Bayside Blogger @BSBlogger
Rumor has it everyone’s favorite Manhattan wannabe is having career trouble. Will Riley be jumping the Bugle’s ship soon? Stay tuned...
Sawyer read Riley’s response to the Twitter question and let out an exhale.
What did he expect? Did he honestly think she would answer with the truth? That she would reveal that someone she’d trusted her entire life had just broken that confidence for an easy way out of a bad business situation?
His head started pounding for the hundredth time that day. Every time he thought about Riley he got a lump in his throat. Riley had never returned to work that day. Not that he could blame her.
He had sat through a boring budget meeting, two different editorial sessions and a phone call with the printing facility. If someone offered him a million dollars he couldn’t say what had happened in any of those meetings.
It was dinnertime, but he wasn’t hungry. Sawyer was fairly certain he wouldn’t be able to eat again. The idea of putting food in his stomach made him nauseous.
He’s left a message for Riley and tried texting her twice. But she wasn’t answering.
So he left his house and drove over to his parents’. Despite the darkness, his dad was outside hanging Christmas lights.
A huge green wreath with a red bow hung from the front door, and candles glowed from every window. It was such an inviting and friendly scene.
Too bad it was the exact opposite of his current mood. A bad mood brought on by his own stupidity.
He threw the car in Park in front of the house, got out and slammed the door hard. His father paused with lights wrapped around his arm to eye his son.
“Hey,” Sawyer called out as he walked up the front walk. The word came out terse and unfeeling.
“That’s some greeting,” his dad, Henry, said. “Did you have a bad day?”
Sawyer kicked at a pebble.
Henry unwound the lights and placed them on the porch. He stepped toward Sawyer.
“Today sucked,” Sawyer admitted.
Henry nodded. “I’m putting these up for your mother.” He gestured to the lights.
“Kinda dark,” Sawyer said.
“As your mother would say if she wasn’t at the grocery store. She told me to start earlier. Sometimes she’s right. Don’t tell her I said that.”
Sawyer simply grunted.
“I could use a break. Come on.”
Sawyer followed him through the house. His dad snagged two beers from the fridge and, despite the chilly temperature, they made their way onto the deck.
The water was choppy, mirroring Sawyer’s mood. The air held a distinct crispness. It smelled like snow, something Sawyer really couldn’t describe but knew intimately from growing up here.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, drinking their beers. Sawyer didn’t mind the cold. It was cooling off the anger he had toward himself.
“So, son,” Henry finally said. “What brings you here?”
Sawyer decided to get right to it. “You always say I can come to you with any problem at the newspaper? Well, I have a problem. A huge problem. And I really need your advice.”
If his dad was surprised at his bluntness or the reason for visiting, he didn’t show it. Instead, he nodded for them to start walking.
They descended the steps of the deck and strolled slowly around the rim of the bay, and Sawyer told his father everything. How the paper had been losing money and subscribers. About his feelings for Riley. At first, he could barely look at his dad as he revealed how he’d fallen hard for his lifelong friend. He explained Dan Melwood’s proposal and what had transpired with Riley that morning.
When he finished, he stopped walking and waited for his dad’s remarks, unsure of how he was going to take all this news.
To his shock, his dad threw his head back and laughed.
“Well, gee, thanks for the sympathy and support, Dad.” He took a long swig of beer.
“Sorry, sorry.” He continued laughing for a few more moments before pulling himself together. “It’s just that...well, that was quite a mouthful.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Our little Riley is the Bayside Blogger.” He laughed some more. “Your mother had guessed that a while ago. I told her she was crazy.”
“Mom is pretty intuitive.”
“Now that I think about it, I guess it makes sense. But what’s more interesting...you and Riley.”
Sawyer cringed. He was hoping his dad would focus on the business and newspaper portion of the story. He should have known he’d go right for Riley. “It’s weird for you, isn’t it?”
“Are you kidding me? Your mother and I have been waiting for the two of you to sort out your feelings for years.”
Sawyer felt his mouth drop open.
“Aw, I see you’re surprised. Well, I’m not. There has always been something there between you.”
Fascinated, he simply stared at his dad. “How did you know?”
“Intuition. Experience. The fact that you never take your eyes off her when she’s in the room with you.” He rapped Sawyer on the chest. “And she doesn’t, either.”
Henry continued. “I always thought the two of you were perfect complements to each other. Always reminded me a little of me and your mother. Riley is the only person who can make you laugh when you’re in one of your serious moods. And, likewise, you have that ability to calm her down when she becomes frenetic.”
Really? He couldn’t believe it. He wondered how long that had been going on. He wanted to ask his dad but couldn’t get the words out. Not after their fight this morning.
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter anyway. I really messed it up. She’ll never trust me again.”
“Poor kid. That must have been really hard for her to read on your computer.”
“Not making me feel better, Dad.”
