fault,” I told her, attempting to catch as many
papers as I could despite the gusts of wind.
“Oh,” she replied, sobbing harder, “just let them go. Let
the wind carry it all away, just like it did my darling.” She lowered herself carefully
onto the steps outside the building, bracing herself on the railing. “I can’t
run this place without him, and I know what those young suits want to do with
it. I won’t let them shut this place down and turn it into some computer-box
newspaper.”
I held back my grin at her lack of knowledge on the Web.
“You want to see the paper come to life again,” I said,
sitting down beside her. I had nowhere else to be, and I hated to see a woman,
of any age, in tears.
“I do, but it’s not going to happen. I need to accept it
already. No one reads the blasted thing.” She grimaced, rubbing her wrinkled
little hands together for warmth. “No one in this town cares if the paper even
exists anymore.”
“I doubt that’s true. Maybe you need to focus on new
topics, or bring in some younger blood?” I offered.
“Maybe.” She looked hopeless.
“Or maybe you just need someone with a passion for it.”
“Yes, exactly, but I don’t have time to keep looking. The
vultures are circling, and I’ve no other options.”
I knew exactly the girl with that passion. She wasn’t
ready yet, but after college she would be. And in the meantime, I could use her
on staff to revive the paper. It was like any other business, I figured: all
about hiring the right people for the job.
I wasn’t sure how it’d work, but I knew Lawrence could
manage the home office and that Caleb was right about how Oliver would love the
open space of the country. It was as though the blocks were lining up just for
me to trip over and see that maybe this was the change I needed.
“Can we go inside to talk a moment?” I asked, standing
and holding out my hand to help her up.
“I’m sorry, young man. I’m in a hurry tonight. I’ve lost
my head, and now I’ve lost track of time.”
I held firm, my features sincere. “Please. I think I can
help.”
She regarded me cautiously. I stood there under her
scrutiny until, very hesitantly, she agreed, taking my hand as she stood. “I
have pepper spray in my pocketbook.”
I chuckled. “Always best to play it safe.”
“Indeed. Well, come on then, let’s get out of the cold.”
I followed her back inside the building she’d emerged from: The Harmony Tribune .
T here’s something to be said for a strong-willed
woman, and Louise—it took forever, but I finally got the elderly woman’s name—was
as tough as they came. We talked for over an hour, discussing her dreams for
the paper and the price she was asking for it. It wasn’t about money as much as
a certain request: She wanted to stay on in any way possible. She’d grown up
helping out there, and she wanted to end her days the same way.
I agreed easily and watched her face light up, her
expression softening. Turned out that why no other so-called vultures were good
enough was because they saw her as a liability, whereas I saw her as the charm.
We shook hands, agreeing I’d be back in a few weeks with
contracts before I headed back out, ready to accept the massive and
unpredictable waves I’d set in motion. It was irresponsible on multiple levels,
but for the first time since I’d become a father, I dived in, confident Oliver
and I would enjoy the swim.
I sent a quick text to Caleb.
I’m in.
I’d explain the rest later.
It only took a minute before the phone dinged with his
reply.
Good, but ur missing out over here. No gag reflex. heaven.
There was always fun to be had with Caleb, and I was
about to hit Reply and explain that I was on my way back when two women in
their late twenties approached me. Both were tall brunettes, and one had an ass
in the shape of a peach. My mouth watered. Caleb was on his own.
“Hello, ladies.” I smiled just enough.
“Hi,” the Peach replied.
papers as I could despite the gusts of wind.
“Oh,” she replied, sobbing harder, “just let them go. Let
the wind carry it all away, just like it did my darling.” She lowered herself carefully
onto the steps outside the building, bracing herself on the railing. “I can’t
run this place without him, and I know what those young suits want to do with
it. I won’t let them shut this place down and turn it into some computer-box
newspaper.”
I held back my grin at her lack of knowledge on the Web.
“You want to see the paper come to life again,” I said,
sitting down beside her. I had nowhere else to be, and I hated to see a woman,
of any age, in tears.
“I do, but it’s not going to happen. I need to accept it
already. No one reads the blasted thing.” She grimaced, rubbing her wrinkled
little hands together for warmth. “No one in this town cares if the paper even
exists anymore.”
“I doubt that’s true. Maybe you need to focus on new
topics, or bring in some younger blood?” I offered.
“Maybe.” She looked hopeless.
“Or maybe you just need someone with a passion for it.”
“Yes, exactly, but I don’t have time to keep looking. The
vultures are circling, and I’ve no other options.”
I knew exactly the girl with that passion. She wasn’t
ready yet, but after college she would be. And in the meantime, I could use her
on staff to revive the paper. It was like any other business, I figured: all
about hiring the right people for the job.
I wasn’t sure how it’d work, but I knew Lawrence could
manage the home office and that Caleb was right about how Oliver would love the
open space of the country. It was as though the blocks were lining up just for
me to trip over and see that maybe this was the change I needed.
“Can we go inside to talk a moment?” I asked, standing
and holding out my hand to help her up.
“I’m sorry, young man. I’m in a hurry tonight. I’ve lost
my head, and now I’ve lost track of time.”
I held firm, my features sincere. “Please. I think I can
help.”
She regarded me cautiously. I stood there under her
scrutiny until, very hesitantly, she agreed, taking my hand as she stood. “I
have pepper spray in my pocketbook.”
I chuckled. “Always best to play it safe.”
“Indeed. Well, come on then, let’s get out of the cold.”
I followed her back inside the building she’d emerged from: The Harmony Tribune .
T here’s something to be said for a strong-willed
woman, and Louise—it took forever, but I finally got the elderly woman’s name—was
as tough as they came. We talked for over an hour, discussing her dreams for
the paper and the price she was asking for it. It wasn’t about money as much as
a certain request: She wanted to stay on in any way possible. She’d grown up
helping out there, and she wanted to end her days the same way.
I agreed easily and watched her face light up, her
expression softening. Turned out that why no other so-called vultures were good
enough was because they saw her as a liability, whereas I saw her as the charm.
We shook hands, agreeing I’d be back in a few weeks with
contracts before I headed back out, ready to accept the massive and
unpredictable waves I’d set in motion. It was irresponsible on multiple levels,
but for the first time since I’d become a father, I dived in, confident Oliver
and I would enjoy the swim.
I sent a quick text to Caleb.
I’m in.
I’d explain the rest later.
It only took a minute before the phone dinged with his
reply.
Good, but ur missing out over here. No gag reflex. heaven.
There was always fun to be had with Caleb, and I was
about to hit Reply and explain that I was on my way back when two women in
their late twenties approached me. Both were tall brunettes, and one had an ass
in the shape of a peach. My mouth watered. Caleb was on his own.
“Hello, ladies.” I smiled just enough.
“Hi,” the Peach replied.
Similar Books
