9. Chapter 9

Chapter nine

"Whoa. Who are you?"

O n Tuesday morning, Sydney came into work early, which she always did on the days the paper came out. Gage was already there, and she hoped he hadn't spent the night on his office couch again. He was always hardest to get along with on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with the paper coming out on those afternoons. His need for perfection came out in grumpiness and frustration.

When she went inside, he was on the computer they used to lay out the paper and prepare it for printing. She could tell by the scowl on his face, he wasn't happy. After they had such a nice weekend, it felt like maybe their relationship had taken a step forward. She'd hoped he'd be a little more mellow today. Those hopes were dashed when he looked up at her, then checked his watch.

"You're late."

She wasn't late. But she didn't want to point that out to him. "What can I do?"

"Not be late."

"Other than that."

He glanced at her again, then sighed. "I can't get this center spread to line up. I have the photos the way I want them. But something isn't right." He leaned back in the chair. "I've been staring at it for too long. Will you take a look?"

"Of course."

He rolled his chair over a foot as she looked at the computer screen. "Um…I think the font and size of the headline is messing you up." She looked at him.

He stood. "Take the chair. See what you can do with it."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah. Sit."

She pulled the chair closer and sat down. He'd never once let her work on the layout. She expected him to hover over her shoulder. But he walked over to the coffee machine and filled his mug. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he often drank more than his usual two cups. He then paced around the office while he drank it.

Sydney changed the wording of the headline slightly and reduced the font size. It was a simple fix, one that Gage should've known right away to do. She glanced at him over the monitor.

"Do you want to come take a look at this?"

He went around the desk and looked at the screen. "You changed the wording."

"Um…I can change it back. I was just trying to make it fit."

He scrolled down to the bottom, then zoomed out so he could see the full page layout.

"Okay. Let's go with that."

She looked up at him. "Really?"

He turned and looked at her. "Yes. Really."

"Okay."

"You can get out of my chair now."

"Oh, right." She stood. "It's all yours, Captain."

He sat, then pulled something from his pocket and handed it to her.

"What's this?"

"It's a check for three-hundred sixty-seven dollars and fifty-four cents."

"You don't need to do that."

He glanced at her. "I can't have you cleaning out your bank account for me."

She wanted to tell him she'd do anything for him. But she just took the check and put it in her purse. "Thank you."

"I want to show you the front page."

She walked back over to his chair, then gasped when she saw the picture under the headline, Another successful Winter Festival. It was one of hers.

"You used my photo on the front page? Thank you. I'm flattered."

"I didn't do it to flatter you. I did it because it best captures the mood and the theme."

"Still. I appreciate it."

He nodded and made no further comment, then prepared to print out a sample copy. When he pushed print, Sydney went to the printer and waited for the six, two-page, double-sided printed sheets to come out. As they printed, Gage came up beside her. It seemed like he was very close and her stomach did a little flip-flop.

Stop. Whatever is on your mind, obviously isn't on his. At least not on publishing day.

Gage took the pages to a large table and laid them out, then studied each one. He found four things he didn't like, and he circled them in red marker. When he was done, he took a step back from the table.

"Make those changes, then print it. Make an extra fifty copies. Dale will be here in an hour to fold and box them up."

"Okay."

"I'm going to go get some breakfast."

He left the office, and she sat at the computer again. He was his usual grumpy self, but it wasn't completely the same as always. Something was different. Perhaps the weekend had made an impact on him as well.

She shook her head. "It's just your imagination. Don't get excited over the fact he didn't raise his voice or reprimand you for doing something he deemed stupid." He was still Gage Calaway, the unapproachable editor of the Calaway Report.

When Gage went into the tavern, he saw Clementine and Booker at a table. He walked over to them and she seemed surprised to see him.

"Don't you have a paper to put out today?"

"It's done. Sydney is printing it right now."

"And you left her to do it all by herself?"

"Sure. I've left her before. She's more than capable of—"

"Whoa. Who are you?"

Gage shook his head. "May I join you?"

Booker laughed. "Yeah. Please."

Clementine cocked her head. "You aren't nearly stressed out enough on publishing day. Especially after a community event."

Gage shrugged. "It came together. Plus I got to the office at four this morning."