“Answer me this. Were you really going to out Riley to Dan Melwood?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been trying to talk him out of it.”
“Why does he want to know her identity so badly? Who cares?”
“She wrote about him last summer and it didn’t sit well with him. Apparently her article contributed to his marital problems.”
“I don’t think the words of a small-town blogger could really have that much effect on someone’s marriage. There were obviously problems to begin with.”
Sawyer nodded. “I agree completely.”
“Plus, if you did tell him, there’s no way to control who he would pass the information to.”
“Again, I agree.”
Henry threw his beer bottle into a recycling can as they started making their way back toward the house. He scrubbed a hand over his face in the same way Sawyer often did.
“She’s written about a lot of people in this town. I can’t see any of them punishing her for it and I get the feeling that’s what this guy wants to do.”
“I would never let that happen,” Sawyer said passionately.
“You already have your answer, son.”
“I do?”
“This Melwood guy sounds like a real prize. You don’t want to get into business with someone like that.”
“But, Dad, he could save dozens and dozens of jobs. I love Riley, but I can’t put all of those people out of work for her.”
“You don’t have to.”
“The newspaper has been in our family for a century and a half. I already failed it once when I abandoned it for DC and Rachel.”
“Stop that.” His father rarely raised his voice, so when he did Sawyer took notice. Just like now. “This guilt has been going on for long enough.”
“But, Dad, you can’t rewrite the past.”
“Neither can you.”
“You and Mom were so upset when I told you I was leaving Bays
ide for DC. I’ll never forget your faces.”
Henry groaned. “We were wrong, Sawyer.”
“To be upset?”
“I’m not going to lie to you. It was hard for us to see you leave, to know that you didn’t want to stay here and follow my exact footprints. It wasn’t long after you left that I realized how unfair that was. How much I would have hated it if my dad had done that to me.”
Sawyer was dumbfounded. He didn’t know what to say.
“You were twenty-two, Sawyer. So you went and worked in another city. So you made the wrong choice with a girl. You’re hardly the first man to follow your—”
“Stop, Dad!” Sawyer let out an exasperated laugh.
“It’s true. Rachel was gorgeous and you were young. You found your way back. What’s more important is that you found your passion. Even if that passion had been in a completely different field, your mother and I would still be proud of you. So stop beating yourself up over that time in your life. You’re doing an amazing job with that newspaper during a really tough time in publishing.”
“Yeah, real boss-of-the-year material.”
“Don’t make me hit you upside the head.”
Sawyer grinned because the likelihood of his dad ever hitting anyone was about as plausible as finding an envelope full of enough cash to save the newspaper.
Still, maybe his father did have a point. He’d been carrying this guilt around with him for so long. He’d always felt he’d messed up all those years ago. As long as the newspaper was doing well, he felt he was making amends for leaving his family.
“Dan Melwood gave you a great idea. An investor. That’s all you need to find.”
Sawyer groaned. “It’s not the first time I’ve thought about an investor. But, Dad, how many people out there would be willing to back a small-town newspaper? Newspapers are dying.”
“A fact that continues to make me sad, but that’s the way of the world. You are approaching this problem from the wrong angle.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you really want to save the Bugle, and, remember, your mother and I are okay if you don’t, you need to find an investor. But not for a newspaper. Why not try searching for someone who wants to back the town.” He tapped Sawyer on the head. “Think about it. And if you want even more of my advice?”
Sawyer nodded.
“Cut the paper down to a couple days a week. With the online edition, there’s no need to print seven days a week. Make those issues you do print special.”
“You would be okay with that?”
“It wouldn’t matter if I wasn’t.” He rapped Sawyer on the chest. “You are the boss. And, yes, I’ve been waiting for you to cut back for some time now.”
“Dad, you’re a genius.”
“Why don’t you mention that to your mother next time you see her?”
“Will do.”
They started walking back up the stairs to his parents’ deck.
“Now, you just have to realize one more thing.” Sawyer paused, waiting for his dad to reveal it. “You said you loved Riley back there.” He grinned.
He did? Wow. He did.
“I, uh, well, um...”
His dad clapped him on the back. “Keep repeating that over and over. In the meantime, how about you help me finish hanging the Christmas lights and stay for dinner?”
“I can do that.”
Henry slapped his son on the back. “And next time you have problems with the newspaper or problems with a female or problems that involve both the newspaper and a female, don’t wait so damn long to come talk to me.”
* * *
Sawyer had left no less than five messages for Riley the night before. After dinner with his parents, he’d almost gone over to her apartment, fully prepared to grovel, and grovel hard. But Cam and Jasper had shown up unexpectedly at his house with beer, cigars and a homemade chocolate pie from Carissa.
Somehow he had the feeling that Elle and Carissa had put them up to it. They’d insisted that they’d heard he’d had a rough day and wanted to help him take the edge off.
He’d called Riley once more, only to get her voice mail yet again. Then he’d stayed inside with his friends and moaned about his own stupidity.
