Page 40 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
But he wasn’t kidding. He was blown away with her ideas for the festival. He just hoped they could pull them off. If they could, it would be a blessing for the town.
“Ms. Ross,” the receptionist said, returning from the editor’s office, “Mr. Murray can spare five minutes.”
Kaiah adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder. “Perfect. Thank you.” She clasped Reid’s hand. “Let’s go talk to him.”
Reid was grateful she left her warm hand in his while they followed the receptionist past a row of small offices to a larger office at the end of the hallway. A man in his mid-sixties sat behind a large wooden desk that seemed like it had been hit by a tornado of paper. His small, dark eyes peered at them through horn-rimmed glasses with thick lenses.
The man stood and held out his hand. “Ms. Ross. I’m Clint Murray.”
“Kaiah.” She shook his hand. “And this is my associate, Reid Turner.”
“Turner.” Clint studied Reid. “You’re a lieutenant with the fire department, and your sister is the president of the historical society.”
Reid shook his hand. “That’s right.”
“Have a seat. What can I do for you?” He gestured toward two chairs across from his messy desk.
“I’m in town doing an article about Coral Cove and the festival,” Kaiah began.
“Festival?” Clint’s forehead pinched. “I heard that was canceled.”
“We’re working to change that,” Reid said.
“Exactly,” Kaiah said. “Reid and I are working with his sister, and we have a plan to make the festival bigger this year, but we need your help.” She summarized her idea for Light the Dark—a weeklong festival designed not only to raise enough money for the elementary school renovations but also to put Coral Cove on the map for a tourism boost. “I was hoping to partner with you to write articles and publicize the event.”
Reid’s phone chimed with a text, and he pulled it from his pocket and read it:
Becca: All set for meeting at town hall tonight at 7:00. Mayor, town council, and school board will be there. The wheels are in motion!
He tapped Kaiah’s arm and angled his phone’s screen toward her, and she smiled. Then he addressed Clint. “We’re going to discuss it with the school board and city council tonight at seven at the town hall.”
“When are you planning to hold this festival?” Clint asked.
“It will start on the usual weekend, but like we said, hopefully it’ll run for a week instead of just the weekend,” Reid explained.
Clint seemed skeptical. “You’re putting together an elaborate weeklong spring festival in ten days?” He scoffed. “Do you have a magic wand to pull this off?”
“If the town pulls together, we can make it happen,” Kaiah said.
Reid was certain he found determination shining in Kaiah’s eyes, and he couldn’t have been prouder.
“Maybe so, but folks around here are used to doing things a certainway.” The editor plopped back in his chair, and it creaked under his weight. “Where are you from?”
“New York.”
Her pleasant expression never wobbled, despite his sneer.
He studied her business card. “And you write forThe Traveler?” He tossed the card onto his desk. “Never heard of it. Why are you here?”
It took all of Reid’s patience not to go off on this guy. How dare he talk to Kaiah like that?
“She’s here to write about Coral Cove,” Reid said. “Can you help us or not?”
Clint pointed to the hallway. “We’re a staff of three here. I’m not sure how much help I can be.”
Kaiah rested her hands on her lap. “I’ll write the articles. I just need your help sharing them.”
Clint shrugged. “I guess we’ll see if you can pull off your festival plans. Andifyou can, andifyou write the articles, then we’ll make room for them in our print and digital editions.”
