Page 50 of Harmony Island Gazette
I shook my head. “I’m okay. Plus, you really should go talk to Gus.”
She sighed as she turned to the parking lot before she glanced back over to me. “You’re probably right. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“I’ll be here.”
She smiled and then turned and headed toward her car. I watched to make sure she got in safely and then let go of the door. Once it was shut, I turned the lock and headed back to my desk.
I kicked my heels off and navigated to my playlist on the computer. I hummed along with the words to the first song as I opened the email Gloria had sent me and got started.
I’d only mapped out the front page by the time Tim knocked at the front door with my bag of food from the diner. I raised my hand so he knew I’d seen him as I pushed away from my desk and padded over to unlock and open the door. I stuffed a twenty and a five into his hand and told him to keep the change as I took the bag from him.
I let the door close behind me before I turned and locked it once more. I settled back down at my desk, unwrapped the straw, and poked it into the lid of my Dr. Pepper. I munched on the fries and burger while I worked. When I was finished, I leaned back in my chair and then bounced a few times as I studied the layout in front of me.
The paper looked good to print.
I yawned and stretched before I gathered my garbage and dumped it into my trash can. Just as I straightened, there was a soft tap on the front door. I paused before glancing over. Had I really heard a knock?
I shook my head and turned my attention back to my desk. I hadn’t heard anything. It was just one of the curses of working alone at night. Every noise became someone or something.
I brushed the salt from my fingertips over the garbage can when the sound came again. This time, I couldn’t brush it off as ambient noise. There was really someone at the door.
I pushed my chair back and stood before I made my way over. I unlocked the door and pulled it open only to see Mrs. McDonnell standing there. She was wringing her hands as she glanced around behind her.
“Mrs. McDonnell?” I asked as I opened the door further.
“Oh, good, my dear. You’re still here.”
I nodded. “I’m always here this late on a Wednesday.” I frowned. “Did you need something?”
She began rapidly blinking like she was trying to keep tears at bay. “Yes,” she whispered. “I just spoke with Tim Turnbough from down the street. He’s agreed to sell his property to the Proctors just like I did.”
I reached out and rested my hand on her forearm. That seemed to do the trick. She pinched her lips as I glanced around. “Why don’t you come inside?” I stepped away from the doorway and waved her in. She nodded and entered.
I locked the door once we were both securely in the room. Then I waved for her to follow me to my desk. I was fairly certain that Gloria didn’t have cameras inside of the paper. Security cameras outside were another story.
I grabbed Elizabeth’s chair and pulled it next to my desk and motioned for Mrs. McDonnell to sit. She obeyed, and I grabbed the arm of my desk chair and pulled it so it was facing her before I sat.
I offered her a small smile. “It’s probably safer if we speak in here.”
She nodded. “Of course.” She took in a deep breath. “Tim came over to me not even an hour ago. I guess he just received word about the appraisal on his home.”
“Okay.”
She closed her eyes as if she were preparing herself to speak the next words. “He said that it came back athalfwhat Marcus had offered.”
My eyes widened. “Half?”
She nodded. “Half.”
“Then don’t sell.”
Tears brimmed her eyes once more. “That’s the thing. When Tim called the Proctors to inform them that he was pulling out of the deal, they told him there was a clause in the contract. He couldn’t back out of the deal if there were factors outside of the Proctor’s control.” She began to wring her hands. “Appraisals are out of their control.”
This stunk. This entire situation stunk to high heaven. Something was going on. I wasn’t sure what it was, but my gut knew. It had always known. Even if this entire town seemed indebted to them, the Proctors were dirty.
I reached out and rested my hand on Mrs. McDonnell’s. She glanced up at me. Her tears had been set free, and they were now running down her cheeks.
“I’m going to lose my home.” Her voice was barely registering now. “And it’s not about the money, I promise. But I was going to help my kids. If the appraisal comes in at half, I’ll be left with next to nothing. I can’t give them the legacy when I pass that their father wanted to give them.” Her chin quivered. “I’ve ruined everything.”
