Page 50 of Rumors in Bayberry
She’d thought by going back to her career that everything would once again fall into place, but instead, her life felt like a jigsaw puzzle that was missing some vital pieces, making it impossible to see the full picture.
She didn’t know if she could leave Bayberry without clearing the air with her father.Reed was right; she needed to speak to her dad.They needed to have an open and honest conversation.Although, it still worried her that she might say something wrong and put his heart at risk.They’d all gone through so much to get her father to this place.
And yet, her thoughts and feelings couldn’t stay buried any longer.She needed to make things right before she left town.She could hear the echo of Reed’s voice in her head, cheering her on to speak the truth.
“Dad, I know you’ve been through a lot, and I understand you wanting to retire early.The part I don’t understand is why you didn’t ask me to take over the newspaper permanently.I know you don’t like the way I modernized everything, but if the paper doesn’t change with the times, it’s going to die.”
Her father’s face didn’t betray his feelings, and he wouldn’t look at her.“You need to go to Brussels.”
Frustration grew within her.“Dad, I need you to talk to me.”
“I did.”
The corned beef and cabbage churned in her stomach.She heard the echo of Reed’s voice in her mind, prodding her not to let this moment slip by.
She swallowed hard.She couldn’t leave the country until she sorted things out with her dad.Since she’d graduated high school and quit working at the paper, she felt as though there was a wedge growing between them.And nothing she did seemed to please him.
“Dad, would you talk to me?”
A brilliant flash of lightning lit up all of Bayberry—at least that was the way it felt.The power went out.And right on the heels of the lightning, the loudest thunder she ever heard rocked the house.It felt as though the ground were moving beneath her feet.
“That wasn’t good.”Her father moved to the window and stared out into the stormy night.
When it was apparent the power was not going to come back on this time, her mother said, “I really do need to find those candles.”
“Maybe I should head home,” Sadie said.“I need to check on Binx.He hates storms.He must be scared to death.”
“I thought he was staying with Kate,” her mom said.
Sadie followed her to the kitchen.“He is, erm, he will be.He wasn’t ready to make the move just yet.”
Her mother opened a draw and shuffled things around.“I heard he ran away.”
Of course she’d heard about it.She didn’t think there was a thing the gossip chain in town missed.She was certain by now they knew she was leaving for Brussels.
“Uh, yeah.He did.”Sadie hated that Binx wasn’t comfortable at Kate’s place.Sadie would take him with her, if she could.“I haven’t taken him back yet.”
“Here it is.”Her mother turned on a flashlight.“Now to find the candles.”
More lightning lit up the house.It was really close.And once more the thunder rattled the whole house.It felt as though the lightning had struck next to them.
It reminded her that she really had to get home.“Do you need anything before I go?”
Her mother turned to her, but her face was hidden in the shadows of the evening.“You can’t go out in this weather.”
Sadie wasn’t wild about it, but she couldn’t leave Binx to suffer on his own.“Just a few blocks, and I’ll be home.”
There was lightning again, but it wasn’t as bright.The rain continued to ping against the windows.And the thunder rolled through Bayberry.
Buzz.
“Whose phone is that?”her mother asked.
“Not mine,” Sadie said.“And if it’s not yours, it must be Dad’s.”She turned around and squinted into the darkness.“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.Samuel?”
They both got quiet as the storm threw out the last of its might.The wind caused a loose shutter to bang repeatedly against the side of the house.The pounding rain eased to a tapping on the windows.And the thunder sounded as though it were moving away.
