8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
The next afternoon, Henry closed his notebook and checked his watch. He should leave shortly. He wasn’t looking forward to the meeting with Remy, but he wanted to get the situation with the job offer at the paper settled.
“You’re done?” Jack stood at the end of the counter and removed his plastic gloves. “So soon?”
“Well, I have that appointment to talk to Remy Nicholas today. We’re going to clear up the confusion about that offer to write for the paper.
Remember?” He draped his bag across his body, then tossed his cup into the recycling bin.
“I’ll be back. Promise. Unless you’re closed by the time I’m done, then I’ll see you at your place. ”
“I look forward to what you find out.” Jack tugged him close for a kiss. “Good luck.”
“Don’t need luck. I’ve got you.” He grinned, then waved to Anna.
Henry left the shop and strode across the center of town toward the newspaper office.
He’d only been there once before to place an ad to sell his bicycle.
He stepped into the building and snorted.
The cavernous space wasn’t what he remembered.
Remy Nicholas strode across the row of short cubicles and thrust out his hand. “Henry Lord. I’m Remy Nicholas. It’s nice to put a face to the name. I’ve seen your name and photo on the articles you’ve written for other publications.”
“You knew my face and name.” He shook hands with Remy. “But thank you.”
“Welcome.” Remy gestured to the back of the room. “A little different than the last time you were here.”
“You opened the space up.” He waited for Remy to direct him where they were to go to have this meeting.
“It was too closed in.” Remy shrugged. “I liked the openness when we had to knock down walls to downsize, so when I took over the paper, I kept it open. It’s easier for the handful of reporters to contact each other across the room, gives us space for the toy drive at Christmas and the food drive in the summer, so I’m happy. ”
“Good deal.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “About that offer…”
“Yes. Let’s go to the conference room.” Remy directed him to the back of the room to another area. “In here. It’s quiet.”
“Sure.” He joined Remy in the conference space. Remy gestured to one of the seats and Henry sat across from him.
“So, the deal with the column. Let me first apologize for Charlie. His zeal gets him into trouble. Second, what I meant for the column was this. We have a celebrity in town, and it would be a boost for the paper to have you write for us. What would you write? Say there’s a happening in town—a gallery opening or an author is visiting the local writers’ group…
or a luncheon or something. That’s what you’d cover.
Chatter about Cedarwood with its interesting places and things to do. I want your take on this town.”
As Remy spoke, Henry started thinking. “Like how it’s just a nice plain small town where I can hear the birds? Like that?”
“Yes, exactly. Charlie must’ve wanted to get out of writing the reviews. I don’t know,” Remy said. “Doesn’t matter. You’ve got a handle on what I’d like you to write.”
“I don’t review. I talk about a place or hit the highpoints, but I don’t want to do that for Cedarwood. I’m happier to do that with places I don’t live in—if that makes sense.” He could review a foreign country or town, but not Cedarwood.
“Then don’t. Write what makes you feel comfortable.” Remy tapped his index finger on the table. “I want you to write something that makes you happy.”
“I can do that.” The more Remy talked, the more Henry considered taking the job. But he wasn’t sold yet.
“I figured you’d be upset and I wanted to smooth your feathers.” Remy shook his head. “Charlie is shit at presentation. He’s a decent enough writer and has the enthusiasm, but he can’t always get his point across if he’s trying to sell someone on something.”
“I noticed.” If it were up to him, he’d fire Charlie.
“Jack’s a pretty good bulldog for you and that restaurant, too.”
“What?” His blood chilled. What had Jack done?
“You sent him to rip my ass a new one, didn’t you?”
“No.” He held up both hands. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?” He wasn’t angry with Jack, but he wished he knew what Jack had done before he’d come to the meeting.
“He called and reminded me you’d chosen Cedarwood as your home base and you weren’t here to critique it,” Remy said.
“It’s true.” He wanted to settle down in his semi-retirement here.
“And I understand that. I’m not asking you to critique anything,” Remy said. “Charlie mis-sold it.”
Henry nodded. “I’m sorry about Jack.”
“No, he had a point. Featuring a place is fine. Like saying the doughnut shop has great bear claws on Wednesdays. That’s a good feature.
But to say they don’t make decent ones…that’s not what I’m wanting.
Critiques are helpful to a point and not in the way Charlie thought.
I’d like to do a meal of the week feature or special dish of the week thing to show off the best dining in Cedarwood. I’m a sucker for Jack’s hot dogs.”
“Ah.” He was, too.
“And I get why Jack was so angry about the perceived gossipy angle Charlie presented. He thought we wanted you to report back on what you hear. No one would trust you and when they saw you coming, they’d run the other way.”
