Page 68 of A Moment In Time

“I’m sorry the first thing I said to you was about the paper.”

Sydney smiled. “It’s fine. I know what it means to you.”

“Do you think it means too much to me?”

She looked at him for a moment. “What do you mean?”

“Lately, with you gone and the mayor stuff overwhelming me, it seems all I do is obsess about getting the paper out on time. Writing perfect articles. Interviewing people, which I hate. The photographs. The layout. I’m driving myself crazy.” He looked at her. “I can’t keep doing it by myself.”

“Well, you could hire someone else.”

“I don’t want someone else.” It came out as a bark. “Sorry.” He took a breath. “You’re right. I need help.”

“I thought Clementine was helping at the office.”

“She is. But she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Which is fine. I wouldn’t be able to step in and be a deputy. But most of the time it’s easier for me to just do it myself than show her how to do it.” He rubbed his forehead. “I think she’s getting a bit frustrated with me as well.”

“Right now, you need to concentrate on getting well and over your injuries.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“I’ll go into the office tomorrow and take care of things. Then you have the weekend to recover. On Monday, if you need me, I’ll come in and help get the paper ready for Tuesday.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I can’t have you stressing all weekend.”

“Thank you.”

She cocked her head. “I’ll only do it if you promise to stay home. No trips to town until Monday. And only then if you’re feeling up to it. Really feeling up to it. I don’t want you going in because you feel guilty or that the world will stop if the paper isn’t perfect and ready to go out.”

He nodded. “Fine. I promise.”

“Okay. Then you have nothing to worry about.”

He yawned. “Before I fall asleep again. What about the mayor stuff?”

“There’s nothing going on this weekend. And even if there was, you have a really good excuse for not attending. I’m sure once word gets out, you’ll be inundated with well wishes.”

“Great. You know how I love attention.”

She smiled. “You better get used to that.”

He was quiet for a moment, then looked at her. “So, you really think the new deputy is cute?”

Sydney laughed. “I haven’t seen him yet. But Clementine isn’t the first person to mention it.”

“Hmm.”

“Why would you care if I thought he was cute? Or if I wanted to get to know him?”

“By getting arrested?”

“Something less dramatic.”

“First off, he’s young. Probably twenty-five. Twenty-six.”

“That’s not a problem.”

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