yes.” She wasn’t going to lie to the old hag.

The old Lady snorted, “My Grandsons would never knock up a girl out of marriage.”

“How do you know I’m not married?” Morgan demanded raising her nose.

The old lady followed suit, “You don’t look the type.”

“Grandma.” Carson walked over.

Of course it had to be his Grandma, Morgan thought.

“Carson!” The old Lady Hugged him.

“This is Morgan.” He put an arm around Morgan.

The old lady looked at Morgan, and Morgan grinned. Take that old Hag, She thought. Grandma Maxwell Bopped Carson on the head with her Fan and hurried away.

“Do I have a target on my head?” Carson asked Morgan. “Grandmas keep bopping me on the head.”

“Hey, “ She held up her hands. “You’re the one who wanted to come.”

“Are you thirsty?” He asked. “I could get you some tea, or water.”

“I’m fine.”

Other than Grandma Maxwell glaring at Morgan, dinner went a lot better than it had ever went in the McPhee house. The two of them quickly said goodbye, and all but ran out the front door to the car. They jumped in the car like they were leaving a crime scene.

“Go, Go, Go!” Morgan hit the Dash board. Carson pulled away from the curb, and Morgan turned in her seat, the Maxwell house disappearing quickly.

“I think it went okay.” Carson said, turning on the heat.

“Grandma hates me.” Morgan muttered.

“Hey,” Carson objected, “I didn’t see you getting smacked in the head.”

She laughed.

“Oh you think that’s funny?” He reached over and tickled her.

She laughed harder.

He loved her laugh. It was different. He never heard anyone have the same laugh. She was beautiful, and She was all his. Forever.

“Stop!” She laughed gasping for air.

He grabbed her hand. She fell asleep on the way home.

 

Morgan shut the door, with Belle riding front seat. Liv wanted her to drop her off while she was at work. She adjusted the mirror and saw the boxes in the back seat.

“Shit.” She muttered.

She pulled out of the drive and headed to the Maxwell house. All the way there she prayed she would Get Vivian and not Grandma Maxwell. She opened the back door for the boxes and Belle jumped into the back seat tail wagging.

“No, you have to stay here.”

Belle fell onto the seat.

“You could be an actor you know?”

Belle thumped her tail once.

“I’ll be back.” She grabbed the boxes, and then hurried up the walk.

With one last prayer she pressed the doorbell. A little song went through the house. The door opened and she sighed when she saw who it was.

“Here.” Daniel hurried to take the boxes. “You shouldn’t be carrying those.”

“They’re bridesmaid dresses.” Morgan explained handing them over. “Can you hand then out?”

“Sure. I’ll take care of it.”

“It’s really important-“

“I got it. Promise.” He smiled.

“Thanks. I’m late.” She jogged back to the car.

She dropped off Belle and hurried to the office.

“Another crime scene.” Martie poked his head in.

“I’m only taking pictures this time.” Morgan grabbed her bag and camera. “I mean it.”

“Fine with me.”

Martie looked around and lifted up the tape, and waved Morgan forward. Morgan ducked under the crime scene tape and held it up for Martie.

He ducked under, “Okay, Watch your step.”

It was just getting dark.

“I’m not climbing down a well this time. I’m serious.”

“You fell down that well remember?”

“Same difference.”

“There’s  a difference.” Martie looked at her. “Especially since I was the one who caught you.”

“I’m not that fat.” Morgan gasped and grabbed his arm as a stick snapped. “What the hell was that?”

“It probably was an animal. Come on, hurry up.”

The two of them walked the area taking pictures. Once back at the office, Morgan called Carson.

“Hey Beautiful.”

“Hey. I’m going to be home late.”

“Why?”

“I have some stuff to do.”

“What stuff?”

“A bunch of boring type of stuff.”

“Alright, I love you. Please be safe.”

“I will.” Morgan smiled. “I love you too.”

They hung up, and she Jogged down the stairs to meet Martie.

“Did He buy your lie?”

“I didn’t technically lie.” Martie grinned at her from his bucket of photos.

“What?” She demanded. “Do you want to develop these pictures by yourself?”

