“So, you had a good night?” Alicia asked.
“I held her again. I got to see her beautiful eyes and hear her sweet voice. It was a great night,” Jett said.
“I know the feeling,” Alicia said.
“It is amazing,” he said.
“The dreams are great, they really are but the actual visit...you know as well as I do, it defies description,” she said.
“So I take it J.D. will be visiting you in Northern Kentucky?” Jett asked.
“Oh yes. And Rose will be back in her home?” Alicia asked.
“Yes, she will. But in the meantime, we’re going to enjoy our nights wherever my dreams take us,” he said.
“Yeah, that’s pretty cool in itself. We spent the night looking at the moonbow at Cumberland Falls. Where were you guys?” she asked.
“Romantic picnic at Riverside Park,” Jett said.
“Nice. Rose always loved that park,” she said.
“Yeah, I noted that in my journal,” he said.
“That reminds me, I need to work on my journal while last night is so fresh on my mind. I’m starting on new research as soon I set foot on campus in the morning,” Alicia said.
“Just keep me updated on any new information,” Jett said
“I will but I plan to spend my weekends down here this summer so I’ll be around pretty often,” she said.
Jett finished his coffee and placed the cup in the dishwasher.
“I think I’m going to head into the office. I’ll try to get back here before you leave,” he said.
“Okay. Have a good day and I’ll see you then,” Alicia said.
***
Bud woke up and reached over to find Mallorie’s side of the bed empty. He heard the shower in the bathroom. For a fleeting moment he thought of joining her but opted not to do so. Bud did not have fond memories of their last time in the shower together. She had to be in the office by eight, he did not want to delay her.
Bud looked at the clock. It felt odd not to be up and not at the office. Even during the lowest points of his life, he was always the first person at the paper and more often than not, the last one to leave. It had been that way since he bought the News-Democrat — until today.
Today he intended to find out what it would be like to sleep until 8 or 9 a.m. This would be the day that he would find out what it felt like to leave the office at 3 p.m. – or earlier.
So far, he did not care for sleeping late on a workday. He guessed he would feel the same about leaving early.
Mallorie came out of the bathroom wearing a pink satin robe. It was tied loosely and didn’t cover much. Her face was devoid of any cosmetics. She was beautiful without it. In Bud’s mind, Mallorie was even more beautiful than normal when she wasn’t wearing makeup.
“After such a busy night I thought you might still be asleep. I didn’t wake you did I?” She asked.
“No. My conscious state is the result of many years of being in the office by this time each day,” he said.
“Awwww. You miss it – that’s only natural. You’ll adjust,” Mallorie said.
“Yeah,” he said glumly. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Look at the bright side,” she said as she sat down and started putting on her stockings. Her robe fell open and Bud was already looking on the bright side. “At least you’ll be well rested every night.”
He watched her and nodded.
“I fully intend to give it my best shot; you know, the old college try,” Bud said.
Mallorie looked at him and grinned.
“I have no doubt of that,” she said before asking, “So what time are you coming in?”
“I’m thinking about 9:30 or so. There are a couple of sales calls I’d like to make and I figured I’d go by city hall and maybe the sheriff’s office and see what’s shaking there,” Bud said.
Wearing just her robe and stockings, Mallorie crawled up on the bed and kissed him.
“What brought that on?” He asked.
“You just looked like you could use it,” she said.
He returned her kiss. “It’s amazing how well you know me,” Bud said.
Mallorie looked at him and her smile dissipated.
“I seriously doubt anyone has ever known you well,” she said.
“You are perceptive,” he said.
***
Jett was the first one in the newspaper building and after settling in at his desk, started his day by going over his e-mail. He sorted through the various spam messages and press releases. The relevant press releases were saved and after about ten minutes, the weekend spam onslaught was gone.
There were a handful of congratulatory e-mails from old friends and former coworkers and notes from several elected officials about upcoming events and projects.
He looked over the press release from Mayor Vernon “Shorty” Church announcing that a new chief of police had been hired for Crystal Springs. Jett would do that story himself; after all, he would be having lunch with Alvin. Shorty was pretty much always available.
Jett continued to go through the messages and started making a list of possible articles on a yellow legal pad. After he completed his list, he separated the assignments between himself and the two staff writers. Jett would handle the city hall/courthouse/police beat by himself until Maggie and Dan came on board. He was excited about her joining the staff if only for the summer. Not only did he look forward to the help, he looked to seeing her relationship with Dan develop.
He found his mind returning to Rose as it often did. That she was again actively part of his life was both wonderful and mind-boggling. Jett smiled at the thought of being able to see her again after a day at the office. One of the things he missed after she passed away was having someone with whom he could unburden himself each day.
