“I don’t know what time—”
“Go with Theo,” Katie said.“We won’t go home without you.”
Barbara picked up her backpack.“Text me when you’re ready to leave.”
“We will.”Katie smiled at Diana and Anne.“How about we go to Aunt Betty’s Eatery?A friend said it makes the best milkshakes and burgers in Montana.”
Ethan rubbed his hands together.“Sounds good to me.What about you and Willow, Zac?Have you recovered enough to eat something?”
Zac hauled himself to his feet and looked at Willow.“We’re in.How about you, little one?Do you want to go to a café with Mommy and Daddy?”
With a short, sharp nod, from Zac’s daughter, everyone’s fate was sealed.
Theo tightened his grip on Barbara’s hand.“We’ll see you soon.”And before she could change her mind, he led her away from their friends.
The wooden bench he found wouldn’t have been his first choice for having an important discussion, but it was better than nothing.“I really am sorry I didn’t mention anything about the article.After everyone’s reaction to the first story, I expected the newspaper’s legal team to reject what I’d written.”
“Why would they do that?You’re one of the most honest people I know.”
“Honesty didn’t help me last time.”
Barbara’s eyes softened.“Your editor made a mistake.”
Theo looked across the open pasture in front of them.“For a while, I thought I was the one who’d made a mistake.I’d triple-checked everything before the story was published.It all made sense until Steve began discrediting the people I’d spoken to.”
“He manipulated the situation.”Barbara sighed.“A lot of people wouldn’t blame him.If the same thing happened to them, they’d do everything in their power to make people believe what you said was all lies.”
“Have you read the story that was published this morning?”
She shook her head.“I’ll borrow Mom and Dad’s copy when I get back to Sapphire Bay.”
Theo pulled out his cell phone.“I have a digital copy if you want to read it now?”
Barbara looked at his cell phone and nodded.
He found the article and handed her the phone.While she was reading, he used the time to stretch his tired muscles.He had no idea what she’d think of the story.With nothing left to lose, he’d been less worried about what he’d written.Steve McGibbons was using the tax system for his own benefit while pretending to be an honest, upstanding citizen.No one reading the second article would be confused about what he’d done or what he was continuing to do.
When Barbara was finished, she handed him his phone.“It’s a great article.What happens next?”
“If it’s the same as last time, Steve McGibbons’ supporters will launch an attack against me.As long as I keep out of their way, everything should be okay.After that, all I can do is wait for the court case.”
“Have you checked your emails and social media pages?”
“Not yet.I’m keeping away from them.”
“Why?”
He thought back to the first few days after the original story was published.His life had turned into a walking nightmare and he wasn’t repeating the same mistakes.“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s not to become part of the story.All it does is makes things worse.If I reply to any of the comments or add fresh content, the backlash will last a lot longer.”
“Doing nothing won’t change people’s opinion of Steve.”
Theo shrugged.“Some people will never be happy with the truth.”
“Is that why your parents wouldn’t speak to you?”
“It wasn’t that they weren’t happy with the truth.The problem was me.I should have warned them about the article before it was published.Instead of being prepared, they were hijacked by Steve’s supporters and held to account for what I said.I don’t think they realized just how divided politics can make people.They lost several clients and friends because of the article.I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Barbara curled her fingers around Theo’s.“What did your parents say when you told them about today’s article?”
