“Are you sure?”
“Positive.Jeez.Anyone would think he worked for the F.B.I.or something.”Katie’s gaze sharpened.“He doesn’t, does he?”
“Not unless he was working undercover as a journalist.”Before her sister’s imagination got the better of her, Barbara opened a different tab on the computer screen.“Theo covered some incredible stories while he was atThe New York Timesand he isn’t afraid to hold people accountable for their actions.Especially if they’re in influential positions.His mom is a pediatric oncology specialist and his dad’s a neurosurgeon.”Just thinking about their careers left her reeling.“It’s no wonder he hasn’t spoken to them in a while.They must spend most of their time working.”
“I don’t understand why he wants to keep a low profile.”Katie took a bite out of her apple as she read another article Barbara had found.“If I worked forThe New York Timesand had a resume like his, I’d stay in a city where all the big stories are.”
Barbara wasn’t going to tell her sister why Theo was here.“I guess he wanted a change.That’s everything I found.”She closed the laptop.“Remember not to tell anyone what you’ve seen.”
“My lips are sealed.”Katie sighed.“Sometimes I wish I could move somewhere where no one knows me.”
Barbara frowned.“Is everything all right?”
“Everyone keeps asking me where they can buy copies of my books, but it’s never going to happen.My agent sent my manuscripts to another publishing house.They don’t want them.”
“That doesn’t mean they aren’t wonderful stories.There’ll be lots of reasons they can’t—”
“I’ve heard them all.”Katie cradled the apple in her hands.“Living in Sapphire Bay isn’t the best thing for me.”
“But you’ve enjoyed helping us at the inn, and Mom and Dad—”
“I know.They love having us here.But I need to be in Los Angeles.There’s a buzz in the air, a restless energy that never goes away.The most restless thing around here is Charlie.”
At the mention of his name, their Golden Lab stirred from beneath the table.With twitchy whiskers, he lifted his nose in the air and sniffed.When he didn’t smell any doggie food, he released a deep sigh and dropped his head between his paws.
“Don’t worry.I won’t leave Sapphire Bay before the conditions in Grandma’s will are met,” Katie reassured Barbara.
“We only have to wait another six months before we can go our separate ways.Will you be okay until then?”
“I’ll have to be.”
Barbara placed her hand over Katie’s.“If you need to leave, just tell us.We could talk to Grandma’s lawyer.”
“We’ve already tried that.I’ll be okay.”Katie nodded toward Barbara’s laptop.“What will you do about Theo?”
“Nothing.What he chooses to tell me is his business.”
“I thought you liked each other?”
“Friends can still have things they don’t tell each other.”The heat of a blush hit Barbara’s face.If she believed that, she might as well admit that a cow really did jump over the moon.
“Well, I think we’re lucky to have him living here.He should talk to Gabe.Between a bestselling author and an award-winning journalist, we’ll be the literary mecca of Flathead Lake.”
It was just as well Katie hadn’t seen the other article she’d found.Theo wasn’t exaggerating when he’d told her what happened after the story about Steve McGibbons was published.“Let Theo decide when he wants everyone to know about him.For now, he’s happy to run the radio station.”
“Do you think he’ll receive funding from the next round of applications?”
“I hope so.It’s not all doom and gloom, though.After Theo interviewed you, ten thousand people liked the Instagram post.”
“That’s amazing.”Katie looked thoughtfully at Barbara.“Maybe I should use social media to boost my author profile.”
Barbara had already suggested that to her sister, but Katie only listened to what she wanted to hear.“Let me know when you want to start.”Apart from anything else, if Katie focused on building an audience for her children’s books, it might make her time away from Los Angeles more bearable.
With a gleam in her eyes, Katie took another bite out of her apple.“Be careful what you wish for.Helping me might take more time than you have.”
Barbara had always been careful not to wish for too much.Setting her expectations too high led to disappointment and heartache—and too many empty promises.“I’m always happy to help you.”
Katie stopped chewing.“You’re being nice for a reason.What do you want?”
