Page 65 of Rumors in Bayberry
“I’m been doing what I can for them.They’re going to collect unemployment while we sort this out.”
“If you need help, I can stay.”
He shook his head.“You’ve been here long enough.I’m just disappointed I won’t get to read your update to the pig and duck story.”
“You are?”She’d uttered the words before she realized she’d vocalized her thoughts.
He sent her a warm smile.“It makes me feel bad that you have to question that I enjoy your writing.I’m proud of you.I’ve always been proud of you.”
Sadie couldn’t believe what she was hearing.These are the words her father would have said before his heart attack—before his crippling infection—before their worlds were turned upside down.
“Sadie, I just want you to be happy.You go track down those award-winning stories because your mother and I will be in Florida, waiting to read them.We are your biggest fans.”
She blinked and swiped at the tears.“Oh, Dad.Thank you.”She stood and moved to give him a hug.
“What about me?”
She turned to her mother, who was also drying her eyes.“Oh, Mom.You guys are the best.”
“I love you.”Her mother held her arms out to her.When Sadie stepped into her mother’s embrace, she heard, “We are always here for you.”
After breakfast, where Sadie did nothing more than push the food around her plate, her parents dropped her off at the airport.She arrived a few hours early.She made it a point to leave plenty of time before her flight so she didn’t have to fly stressed out.When she was early, it meant she had time to wait in a long, slow security line without her blood pressure rising.It meant that if she was hungry, which she wasn’t that morning, she could grab a bagel and enjoy it before boarding.
She still had no appetite.She went straight to her gate and sat down.At last, she was getting back to work.This was what she wanted.Right?
She didn’t have a clear answer to the question.Instead, she pulled out a paperback that she’d picked up in the airport.It was a romantic suspense.She thought it would take her mind off all of the changes taking place in her life.
But it took her forever to get through the first chapter.It wasn’t the writing.It was her.She couldn’t focus.
She placed the book in her bag.She’d try again on the plane.At that moment, she leaned back and watched the people around her as her mind wandered.
Except she kept thinking about all she was leaving behind: Binx.Her friends.Her parents, especially with her father’s health concerns.And then there was Reed.But it wasn’t like he was going to stick around Bayberry much longer.Finally, there was the newspaper.
Now that the shock of the fire had worn away, she was wondering if the paper was really lost.She wanted to make notes about the paper.She reached into her purse where she kept her notebook.Except her fingers couldn’t find it.That was strange.She always kept it in there.She opened her purse wide and peered inside.It wasn’t there.
She thought back to the last time she’d used it.It took her a moment to think about it.And then she gasped.
She remembered using it to write Reed a letter.She hadn’t even been sure that she was going to leave it for him.She’d been so honest about her feelings, and she hadn’t been sure she was ready to reveal so much to him, especially with her leaving.
But now it appeared that she’d left it behind.The decision had been taken out of her hands.She wondered if he found it.And if he had, what did he think when he read it?
She reached for her phone to see if he’d tried to reach her, but her phone was dead.The charger cord had been lost in the fire.She sighed.
Reed had her notebook.Was it some sort of sign?Was the universe trying to tell her that she’d made the wrong decision?Was she needed in Bayberry?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Itwasearly…
…but it didn’t stop him.
This was too important.Reed strode up to the Plummers’ front door and rang the bell.He hoped Sadie was the one to answer it.His hopes were quickly dashed.
Sadie’s mother greeted him with a smile and invited him inside.He supposed it could have been worse.It could have been Sadie’s father who answered the door.Reed didn’t think the man liked him very much.
“Good morning, Mrs.Plummer.”Reed smiled.
“Oh.Please, call me Helen.And good morning to you.”
