Page 75 of A Moment In Time

“A beer would be great.”

“Are you supposed to be drinking?”

“I’m not on any medication.”

“I’ll get you a beer then. May I have one, too?”

“Of course. I didn’t know you drank beer.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“I imagine there is.”

Sydney took two beers from the refrigerator, then handed him one. She set hers down on the pine table. “I’ll make a fire. It’s really cold in here.”

Gage drank some beer while he watched Sydney build a fire in the wood stove. He was glad she was here. And he’d do his best not to chase her away.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “What?”

“Nothing. I’m glad you’re here.”

She turned all the way around. “Really?”

“Yeah. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. So far anyway.”

Gage laughed. “Well, it’s only been five minutes.”

When she finished with the fire, she went to him. “Are you good? Do you need anything?”

“I’m good.” He turned to lean against the arm of the couch, then put his feet up. “I’m tired again.”

“Corbyn said it’s to be expected.”

“Tell me what you did today at the office.”

Sydney sat in a chair, and while they drank their beers, she told him all about her day. She’d gotten a lot accomplished. And when they went in on Monday, it wouldn’t take much to finish putting Tuesday’s edition together.

When she finished, he nodded. “Thank you. It’s like you don’t even need me there.”

“I’ll admit. It was nice being there again. But you are still the captain of the boat. I’m just your stand-in first mate.”

He finished his beer and set the bottle on the floor next to the couch. “Does this mean you’ll consider coming back?”

“Would I still have a job?”

“Always.”

“I have missed it. And I suppose once you’re mayor, you’ll need help.”

“Definitely.”

“And I guess it might as well be me.”

He nodded. “It might as well be you. You already know what to do. I wouldn’t need to train a new first mate.”

“That would be pretty convenient for you.”

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