Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg

again.
    â€œStay. Not forever, but longer than a week a two. Shouldn’t that be one of the perks of being your own boss? Being able to take extended time off or work remotely? Take some time to make your decision.”
    â€œThere’s no decision, Kate. I’m selling. That money will be really helpful. Even with insurance, speech therapy for Charlie is expensive.”
    â€œBut you could probably get a better deal for the paper if you take some time, make some improvements, start that website.”
    She had a minor point. He’d read the paperwork Hugh Banner had given him. The offer from Cranford Communications was lowball, no question about that.
    â€œI can’t just take a break from real life, though.”
    â€œLogan, this is real life. Real life isn’t just your career or your everyday stuff. It’s the surprises and opportunities and open doors you didn’t see coming. Last year taught me that. Youremember. I thought I was going to be writing another movie or going to Africa to work for Mom’s foundation. Coming home felt like the hugest interruption—but it turned out maybe the interruption was part of some bigger plan all along.”
    Of course by bigger plan she meant God’s plan. But he didn’t know how he felt about the idea of God and his plans these days. Not if life interruptions like Emma’s death could be considered part of “God’s plan.”
    Or how about Charlie? Was it God’s plan she grow up without her mom—her adoptive mom and her birth mom? And was it God’s plan Emma’s little sister get pregnant at nineteen while on drugs? Oh, she’d promised she was sober all the way through her pregnancy, but he’d started wondering lately if that had been a lie. If maybe Waverly O’Hare’s addiction issues might’ve contributed to Charlie’s not talking.
    â€œWe’re getting closer. Eighty-four has captured the lead.” The mayor’s voice cut into his thoughts.
    â€œOkay, I’ll stop,” Kate said. “I know that look.”
    â€œWhat look?” He scoped out Charlie again, still smiling atop Dad’s shoulders. What was her duck number again? Sixty-five or sixty-six?
    â€œThe look that says I’m being pushy and you’re the older brother. You’re the one who’s supposed to dole out advice.”
    An expectant hush fanned over the crowd as the bobbing ducks neared the bridge. “I don’t mind your advice, sis.”
    â€œIn that case, I’ll say one more thing: You’re burnt out, Logan. We all see it. You’ve got circles under your eyes, you’ve forgotten how to shave—”
    â€œYou really know how to make a guy feel good about himself, you know that?”
    â€œStick around for a while. We can help with Charlie. You could remember what it feels like to have a hobby. Go fishing. You used to love that. Or get out your guitar—”
    â€œI don’t play anymore.” His voice came out sharper than he’d intended.
    But Kate didn’t seem to notice. “Besides, you might have fun playing newspaper publisher for a while. Write some articles, flirt with the cute editor—”
    â€œKate.”
    â€œCome on, admit she’s pretty.”
    Maybe she was—something about those speckled eyes—but he’d shave his head before admitting it to Kate. She wrote romantic stories for a living, after all. She’d start playing matchmaker so fast he might as well write his vows already.
    â€œLogan?” She’d stopped, the rest of the crowd continuing to move around her. “You’ll do the right thing. Whatever you decide about the paper and selling and staying or not staying. You’ll do the right thing. You always do.”
    But that was the problem, wasn’t it? This time he honestly didn’t know what the right thing was.
    â€œAnd number sixty-six has taken a solid lead with only