Page 60 of Rumors in Bayberry
The closer she got to theGazette, the tighter the knot in her stomach became.She hadn’t been able to eat a bite that morning.She couldn’t even stomach the thought of coffee.Somehow having Reed next to her gave her strength.
She focused fully on the road as she turned onto Locust Drive.She knew if she let her gaze stray—if she saw the building—that she would forget what she was doing, and she’d have an accident.That couldn’t happen for a multitude of reasons, including the fact that they’d end up spending another night in the hospital.Neither one of them wanted a repeat visit.
There wasn’t any parking in front of the building.That area had orange cones all along the side of the road.So, she kept going until she found the first available spot.
She parked and turned off the engine.When she turned to Reed, the color had drained from his face.She knew instantly that he’d looked—he’d seen the newspaper or rather what was left of it.
“Are you okay?”She knew seeing the building would bring back memories for him—memories of being in a burning building.
He visibly swallowed.“Yes.Are you ready?”
“No.”It was the truth.She wasn’t ready to see something that had been in her family for generations totally destroyed.Still, she had to do this.“But let’s get this over with.”
He shook his head.“I shouldn’t have asked you to come here.I’m sorry.”
“I’m doing this.”She opened the car door and got out.
Reed met her on the sidewalk on the other side of the road from the newspaper.Her gaze was already wandering down the street and trying to see what, if anything, was left of theGazette.But there were too many trees lining the street to get a good view.
He took her hand in his.She wasn’t sure if he made the gesture as support for her…or himself.His fingers laced with hers, and it felt good to have his hand against hers.
“Okay.Let's do this.”He turned, and together they started to walk toward the newspaper office.
With each step, her heart beat faster.Her stomach churned.And her head started to pound.It was like she was living a nightmare.
She told herself she’d feel better once she saw the building.Once she knew how much repair work was going to be required to make it the way it used to be, she would be able to make a plan.They could get the insurance payout, and then they could get quotes for the work.It would be hard, but they could do it.
The farther they went, the slower she walked.Her feet felt heavy, and her legs were stiff.She stared down at the sidewalk, hoping the damage wasn’t as bad as she was imagining.
Reed stopped.She glanced over at him.“What’s wrong?”
“We’re here.”
“Oh.”She hesitated.
And then she turned her head.She gasped, which came out as more like a cry.She blinked, but the nightmare wouldn’t go away.
The damage that she’d imagined they’d find—it…well, it didn’t even come close to reality.There was no building to repair.There wasn’t a second story.There wasn’t even a first floor.
Everything was charred.There were a few beams sticking up out of the ashes.Her home… It was gone.Her bed.Her books.Her pictures.It was all…gone.
She pressed a hand to her chest, which felt tight.Her vision blurred.She blinked repeatedly as her mind tried to grasp the reality that the newspaper office where she’d spent time since she was a little girl—a place where she’d made so many memories—was gone in a puff of smoke.
Suddenly, she realized she was leaning into Reed’s side as tears streamed down her cheeks.His arm was wrapped around her back, holding her close.She didn’t know if she’d made the first move or if he had.In that moment, she didn’t think it mattered.
“I’m so sorry,” Reed said softly before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
She knew she was supposed to pull it together and act mature about this, but she couldn’t.This place had been a piece of her heritage.Now, it was nothing more than ash.
She didn’t know how long they stood there, staring at the total loss.Numerous friends came by and offered their sympathies.There were tears.There were hugs.It was a lot, and it was utterly draining.
After picking up Reed’s things at the B&B, they had lunch at Wrights’ Eatery.Neither one of them had much appetite.Nor did either of them say much.What was there to say?It felt as though everything was ending.And definitely not in a good way.
Her apartment was gone.Her family’s newspaper was gone.And soon Reed would be gone.She supposed that soon she should be gone too.
She needed something to do—something to distract her.When her gaze strayed across the checkout counter with a flyer for the Pumpkin Festival, she realized she could go help with the maze.It would give her something to keep herself busy.But first, she needed get Reed situated at Kate’s house and she wanted to check on Binx.
Sadie drove a few blocks until they reached the corner of Valley Lane and Flatlander Way.To her right sat a large Victorian-style home with berry-red paint and white trim.It was just the kind of place where there should be a family.Even though Kate and Wes had just married that summer, Kate had mentioned not wanting to wait for kids.If everything went as planned, it wouldn’t be long until there were little ones running around the yard and rolling in the leaf pile beneath the large maple tree in the front yard.
