Chapter 9 #2
eager expression filled his stomach with butterflies.
“I love it.”
“Awesome!” she exclaimed. But then something buzzed past her head, and her eyes rounded as fear etched her face. “Oh my goodness!
Where did it go?” She whipped around, looking frantically up and down. “Is it gone?”
“Is what gone?” he asked, glancing around.
“Was it a bee or a wasp?” She gripped his bicep as if it were a lifeboat. “Is it in my hair?” she asked. “Reid. Where. Did.
It. Go?”
Reid peeked around and shook his head. “I don’t see anything—no bee and no wasp. Scout’s honor.”
She took a deep, cleansing breath, and her expression relaxed. “Gotcha. Thanks for not making fun of my winged-creature paranoia.
You’re nice.” Then she opened her notebook, pulled a pen from her pocket, and wrote something down. She was back to all business.
“I’ll add the photo contest and lighthouse snack to the list of events. Now we need to get the newspaper on board so we can
get the word out locally.”
Without thinking, he rested his hand on her shoulder. And when she smiled up at him, he had the feeling she liked the closeness
as much as he did. “The Coral Cove Times office is just a few blocks from here.”
Reid held the door open for Kaiah as she walked into the newspaper office. She crossed to the front desk where a middle-aged
woman spoke on the phone. A name plate on the counter read “Ingrid Miller.”
Kaiah glanced around the office before giving Reid a warm smile that quickened his pulse. Then she turned to the woman after
she hung up the phone. “Hi there. I’m Kaiah Ross. I was hoping to speak with the managing editor.”
The woman looked down at the desk and then eyed Kaiah with skepticism. “I don’t see you on the schedule, Ms. Ross.”
“No, I don’t have an appointment.” Kaiah took a business card from her pocket and handed it to the receptionist. “I’m a journalist
for The Traveler magazine, and I’m in town. I was hoping your managing editor might have a few moments to discuss a collaboration.”
The receptionist’s expression warmed slightly as she stood, grabbed the business card, and started down the hallway. “I’ll see if Mr. Murray has time to see you.”
“Thank you.” Kaiah flashed a winning smile. Once the woman was gone, she pivoted toward Reid. “Let’s hope he’s impressed with
my credentials.”
“I am, even if he’s not.”
She laughed.
But he wasn’t kidding. He was blown away with her ideas for the festival. He just hoped they could pull them off. If they
could, it would be a blessing for the town.
“Ms. Ross,” the receptionist said, returning from the editor’s office, “Mr. Murray can spare five minutes.”
Kaiah adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder. “Perfect. Thank you.” She clasped Reid’s hand. “Let’s go talk to him.”
Reid was grateful she left her warm hand in his while they followed the receptionist past a row of small offices to a larger
office at the end of the hallway. A man in his mid-sixties sat behind a large wooden desk that seemed like it had been hit
by a tornado of paper. His small, dark eyes peered at them through horn-rimmed glasses with thick lenses.
The man stood and held out his hand. “Ms. Ross. I’m Clint Murray.”
“Kaiah.” She shook his hand. “And this is my associate, Reid Turner.”
“Turner.” Clint studied Reid. “You’re a lieutenant with the fire department, and your sister is the president of the historical
society.”
Reid shook his hand. “That’s right.”
“Have a seat. What can I do for you?” He gestured toward two chairs across from his messy desk.
“I’m in town doing an article about Coral Cove and the festival,” Kaiah began.
“Festival?” Clint’s forehead pinched. “I heard that was canceled.”
“We’re working to change that,” Reid said.
“Exactly,” Kaiah said. “Reid and I are working with his sister, and we have a plan to make the festival bigger this year,
but we need your help.” She summarized her idea for Light the Dark—a weeklong festival designed not only to raise enough money
for the elementary school renovations but also to put Coral Cove on the map for a tourism boost. “I was hoping to partner
with you to write articles and publicize the event.”
Reid’s phone chimed with a text, and he pulled it from his pocket and read it:
Becca: All set for meeting at town hall tonight at 7:00. Mayor, town council, and school board will be there. The wheels are
in motion!
He tapped Kaiah’s arm and angled his phone’s screen toward her, and she smiled. Then he addressed Clint. “We’re going to discuss
it with the school board and city council tonight at seven at the town hall.”
“When are you planning to hold this festival?” Clint asked.
“It will start on the usual weekend, but like we said, hopefully it’ll run for a week instead of just the weekend,” Reid explained.
Clint seemed skeptical. “You’re putting together an elaborate weeklong spring festival in ten days?” He scoffed. “Do you have
a magic wand to pull this off?”
“If the town pulls together, we can make it happen,” Kaiah said.
Reid was certain he found determination shining in Kaiah’s eyes, and he couldn’t have been prouder.
“Maybe so, but folks around here are used to doing things a certain way.” The editor plopped back in his chair, and it creaked under his weight. “Where are you from?”
“New York.”
Her pleasant expression never wobbled, despite his sneer.
He studied her business card. “And you write for The Traveler?” He tossed the card onto his desk. “Never heard of it. Why are you here?”
It took all of Reid’s patience not to go off on this guy. How dare he talk to Kaiah like that?
“She’s here to write about Coral Cove,” Reid said. “Can you help us or not?”
Clint pointed to the hallway. “We’re a staff of three here. I’m not sure how much help I can be.”
Kaiah rested her hands on her lap. “I’ll write the articles. I just need your help sharing them.”
Clint shrugged. “I guess we’ll see if you can pull off your festival plans. And if you can, and if you write the articles, then we’ll make room for them in our print and digital editions.”
“Perfect.” Kaiah stood and hefted her giant bag onto her shoulder. “We’ll be in touch.”
Reid eyed Clint. “I hope you’ll join us for the meeting tonight.”
“I’ll try,” Clint said without much conviction.
Then Reid rested his hand on Kaiah’s lower back and steered her out of that jerk’s office.
“I’m sorry he spoke to you that way,” Reid said while they drove down Main Street. “I wanted to tell him off.” He actually
wanted to pop the guy until he had a shiny black eye, but Reid managed to keep his temper in check.
Kaiah seemed unfazed while she studied the to-do list she’d made in her notepad. “Thanks, but it’s fine. I’m used to having to prove myself over and over again.”
“Really?” He cocked an eyebrow.
She laughed, as if charmed by his innocence. “Yes, really. It’s the nature of being a woman in this business.” She focused
on their list. “So do you think the mayor, the city council, and the rest of the town can really come together and make this happen?”
“I sure do.”
Kaiah dropped back on the seat. “Me too. I think it’s going to be a lot of work. But it’s also a lot of fun.” She turned toward
the window. “I love this little town. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
He smiled at her. “I just hope we can get it all together in time.” He slowed to a stop at the light.
“I know I’ve never been to this festival before. But I’m sure it’s going to be the best one ever.”
And the conviction in her eyes made him believe she was right.