I take a seat and blow on my tea, watching the steam rise into the air.“I need an interview.Which he’ll probably say no to again, but Luna’s insisting.”
Keith’s a doctor, so he might understand the pressure, or he might think I’m just another journalist chasing a story.Part of me hopes he’ll see past that because he’s known me my whole life.
We sit in silence.My mind travels to the moment Adrian made it clear he wasn’t interested in an interview.He barely gave it a thought before shutting me down.Sipping my tea, I look out at Keith’s backyard.It’s peaceful here.No siblings fighting over the last piece of toast, no one stealing my shoes, no yelling.Just stillness.
Wouldn’t it be nice to come home to this?
Keith sighs, which pulls my gaze to him.“Listen, Adrian had a rough time back in the city.He’s a good kid, but the bulletin hasn’t been kind.”
I shift uncomfortably, knowing that was half my fault, already feeling a kind lecture coming on.
“You know, Amelia, you could have left that last line out of your last article,” he says gently.“But you didn’t.”
A pit forms in my stomach.He’s calling me out, and I can’t even deny it.
Keith takes a sip of his drink, clearly thinking.
I don’t know if he’s disappointed, angry, or both.So I wait, expecting him to say I went too far, or that I blew my chance with Adrian completely.
Finally, he says, “There’s one thing I know he cares about.”
I sit up straighter.“What is it?”
Keith watches me for a moment, then leans back.“Some medical equipment at the hospital, called a CT scanner, is broken, and he’s been trying to get it replaced.But he can’t use his own money to fix it.”
I listen carefully.
He stares into the distance before meeting my eyes.“I think if you helped him run a fundraiser to get the money, he might trade you for the interview.”
“Why does he care so much about that particular equipment?”
Keith gives me a look, as if he knows, but doesn’t say it out loud.“That’s not my story to tell.If he wants you to know, he’ll tell you.”
I press my lips together, mulling it over as I sip my tea.The idea isn’t terrible.It might actually work.
A fundraiser.That’s something I could do.I know people, restaurant owners, small businesses who could sponsor, even the local radio owes me a favor.If I asked the right people, got some traction, it could gain momentum fast.And if Adrian sees I’m actually trying to help, not just chasing a headline, he might be willing to talk.This could work, and maybe it would mean more than Genevive’s pie.
There’s something about the way Keith said it, there’s a deeper reason Adrian wants that equipment.I suspect it’s something personal.
I glance at Keith again, but he doesn’t offer more.
If I’m going to make this work, I need to treat it like any other story, so I set my empty cup down, already planning to call Ezra, Milton the community co-ordinator, and the mayor and pitch to them first.Adrian still hasn’t shown up, so I decide it’s time to leave.
“I should get going.I need to get home to Mom.”I stand and straighten my top.
Keith stands with me, nodding.“Tell her I’m thinking of her.”
“I will.”
As I step onto the porch, I glance back.“Thanks, Keith.”
He waves with a smile as I get in my car.
I don’t have my interview.Yet.But now, I have a plan.
I’m about to take off when Adrian’s car pulls up.My fingers tighten around the steering wheel, my heart kicking up a notch.I should leave.But instead, I shove the door open and step out, watching as he parks.
He gets out, his expression already set in a scowl.