The next morning, he drove to the Bugle offices and parked in his usual spot. His plan was to go over the Sunday edition of the paper, just as he did on most Saturdays. Once he was satisfied that everything was in good shape and ready for the printer, he’d head to Riley’s apartment and wouldn’t leave until she agreed to talk to him. Even if it took all night and they both had to miss the big anniversary party.
He entered the quiet office and flicked on some of the lights. Pausing at Riley’s cubicle, he looked around once again at her funky, personable decor and the realization hit him deep in the gut.
He loved her.
He loved every last inch of her. From her bubbly attitude to her over-the-top outfits. He was head over heels for his best friend.
Sawyer continued to his office and found his proof of the paper in the middle of the desk, where his deputy editor always left it. As usual, he began with page one and barely glanced up until he’d been over the entire thing.
When he flipped to the last page, he was surprised to see another page underneath.
“What’s this?” he asked into the silence.
He scanned the page briefly until he saw Riley’s name at the bottom. It was a letter addressed to him.
He read through slowly, taking in every word. He could practically hear her voice saying them.
A resignation letter.
“Oh, hell,” he muttered.
His heart rate accelerated as he read over the letter again, but the words were still the same.
Riley was leaving him.
She felt it was time for her to make a fresh start. That while she’d loved her experience at the Bugle she needed to look for new opportunities.
His palms were sweating as he put the resignation letter back on his desk. He’d really messed up this situation.
He rose and began pacing his office from the windows to the door and back again. The smell of the disinfectant the cleaners used permeated his senses. He desperately wished it was Riley’s sweet scent surrounding him instead.
Had he lost her forever? Was their friendship over as well as their romance? He knew he’d blown any chance of working with her, not even in her secret role as the Bayside Blogger.
The hair on the back of Sawyer’s neck stood up at red alert. A nagging feeling washed over him and all he could think about was the Bayside Blogger.
He rushed to his computer and logged in to the back end of their website. After a quick search he saw the saved article for the blogger page. It was set to publish soon.
Opening it, his eyes scanned the contents in shock.
She was outing herself.
There, in the black font that distinguished the blogger’s column from all the others, was Riley admitting her true identity. As all of her articles were, it was well written and concise. She talked about how much she loved Bayside and her friends and family. She’d only meant to help and, on occasion, offer small pushes—and here she’d included her favorite winky emoticon, and Sawyer had to roll his eyes despite grinning)—to play matchmaker for couples she believed could use a little extra nudge to get to their happy ending. She’d never, ever meant to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Sawyer sat back in his chair and removed his glasses. He ran a hand over his tired, weary face.
He grabbed her resignation letter again and located a particular line. I know the Bugle will be fine now. Yes, it would, if this blog posted. Riley was exposing the blogger so Dan Melwood would offer him the money and backing he needed.
She was being completely selfless. For him. And he hadn’t done a thing to deserve it.
A feeling of love so strong and so visceral surged through him.
This was the polar opposite of Rachel. In fact, this was the opposite of him. He’d thought of himself when he’d left Bayside with Rachel. And he’d been thinking of nothing but himself since he’d returned.
Riley was thinking of him.
Moved beyond words, he was helpless to do anything but stare at his computer screen. After a few minutes of deep reflection the answer he needed came to him. It was so simple really.
He wasn’t going to let Riley do this. He couldn’t. Instead, he was going to step up and be the man she needed. A man who would actually protect her. Unlike that idiot in New York she dated, Sawyer planned to defend her to the last word.
Chapter Fifteen
This is it, Dear Readers. My moment of truth. I know you’ve all been dying to meet me. Well, tonight your wish is granted. The Bugle’s anniversary party just got a heck of a lot more interesting. After all, it’s not every day you get to unveil a real live gossip darling! Who do you think I am? Big hint: I’ll be the one wearing the very sheepish expression...;)
Elle and Cam gave Riley a ride to the Bugle’s anniversary party. Ordinarily, when she pulled up to the Dumonts’ impressive mansion, she took a moment to take in the beauty of the estate. The classic architecture of the house, the immaculate grounds and well-tended gardens always made her sigh. Tonight she was in no mood to enjoy their lush beauty.
Instead, she began running toward the grand foyer. Well, as much as her three-inch heels would allow. It was more like stilted power walking.
She hadn’t even put her usual time and attention into her outfit. She’d grabbed a vibrant purple dress that she’d worn to another Dumont party a few months back—gasp. She’d left her hair loose and kept her accessories to a minimum. In her mind, she might as well be at the grocery store.
But, after her article had published earlier in the day, all hell had broken loose in Bayside. She knew when her revelation article posted. Not only because she’d scheduled it, but when any of her blogs went live, an automatic tweet was sent out letting her readers know.
Today, as usual, she started getting replies to her tweet almost immediately.
Bayside's Most Unexpected Bride Page 16