“They would.”
“Which is why I want your thoughts on Cedarwood, you know? What’s great about our town? I don’t expect a weekly column. Could be one every other week,” Remy said. “I’ll work on your schedule.”
“I’ll think about it, but you might want to have a chat with Charlie,” Henry said. “Soon.”
“What’d he do now?” Remy shook his head. “That kid will give me gray hairs worse than I already have.”
“He mentioned something about seeing Jack with someone else. It wasn’t his business to make comments and truthfully, it was bad form for a reporter,” Henry said. “It didn’t look good for the paper to have him butting in.” Getting his concerns voiced did help.
“Agreed. I’ll talk to him.” Remy jotted something on the notepad already on the table. “That’s not the look I want for the paper, plus, it’s just rude.” Remy hesitated. “So that aside, consider my offer.”
“I will.” He did want to write more.
“Please do. I’m trying to revamp the paper and make it more relevant. You’d be good for that,” Remy said. “Can I be frank with you?”
“Sure. I’ve been so far with you.” He wasn’t sure where Remy was going with his line of thinking, but he’d try to keep up.
“You and Jack are a couple, yes?”
“We are.”
“Why don’t you come together to the LGBTQ support group meetings?” Remy asked. “I’ve invited Jack a few times, but he’s always busy. It’s mostly a chance to be around others in the community who understand our struggles. Why not come? We meet tonight at eight.”
He had plans with Jack, but why not visit the community center? It might do them good. Jack could wear one of his hot dog shop shirts and do a bit of advertising. “I’ll let you know,” Henry said and stood. “Thanks.”
“I appreciate it. You’ll enjoy yourself.” Remy stood, then walked him out of the room to the front of the newspaper building. “I do hope you consider the column. You’ll be great.”
“I’ll consider it.” After he talked to Jack. “Thanks, Remy.”
“Welcome. See you tonight.” Remy waved.
Henry nodded. “See you.” He checked his watch, then headed to the shop. Jack had closed for the day by now, but he should still be there. When he reached Jack’s block, he noticed the lights were out and the sign turned around. Still, he marched up to the door.
Jack appeared before he could knock. He opened the door. “Hey you. I didn’t think you’d get back here so fast. How’d the meeting go?”
“Hi,” Henry said. “It was good.” He ducked into the shop. “Need help cleaning up?”
“I’m doing the books. Everything else is done.” Jack gestured to the table. “Sit. I want to hear about the meeting.”
“Did you call Remy?” He had to know.
Jack sank onto the chair. “I did. I overstepped I’m sure, but I couldn’t stand by while the paper wrote hit pieces.”
“I understand.” At least Jack was being honest—now.
“Did it get you into trouble?” Jack asked. “It wasn’t my intention.”
“It wasn’t the best thing you could do, but we all know what you meant.” Henry sat across from him. “The paper shouldn’t write hit pieces, as you called them.”
“Exactly. Charlie’s presentation was awful.”
“I addressed that with Remy.”
“Good.” Jack closed the ledger. “So?”
“The meeting went well. I’m debating taking the job. It’s good money and as steady as I want,” Henry said. “Not writing about people, but doing more of a feature and something with my thoughts.”
“Oh.” Jack leaned back in his chair.
“It’s not as bad as it seems,” Henry said. He appreciated Jack’s enthusiastic need to protect him. He wanted to do the same for Jack. “Remy invited us to the support group. It’d be good for us.”
“Henry.” Jack crooked his eyebrow. “Really?”
“We either love or argue and we don’t get out beyond the shop. Our friends will be there.” Henry shrugged. “Don’t you want to go? It might be nice to see other couples in the wild.”
“You don’t…” Jack stopped. “Sorry. I’m getting defensive.” He paused. “Because I’m afraid.”
“Of what?” He held Jack’s hand. “It’s just people we know getting together to support one another.”
“I’m afraid you’ll realize there are better choices out there than me.” Jack shook his head. “Sorry.”
“I’m not the other guys you’ve known.”
“I know and that’s why I’m afraid. We’re good together. You respect me and you treat me like a partner. It’s…you’re everything I wanted in a man,” Jack said.
“You’re scared we’ll crash and burn.”
“The others didn’t last.”
“I’m not the others and just because we’re with other couples doesn’t mean I’m on the prowl. I’m not. Trust me. Even if we get split up—I have no idea how they do these things—I’m coming back to you. Always. I know it’s hard to trust me, but please try.”
Jack stared at him a moment, then narrowed his eyes and sighed. “It would be nice to see other people outside of the shop.”