Free Worth the Wait by Rhonda Laurel Page A

other.”
    “We do, don’t we?” She fastened the belt then stepped into the bedroom. “What do you think?”
    “It’s like it was made for you. Take it and wear it in good health.” Morgan helped Mackenzie adjust the fedora so it wouldn’t fall over her eyes. “Let’s see the next outfit. If you’re trying on that black dress, there’s a pair of heels on the second shelf, third from the left that would go greatwith it.”
    She stripped out of the mauve dress and hung it up carefully. “Didn’t you tell me you had a doctor’s appointment this week when we spoke on the phone?” She hated fibbing. She’d saved the date into her calendar when her aunt first mentioned it.
    “Yes. I’m fine. Uncle Seth was there. He can tell you I’m fine too.”
    “That’s great news. But you can tell me anything, evenif it isn’t so great. I’m an adult. I can handle it. Heck, soon I’ll be in the medical profession and will know exactly what you’re talking about.” She slipped on the black dress but couldn’t zip it on her own. She stepped out of the walk-in closet again. “Can you help?”
    “Sure.” Morgan walked over and zipped her up, then turned her around to face her. “Can I ask you a question?”
    “Ofcourse.”
    “Did you decide to go into medicine because of my diagnosis? You can tell me the truth. It will stay between us.”
    Avery sighed. “You were a big factor in my decision. It was time the family had a doctor in it.” She was relieved that she could say it out loud.
    “You didn’t have to do that.” Morgan took Avery’s hands in hers.
    “Let’s talk.” Avery led her aunt to thebed and they both sat. Mackenzie nuzzled her way in between them. “I was headed down the road to medicine way before your diagnosis. I’d been thinking about it for a while and I talked to a career counselor at school. She encouraged me to go to a pre-med seminar. There were some first-year med school students there that told us the horrifying truth of how hard you had to work. One resident saidshe’d once gone six months without combing her hair. I don’t know about that.”
    Morgan laughed. “You definitely would take the time to self-groom.”
    “I think hearing how hard I’d have to work became an exciting challenge in my head.”
    “We’re so proud of you. You are brilliant, and I hope you know that Uncle Seth and I will pay your tuition and all of your expenses. That’s if JohnJacob and Teri-Lyn don’t beat us to it first.”
    “Thank you. I hope you know how much I appreciate having a generous family who’s made sure I don’t have a gazillion dollars in student loans. These are advantages I don’t take lightly. Thanks to you, my mom and dad won’t have to overextend themselves so I can further my education. I know other families aren’t as fortunate and I appreciate everythingyou’ve done for me. I would like to continue to work at the new Reed Bradley to pay for my own books and food, though. I want to contribute too.”
    “Sure. But only if it doesn’t interfere with your studies.”
    “Deal.”
    “You’re a good egg, Avery Reed.” Morgan wiped tears from her eyes. “I knew you would become a doctor. When your grandpa had his heart attack, you sprang into actionand called the paramedics. He says you were his angel.”
    “I was so scared that day, but I knew I had to be calm because he needed me.” She sniffed too. The day her grandfather fell ill was etched into her mind like a bad movie.
    Morgan smiled. “You’ll always be the heroine in the story of his second chance at life. Not many people can say they’re responsible for saving a family member.”
    “I love you, Aunt Morgan. I’ll admit I had a good cry when I found out about your lupus diagnosis. But Wyatt was there for me and helped me see it wasn’t the end of your life. And I’ll be there every step of the way in the capacity as your niece who happens to be a medical professional. I intend to watch over the