Page 47 of Rumors in Bayberry
He swallowed hard.“I told your father that I wanted to buy the newspaper…”
“That’s good.I guess.”She didn’t look happy about it.
“I also told him I only wanted the paper if it came with you.”
“Me?”She looked confused.“But you know I’m leaving.”
He nodded.“I do.But I also know your beautiful voice has breathed new life into theGazette.People are drawn to your articles.I was drawn to them.Your words made the paper stand out from all of the other newspapers I am considering.”
She shook her head.“My voice isn’t that great.”
“Oh, yes, it is.But it’s more than that.You streamlined the paper.You brought back columns that people loved and got rid of ones that didn’t work.You made the tough decisions instead of going along with what had been done before.And if you don’t believe me, all you have to do is look at the subscriptions.They have doubled since you took over.Your social followings are constantly increasing.The future of the paper is you.”
She shook her head.“But I… I can’t.”
“I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this…” He’d said this much; he needed to say the rest.His gaze met hers.“I told your father that he needed to reconsider having you take over the paper.”
“Let me guess.He refused.”
Reed nodded.“I take it that stubbornness runs in the family.”
“I’m not stubborn.My father is.That man is impossible.I am not anything like him.”
Reed arched a brow at her.“Then, will you consider staying and running the paper?”
“No.”She crossed her arms.“I told you I’m leaving.”
He rolled his eyes.“Pot meet kettle.”
She glared at him.“I am not just like my father.”
“Wanna make a bet?”
“No.”She turned and moved to the window.
He followed her.He maintained a reasonable distance.In the glow of the street light, he could see the orange and yellow leaves pulling from the tree branches and rushing through the air as a gust of wind blew hard.
He knew if he told her what he’d learned about her father’s motivations for not asking her to take over the paper that she wouldn’t believe him.She needed to hear it directly from her father, but Reed didn’t know if those two would ever have an open and honest conversation.
But he had to give it one more shot.“Would you please go talk to your father?Maybe if you would tell him that you’re interested in running the paper…”
She spun around and practically ran into him.“I didn’t say that.”
“But it’s true.Isn’t it?”
“No.”The answer came out too quickly and vehemently to be believed.
“Just talk to him.”
“I can’t.Any time the subject of the paper comes up, he gets worked up.And with his bad heart, he can’t get upset.”
Reed thought about his prior conversation with Samuel and how her father had gotten worked up.Reed felt bad.That was definitely a tactical error on his part.Honestly, he didn’t think Samuel would get so angry.
“I… I need to get packed,” she said.
“I thought you weren’t leaving until Friday.”
“I am but I have a lot of things to sort through.Obviously, I’m not going to be able to take much with me.”She pulled out her phone and started checking her messages.
