Page 51 of Harmony Island Gazette
Anger and fury rose up inside of me. I shook my head as I focused my gaze on her. She had to know that she didn’t cause any of this. The Proctors did. Asher did.
Realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Asher had sat at that table and told her this was a good offer. He’d been instrumental in helping close this deal. Did he know that this was going to happen? Was he working with the Proctors to deceive these people?
Was this the reason he told me not to look into that stranger outside of the paper?
My emotions sat like a rock in my stomach. I was angry at myself for not listening to my gut. I was mad at Asher for making me doubt myself. And I was worried that my friendship was ruined. Because there was no way I could sit on this. I was going to bring it to the community’s attention.
I had to.
“You didn’t ruin everything. Let me look into this and get back to you.” I smiled up at her. “They don’t own your house just yet. There’s still time.”
My words didn’t seem to be the salve I hoped they would be. Mrs. McDonnell just shook her head. “I wish I had your confidence, sweetie. But this is Marcus Proctor we’re talking about here.” Her voice dropped to a whisper once more. “I’ve already lost.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Give me some time. I promise, I will fight this. Proctor or not, they won’t get away with this.”
Mrs. McDonnell smiled. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
I spent the next ten minutes going over every detail and writing down what she said word for word. I told her I would call her as soon as I discovered anything. I also told her to wait to see what her appraisal would look like. By the time she left the paper, she seemed to be in better spirits even if she was still doubtful that I could actually do anything.
I couldn’t blame her. The grip the Proctors had on this town was one of near strangulation. And I knew they weren’t going to let go without a fight.
I was in a reporter daze, just staring off and letting my mind wander, when my phone buzzed. I blinked, centering myself as I glanced over at my phone. Someone had just texted me.
Worried that it was Asher wondering what I was doing tonight, I almost ignored it. Until I remembered that it could also be Gloria. I picked it up.
The last thing I needed was Gloria thinking I couldn’t handle the paper layout and come trouncing down here. I needed her to believe that I had everything under control so she would leave me alone. Especially since I knew where her loyalties lay, and they weren’t with the truth.
But it wasn’t Asher or Gloria who had texted me. It was Shelby. I frowned as I read her text.
Shelby:Some of us ladies are going out to Harmony Pub in about an hour. Wanna join?
Perfect. That was exactly what I needed. I didn’t want to hang out here at the paper by myself. My mind would go crazy with questions and theories about the Proctors. And if I were home, I’d be doing the same.
Going out with a group of women all ready and eager to talk seemed like the perfect distraction.
I texted a quick thumbs-up emoji, and she responded with a smiley face. I put my phone down and focused on finishing up the layout before I saved it, closed my computer, and slipped it into my bag. I turned off the lights and pulled out my keys to lock up as I walked outside.
Once Harmony Gazette was all buttoned up, I made my way to my car and climbed inside. Shelby and Abigail were at the pub when I walked in fifteen minutes later. They’d grabbed a table in the back, and as soon as they saw me, they waved.
I nodded to them before I headed over to Jax and ordered a Diet Coke. He nodded, but it was Claire who told me she’d bring it over after she grabbed Shelby’s iced tea and Abigail’s glass of wine.
I thanked her and made my way to the table, where I pulled out a chair and collapsed on it.
“Busy day?” Shelby asked as she smiled at me.
“Long day.”
“Gloria’s working you that hard?” Abigail asked.
“Pretty much. I had to put together the layout for Sunday’s paper. I’ve been there since noon.” Not to mention my stress-filled, tension-packed morning at the farmers’ market with Asher. This day felt as if it were going on and on.
I was grateful that it was at least ending this way.
“You need this more than me,” Abigail said as she handed me the glass of wine Claire had just brought her.
I laughed and shook my head. “Only if I want a raging headache in the morning. I think that might not solve my issues.”
