Page 52 of A Little Luck

Why does everyone keep asking me that?“No, but maybe I should have.”

The office desktop lights up, and I see a string of emails filling the general inbox. Some are outraged, some are laugh-crying emojis, one is from my old high school English teacher. I can only imagine she’s all prepared to give me a refresher course.

A shuffling noise behind me causes me to look up, and I see the culprit herself entering the room, waving a paper over her head with a huge smile on her face.

“Thanks for calling, Harold.” I put down the phone, and my mother races up to give me a hug.

“Isn’t it thrilling?” Her eyes are so bright. “I just read the front page, and the headlines are so exciting! They made me want to subscribe.”

I let it pass that my own mother is not even a subscriber. “Are you serious right now? I’m putting out fires left and right because of those headlines.”

I don’t saybecause of you, since clearly she was trying to help me.

Lesson learned.

“What do you mean? They make the town sound exciting and fun. Big things are happening in Eureka, and you’re covering them with style.”

“Harold Waters doesn’t think it’s stylish for his dog to be called food, and Aiden doesn’t think it’s exciting to run down jaywalkers in his truck.” Dropping into my chair, I rest my face on my hand. “I haven’t even heard from the new pastor yet. Probably because he’s in church.”

“I bet he’ll appreciate it. Did you see the church sign today?” My brow furrows, and I glance up at her. “‘Forbidden fruit leads to many jams.’ That’s pretty good, yes?”

“You should ask him for a job.” I push out of my chair. “I’m switching the phone to voicemail. We’ll just have to ride it out.”

Mom claps her hands. “You’ll ride it all the way to the bank. I bet you get a ton of new business after this issue.”

Exhaling deeply, I shake my head. “I’ll get a ton of something, I’m sure. Letters to the editor, most likely.”

“That’s a good thing! It shows you the readers are engaged.”

Thumbing through my story ideas, I think about what needs to be done for Wednesday’s edition. A profile of the new pastor would be nice—if he’ll speak to me—along with an interview with the outgoing pastor, Dr. Shepherd, whose last act before retiring will be officiating Alex and Cass’s wedding.

Two new businesses opened in the strip mall by the Popcorn Palace, and a new veterinarian has moved to the county. I wonder if he’s the one who helped Adam and Ryan with Fudge. I feel so disconnected from my son since our plumbing disaster.

“What are you doing today?” My phone buzzes, and I look down to see a text from Britt.

Britt

Aiden says to come for dinner. Don’t worry about the headlines.

I start my reply when Mom answers, “I figured I’d work on my canning for the winter. You can never have too many vegetables.”

A forlorn tone is in her voice, and even though I’m still annoyed with her, the thought of her spending all Sunday in her apocalypse cellar is just sad.

Amending my reply to Britt, I quickly ask,

Is there room for Mom to join?

Britt’s answer is equally quick.

Britt

Of course! Come when you’re ready.

“Your vegetables can wait. Britt just invited us to have dinner with her and Aiden. I’m sure Gwen will be there.” I give Mom’s arm a brief tug. “Come on, Geraldo, let’s go hang out with my son.”

Frowning, she shakes her dark-brown head. “You don’t even know who Geraldo Rivera is.”

“I was a journalism major in college, Mom. I know who Geraldo is.”

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