The Cracks in Perfection

The Graham-ness in Parker

Chapter 11

Morgan

The next day was Sunday, meaning it was the first night Graham got to Skype us. I had spent the rest of the day with Karen until dinnertime. It looked like Karen’s brother was going to be fine, after a surgery and a couple casts were put on all he needed was time to heal.

I had taken her out to Frozen for ice cream and Seth had been working, which made Karen give me a knowing look that said I know why you brought me here. Seth had told me his hours, but I completely forgot them. Karen didn’t believe me.

She gave him a tip and we talked to him as he served other customers. We sat on the windowsill next to the large display of ice cream flavors and I even introduced Rhonda to Karen.

After my day with Karen I came home to my entire family waiting for me by the couch with the laptop sitting in front of them.

“Guys… what are you doing?”

“It’s Graham crackers!” Paisley shouted. I laughed and ran over to the computer.

“Morgan! How’ve you been?” Graham asked. I smiled and tried not to let the tears in my eyes fall. I had been so worried over nothing because as of right now Graham was fine, he was talking, and he’d be able to Skype us every Sunday. It was going to be okay.

“Well, Paisley got her room painted for her birthday next week.”

“Yeah it was a huge surprise and Morgan took me to her boyfriend’s house and we dressed him up!” Paisley exclaimed. I choked on my spit a bit when Paisley said boyfriend. My dad looked at me with one eyebrow up, and of course Graham had the same facial expression as he did.

“Boyfriend?” Graham asked amused.

“No, he’s not my boyfriend. He just offered to let me take the kids there so I could get them out of the house for Charlotte.”

“So he’s not you’re boyfriend?” My dad inquired.

“Lee!” Charlotte chastised and slapped his arm.

“What? I’m going to have a talk with this boy if-”

“No! He’s not, okay! Jeez. We’re just friends you crazy people. Now Graham, how’s briefing?” I changed the subject.

“Before you go changing the subject on us, if you ever get a boyfriend you have to tell me first.”

“Graham!”

“Fine, fine,” he put his hands in the air, “well we have to have some basic foreign training before we go anywhere, and I’m not really allowed to tell you much more than that… wouldn’t want you putting anything on social media,” though the picture was a little fuzzy, we could all tell he was looking right at Mallory.