A short, potbellied man with sleeves rolled back on thick arms and wearing a backward baseball cap rounded a counter. He was probably in his early forties.
“I have an appointment with Joshua Kendle.”
“You must be Lana.” He scraped a hand down the leg of his faded jeans. “I’m Joshua. Welcome. You ready to get to work?”
Her shoulders relaxed at his affable warmth. “Ready. What do I do first?”
“Come meet the rest of the staff and then I’ll show you the ropes.” He took her through the back where several cubicles were set up with computers and introduced her to the small group of employees, including his wife, a heavyset blonde with big hair and a gold print scarf. “Hannah is the brains of the outfit. She handles the classifieds and subscriptions.”
As Lana met the others, she relaxed more. No one here seemed to remember the awful Ross girls, or if they did, they didn’t care.
After the introductions, Joshua led the way to his desk crammed inside a tiny, messy office and got down to business, explaining Lana’s duties and her pay-per-article salary. “Hannah gathers an events list from the schools, churches, civic groups, and posts it on the computer and out front on the bulletin board. You can access it yourself from home if you want. Attend as many of them as you can, write up a report, email it to me. I’ll edit and proof and let you know if I have questions. Pick up your check every other Friday.”
“That sounds too easy.” Even if she hadn’t written a full page of anything other than songs in years.
“You grew up in Whisper Falls, right?”
How did he know that? He wasn’t a native. “Except it was Millerville back then.”
“Your local knowledge should come in handy.” Joshua didn’t appear to be in a rush, but he moved and spoke quickly as if always on a deadline. Which in fact, he probably was. “This job will put you in contact with practically everyone in town at some point. It is a great way for you to get reacquainted.”
She’d considered that, although she hadn’t seen it as an advantage. Joshua might know she was a Whisper Falls native but apparently he knew little else. Thank goodness.
“You got a camera?”
“Only an old used one. The pictures are pretty good.”
“That’ll work. Simon is our staff photographer but he can’t be everywhere. I use photos from anyone who’ll send them in, so if you see something picture-worthy, take a shot, add a caption and email it to me. I’ll go from there. If I use it, you get paid.”
Awesome. “Okay.”
“Good.” He dug around in the mess of papers on his desk and pulled out a sheet. “Here you go. Friday night. Football play-offs. Give the kids a good write-up, mention lots of names so we can keep the mamas and daddies buying newspapers.”
She wanted to ask how she was supposed to know who was who but held back. She needed this job. Any show of uncertainty on her part could kill the deal before she had a chance.
“I need the article by Saturday morning to make the Sunday edition. Can you do it?”
The offer, like the man, came fast and immediate. She hadn’t been as ready as she’d let on. She’d planned to take some time and study back editions of the Gazette, to check out library books on writing.
But Joshua was waiting for her answer now.
She stuck her phone in her back pocket and tossed her hair with a fake smile. “Sure. First thing Saturday morning.”
She’d write that article if she had to sit up all Friday night to do it.
Chapter Five
As Davis stood in the tool aisle at the Whisper Falls Hardware Store, he faced a dilemma. He was there buying a blade for his tile saw, a frequent expense, but he’d noticed Lana Ross leaving the store with two buckets of paint right after he’d arrived. Since the day he’d made a repair list inside her old two-story, he’d been thinking of his promise to help. He’d also been troubled by his sister’s warning against getting too friendly with his new neighbor, especially since Nathan and Paige had some wild idea about matchmaking between him and Lana.
Brown hair. Good grief.
“That you, Turner?”
Davis swiveled to look at the newcomer, Pete Abernathy, a burly frame carpenter. They’d played football together in high school and frequently crossed paths in the construction business. “How you doing, Pete?”
“Good. Did you just see what I saw?”
“What was that?”
“Lana Ross. I heard she was back, but who would guess she’d look that good. Man! Eye candy.” Pete smacked his tongue against his teeth, tsking. “You live close to the old Ross place, don’t you? Did she move back in there?”
Irritation, like a gnat around the nose, buzzed along Davis’s nerves endings. “Yep.”
“I bet things are hopping around your neighborhood now.”
“Not that I’ve noticed. She’s a quiet neighbor.”
“No way. Luscious Lana and her twin quiet? They were party central.”
“That was a long time ago, Pete.” His defense of Lana was starting to sound like an instant replay. And he wasn’t even sure he was right. “So far, no parties. Just a lot of work on that run-down house.”
“I heard she’s single. No boyfriend. No husband. That true?”
“As far as I know.”
“A shame. A woman like that alone. Figure she could use some expert advice from a willing man?” His tone indicated he wasn’t discussing the Ross house.
Davis turned a cool gaze on the man. “Does your wife know you talk that way about other women?”
“Loosen up, dude. I didn’t mean nothing by it. People talk. She’s got a kid. I figured she’s still a party girl.” Flushing red, Pete yanked a saw blade from the rack and stalked away.
Davis watched him storm off, saw him muttering to the checker and suspected either he or Lana was the likely topic of conversation. With a sigh, he reached for an extra blade and headed to the checkout himself.
It didn’t seem right that people would assume the worst about anyone, especially a woman they hadn’t seen since the teen years. Sure, she’d been wild and crazy, but so had a lot of kids back then. Lana and Tess were known as the ringleaders, the party girls, always looking for trouble, but they never had to look far. There were plenty ready to run with them. Davis leaned toward a different crowd and had kept his nose clean for a couple of reasons. He’d been a Christian or had tried to be. He sure hadn’t been perfect, but he’d wanted a scholarship. He hadn’t gotten it and after a semester of barely making ends meet at college, he had ended up joining his dad’s tile business. Much as the rejection had hurt when he was eighteen, he was content with his life today. For the most part.
On the drive to Jenny’s to pick up the kids and then all the way home, he fumed over the conversation with Pete. For all he knew, Pete was right about Lana, and if people were already talking, her reintroduction to Whisper Falls might prove bumpy.
None of which was Sydney’s fault. The little girl had crossed the street yesterday and invited his kids to play. She was a pretty thing, with bright eyes the color of the Hawaiian ocean and a sweet, gentle smile. He’d refused her request, using homework as an excuse.
He stole a glance in the rearview mirror at the kids in the backseat, heads together, focused on a handheld video game. Electronic zings and zaps mingled with their happy giggles. How would he feel if the neighbors snubbed them?
He was letting the opinions of others determine his actions when, in truth,