"Okay. That explains it. You're too tired to be grumpy."

"Should I just move to another table?"

She put a hand on his arm. "No. I'm sorry. I'm glad it's done and you're not stressed out."

Gage sat down. "I talked to Uncle Duncan Sunday morning." He looked at Booker. "I assume Clem has filled you in."

Booker nodded. "Yeah."

"What do you think?"

"I think I'd much rather work with you than Bessler."

Gage smiled. "Good. I hope that doesn't change after I'm actually in office."

"You'll be fine."

Clementine smiled. "Of course he will. As your campaign manager, what can I do?"

Gage looked at Booker again. "Are you okay with your wife throwing all of her energy into a new endeavor a few days after she begins her leave from the sheriff's office?"

"You and I both know we don't have any say in the matter."

Londyn came up to the table. "Coffee, Gage?"

"Yeah. I think I need another cup. And I'll take scrambled eggs and sausage, please."

She poured him some coffee and topped off Booker's and Clementine's cups. "I'll get that ordered."

"How was dinner with Wes?"

Londyn rolled her eyes. "Not fun. The man is a little full of himself. And doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word no."

Clementine looked at her. "Did he get out of line?"

"No. He thought about it. But when I pointed out my two cousins and my uncle sitting a few tables over. Plus the fact that two more cousins ran the place, he backed off."

"I hope you didn't pay too much for his company."

"I got him cheap, actually. I guess I should've taken it as a sign." She smiled at Gage. "Of course Gage here brought in Three-hundred and sixty-seven dollars."

Gage nodded. "And fifty-four cents."

Clementine smiled. "I heard Sydney came through for you."

"Yeah. Well, Uncle Rand got the highest bid at three-hundred and seventy-five dollars."

Booker laughed. "That's my sister for you. She knows what she wants, and she's not afraid to go after it."

"I think Rand's still a little intimidated by her."

"Smart man. He should be."

Londyn took a step back. "I'll go get your food ordered."

Gage drank some coffee, then noticed Clementine was in uniform. "You told me Sunday was your last day."

"It was. Deputy Kimbal was delayed another day. He's coming today for sure, though. I just wanted to welcome him in uniform."

"Deputy Kimbal, huh?"

Booker nodded. "Chase Kimbal. This is actually his first assignment. He just left the academy."

"What do you think about that?"

"At least he won't have any bad habits to break."

"That's something I guess. So he's young then."

Booker looked at Clementine. "He's older than my last deputy."

"Well, sure, who isn't?"

Clementine nudged Gage. "Shut up. You'll be happy I'm young and enthusiastic when it comes to your campaign."

"If I'm the only one running. It's not going to be much of a campaign."

"Just let me believe for a moment that it might be fun and I'll be useful."

"Okay. It's going to be a blast."

She smiled. "Yes it is." She touched her stomach. "Oh."

"Are you okay?"

"The baby just kicked me." She took his hand. "Do you want to feel it?"

He pulled his hand away. "No. I'm good."

Booker laughed. "It's pretty cool, actually."

"You go ahead. I'll touch him when he's on the outside of my sister's body."

Booker put his hand on Clementine's stomach. "It has to be a boy. That's a strong kick."

Clementine shook her head. "Maybe she's a strong girl."

He laughed. "Well, if she's anything like her mother, I'm screwed."

Gage watched them for a moment. "Why aren't you guys terrified by the prospect of being parents? Elaina is about to deliver and Pax is totally chill about it. Remy has number two coming, while number one isn't even crawling. I don't get it."

Booker smiled. "You will. When it's your baby, you'll get it."

"Hmm. I'm not sure I'm ready to follow in the new Calaway trend of populating Calaway Crossing."

Clementine took his hand. "When you find the right woman, you'll change your mind."

He sighed. "I'm thinking more along the lines of being the second lifetime bachelor in the Calaway family."

Booker drank some coffee. "If my sister gets her way. Which she generally does. Your uncle won't be a bachelor much longer."

"She's thinking long-term relationship?"

"Yeah. But then again, she has been engaged three times."

Gage shook his head. "Poor Uncle Rand doesn't stand a chance."

Clementine laughed. "Ain't love grand?"