Page 10 of Rumors in Bayberry
Sadie gasped.She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.“But you can’t.It’s been in the family for generations.”
Her father shrugged.“It’s time.Your mother wants to move to Florida.”
Florida?She couldn’t believe it had come to this.She knew her father’s health was at the core of his decision, but was selling the business the only answer?
“But the paper is growing.”The words crossed her lips before she could stop them.“Making the paper more accessible via the internet has people as far away as California signing up for a subscription.”
Her father’s eyebrows rose on his forehead.“California?”
She nodded, feeling like at last he was listening to what she’d been telling him.“I’m sure it’s someone who used to live here or has relatives here, but the point is that we can grow the paper.”
Her father shook his head.“We’ve had a long run, but it’s time to let someone else take over.”
“If you’re so anxious to get rid of the paper, give it to me.”
Her father shook his head.“No.”
She rarely got angry with her father.Most of the time she would get utterly exasperated with him, but in this moment, with him throwing away a piece of their heritage, she was angry.She knew he could be stubborn, but this was a lot, even for him.
“Give it to me.I can make it profitable.”Thinking about what she’d just said, she added, “I’ve already made it profitable again or didn’t you notice?”
“This isn’t about the bottom line.”Her father kept his voice level.
She failed to keep the emotion out of her voice.This conversation was too important for her to hide the way it was affecting her.“Then what is it about?”
Her father paused and stared at her.“Do you think you’d be standing in front of me, demanding to take over the newspaper if it wasn’t going to be sold?”
She immediately opened her mouth to answer him and then realized she couldn’t.She wordlessly closed her mouth.His question was a trap, and she wasn’t going to fall in.
“You only want the paper now because you don’t want it to disappear.But your future isn’t here.It’s out there, exploring the world and giving light to other people’s strife.Your words illuminate problems in this world.It gives people an opportunity to right the wrongs.You can’t do that here.”
She hated that he was making sense.There was no way she could do both jobs at once, even if that was exactly what she wanted to do.
“You’re making a mistake,” she said.
“It’s the way it needs to be.”
“Who?Who is buying the paper?”
Her father didn’t immediately answer, and it made her wonder about the buyer.The longer the silence stretched on, the more her imagination went into overdrive.
“Is it someone local?”she prodded.
“It doesn’t matter.This is not your problem.Besides, nothing is for sure.Once I have an official offer, you’ll know more.”Her father got up and left Sadie gaping as he walked out of the room.
Sadie turned to her mother.“There’s still going to be a paper, right?”
Her mother sighed as she shrugged.“I don’t know.Your father doesn’t know either.Times are changing.With the internet, the paper is no longer essential.”
“That’s not true.”She’d worked very hard to create unique content for the paper.
The phone rang.Her mother stood and placed a hand on Sadie’s shoulder.“I’m really sorry about this.”
Sadie sat alone with her thoughts.She tried to tell herself it didn’t matter.This was her chance to continue following her dreams, which would take her away from Bayberry.So, then, why did this all feel so wrong?
Chapter Four
Itwasacutetown.