He looked back down. Three hours later the pictures where done and gone through. Morgan stumbled through the house tired as hell. She went into the Kitchen. Carson and a Blonde haired girl were sitting at the island Facing away from her. Seeing another girl at the island that close to Her Carson pissed her off. They both turned around and Morgan got pissed.

It was Caroline.

“Morgan, wait.” Carson said.

“I’m going up stairs.” Morgan said carefully. “And when I come down that bitch better be out of my house.”

“Bitch?” Caroline looked at Carson.

“You abandoned a dog. You’re a bitch.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know you enough to know you have a vagina and you’re in My House with my husband.”

“He’s not you Husband.”

“Want to bet Bitch?”

“Look, I don’t even know you, Stop calling me that.”

“Or what?” Morgan demanded. “You going to tell Daddy?”

“Morgan.” Carson said shocked.

“Don’t Morgan me!” She yelled at him. “You have another Woman alone in the house with you! One that you have a past with. What is your problem?”

“Don’t talk to him like that.” Caroline had the nerve to say.

“He’s my Husband. I’ll talk to him how ever I want to.”

“He’s not Your Husband.”

“You know.” Morgan looked at her hand. “A good thing about growing up in the Ghetto is you grew up knowing how to throw a decent punch.”

Caroline gasped and looked at Carson.

“I know how to through a decent punch.” Morgan nodded, “Do you know how to throw a decent punch, Caroline?”

“Morgan calm down. The Baby-“

“Like I said. I’m going up stairs. I think I’ll take a shower.” Morgan nodded. “This bitch better be up out of my house by the time I come back down, or shits going to get real.” Morgan jogged up the stairs and then paused at the top of the stairs.

Where was Belle? The bedroom door pushed open and Belle ran to her. She jumped on her leg, and then looked down the stairs as if telling on Carson.

“I Know.” Morgan pet her head, “Come on.”

Belle trotted into the room after Morgan. Morgan Took her time with gathering clothes taking her shower, and drying her hair. She sighed and walked down the stairs. Carson was in the living room alone. The fire was going, and a glass bottle filled with amber liquid was on the coffee table. The lid was beside it. Carson held a small glass with about two shots in it. He glared at the Fire.

“What are you doing?” Morgan asked.

“Drinking.” He took a sip.

“Why?”

“Because I’m tired.”

“You don’t drink when you’re tired.” Morgan picked up the bottle, the smell making her want to throw up. “You sleep.”

She stuck the little glass top onto the Bottle.

“Get it over with.” Carson looked at her.

“Get what over with?”

“Anything.”

“What was she doing in our house?” Morgan sat down. “This is our home. Our daughter lives here. I’m pregnant. Are you with her?”

“No.” He said flatly.

“So what was she doing here?”

“My Cousin went to work today.” Carson took a drink. “He never came home.”

“No.” Morgan’s heart dropped. “We have to look for him.”

“Caroline found him.”

Morgan sighed, “And?”

“And He was with another Woman.”

“Poor Caroline.” Morgan muttered.

“They have an open relationship.”

“So what’s the issue?”

“The Woman she caught him with was her Mother.”

“No!” Morgan said.

“Yep.”

“Wait, so why are you drinking?”

“Because I thought you were mad at me.” He took the last drink. “I hate it when you’re mad at me.”

“Why did you let her in?”

“She told me He was missing first. So I let her in. Then she told me the whole story.” He looked at her.

“Morgan she kissed me.”

Morgan looked at the bottle in her hands, “Did you like it?”

“Of course not!” Carson took the bottle and set it on the coffee table along with the cup. “I’m with you.”

“Did you kiss her back?”

“No.” He said. “And if you don’t believe me, I have cameras set up around the house in case someone breaks in.”

Morgan’s face got hot, “Do you have a camera in the kitchen?”

“I already deleted that.”

She nodded.

“Are you mad at me?” He took her hands.

“I don’t know.” Morgan looked at him. “She kissed you.”

“Exactly. She kissed me. Not the other way around. Baby, I would never hurt you like that. I promise.” He grabbed a tablet. “Look.”

“No.” Morgan looked away.

“Look.” He gently took her face.

Morgan looked at the screen, and Carson pushed play.

“My own Mother, for crying out loud!” Caroline paced the kitchen. “She’s old!”

Carson stood at the corner, his face a little confused.

“If I just married you I wouldn’t be