Page 30 of Rumors in Bayberry
Her mother’s gaze searched hers.“What is it you really want to know?”
Sadie wasn’t certain.“Never mind.”She took a drink of her coffee and was immediately reminded that it was decaf.“When I was a kid, I thought someday the paper would be mine.”Her voice trailed off as she got lost in those old memories.So much had changed since then.“It all seems so long ago.”
Her mother wore a concerned look.“Sadie, what are you saying?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
The concerned look on her mother’s face remained.
Sadie quickly finished her coffee.She got to her feet and moved to the sink.After rinsing out the mug, she placed it in the dishwasher.
She turned back to her mother.“Thanks for the coffee.I have to get going.”
Her mother’s eyebrow arched.“What are you up to today?”
“I have an interview planned at the Anderson Farm.It’s a follow-up to the article about the pig and duckling.Everyone wants to know if they are still close.I thought it would make a great final article.”
“Oh, yes.I can’t wait to read it.Do you know if the pig and duckling are still close?”
Sadie shook her head.“Actually, I don’t.I hope so.But who knows.”
“And what are you going to do with the rest of your day?”
“Well, since I’m not needed at the newspaper, I’ll be working at the festival.They can always use the extra help.”
Her mother nodded in understanding.“And what about your other job?”
“I talked to my editor.When a story opens up, they will call me, and I’ll be on the first plane.”
“Oh.”Her mother failed to hide the disappointment in her voice.“I understand.I’ll miss you.I’ve gotten so used to seeing you every day.”
Guilt weighed on Sadie’s shoulders.When she was away on a story, she got caught up in what she was doing, and she was terrible at keeping in contact with her family.“I promise I’ll do a better job of staying in touch.”
A little smile lifted the corners of her mother’s mouth.“I would like that.”
Her mother walked her to the door.Sadie gave her mom a hug, and then she was out the door.She checked the time.She still had an hour before she was due at the farm.And it was too early for the festival.
She had no choice but to make her way back to the newspaper because her apartment was above it.What were the chances she could make it upstairs without seeing her father or Reed?
When she got close to home, she leveled her shoulders.She turned the corner and walked down the block where the newspaper was situated.Her gaze swept over both sides of the street.No sign of either man.Good.
The only problem was that she had to cross in front of the newspaper to reach the door to the stairs to the second floor.She hoped no one would notice her.
She wasn’t ready to speak to her father, because she didn’t want to yell at him with his health situation.And she had absolutely nothing she wanted to say to Reed.Not now.Not ever.
She faced forward, resisting the urge to glance into the office to see if Reed was still there.Her steps were steady but quick.It wasn’t until her hand grasped the doorknob that she realized she’d been holding her breath.As she stepped inside and the door closed behind her, she released her pent-up breath.
Chapter Eleven
Thathadn’tgonewell.
Not at all.
Later that morning, Reed had finished an initial talk with the newspaper’s employees.It was hard to focus.He needed a break.He needed to speak to Sadie.
This morning their encounter hadn’t been any better.Instead of the shocked look on her face, her eyes were filled with anger.He wasn’t certain who she was angrier with: him or her father.
Reed couldn’t let things stay like this between them.Even if she didn’t want to be friends with him any longer, they had business to discuss.He needed to know if there was a way he could persuade her to stay on at the paper.They needed her perspective and her engaging voice.Her articles would be just what they needed at theRumor Quill.