It wasn’t easy in those first few weeks and months after the funeral. Then again, Jett supposed it wasn’t easy for anyone that lost a spouse or a close family member, regardless of age or circumstance. He loved his sons and had taken an active role in all aspects of raising them. It wasn’t until Rose died that he realized how small his contribution to their upbringing had been.
For example, Jett quickly learned there was a big difference in helping out with the laundry and actually doing the laundry. It was the same with housework, parent-teacher conferences, field trips, dental appointments, baseball and football practice, and everything else that went with being a single parent.
He had been blessed with the opportunity to become a full time columnist shortly before Rose was diagnosed with cancer. It meant better work hours and after her death it afforded him the opportunity to have a somewhat normal schedule for his boys.
It had been a struggle. During her illness, friends and family provided major support in taking care of the boys while he tried to tend to Rose. Her sister, Violet, took time away from her law practice and budding political career, to help. Her husband, Jack Shepard, even took a leave of absence from his job as an officer for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, to come to Lexington to help.
Violet and Jack never had kids, so they reveled in their time with Matt and Dan.
But after the funeral and everyone went back to lives, Jett was left to pick up the pieces of his own life while trying to raise two young boys.
It wasn’t like he was always alone. Violet made a point to take the boys shopping for school clothes – until they got too old to be seen shopping with their aunt. Jack spent many summer days taking the boys fishing on Lake Cumberland and Laurel Lake. Jett even got to spend his share of time with them on the water, going after largemouth or whatever would bite. In the late fall, he and Jack always found time to take the boys on at least one deer hunt.
Just before Matt and Dan’s senior year of high school, Violet and Jack separated. About a year before, he had been promoted to a desk job in Frankfort while she maintained her law practice in Corbin. Their marriage could not handle the strain of constant separation and they divorced shortly before t
he boys graduated.
After Rose’s death, Jett and Violet talked by phone at least once each week. Since her divorce, the conversations had been gradually more and more sporadic. She knew he had moved back to Crystal Springs but she had been busy managing the campaign of a candidate for state house. Violet hadn’t even visited with the boys in several weeks. Jett made a mental note to give her a call as soon the primary was over, which would be in about a week or so. Given the candidate she was backing, he guessed there would not be a general election to keep her busy.
Jett heard the front door unlock and footsteps in the hall.
“I figured you’d be here. Bud trained you too well,” said Liz MacDougal, the business manager
“Good morning Liz. I fear you may be right,” he said with a smile.
“The paper’s in good hands. You make coffee yet?” She asked.
“Actually no. I forgot to but I could run back and put on a pot if you’d like,” Jett said.
“No!” Liz said quickly. “Let me. It’s your first day and you’ve got enough to do.”
“Well, I appreciate that,” he said as she made a hasty retreat to the break room.
Liz had been at the News-Democrat since before Bud bought the paper. She was the only holdover from the previous ownership because she was not only very good at her job; she could fill in for any number of people – including the publisher – when called upon.
Tall and thin with silver hair pulled back in a bun; Liz had naturally dark eyebrows and looked much younger than her 68 years. She had a narrow nose that came to a sharp point. Upon that nose rested silver rimmed glasses.
The long black skirt and gray blouse she wore were consistent with her philosophy of professional attire.
Though she looked stiff and stern, Liz was actually a very warm person with a quick wit and a great sense of humor.
Twice married, Liz’s second husband, Jim, was a history teacher at Crystal Springs High School. He had retired five years ago and delighted in being a stay at home husband. They had two boys – George, who was an optometrist in London, and Glen, a pharmacist in Williamsburg.
It wasn’t long before Jett could smell coffee brewing.
“Want me to bring you cup when it’s ready?” Liz called out from the break room.
“I can get it,” he answered as he made his way back.
Liz sat a second mug down from the cabinet and started pouring. Jett noticed her gentle grin.
“You know the first time you walked into this office I would’ve bet good money you wouldn’t last a week,” she said as she handed him an off-white mug that bore the News Democrat logo.
“And why is that?” Jett asked as he brought the mug to lips and started blowing to cool the coffee.
“You were so backward and shy. You were just too quiet to be a reporter. I remember telling Bud that very thing,” she said as she held her own mug. “And he told me to wait. He said he saw something in you. I remember reading your first story – the Fuson High basketball game – I was blown away. I decided right then and there Bud actually knew what he was talking about every now and then,” Liz said.
“To be honest, I thought the same thing you did. I didn’t know if I could talk to people but I loved to write. I’m just glad Bud gave me a chance,” Jett said.
Liz took a sip of her coffee.
“I don’t know if Bud ever told you – knowing him, he probably didn’t – but you came along at the right time. He went through some rough times after his divorce and after that Atkins girl killed herself,” Liz said.
“That happened a couple of years before I got here. I never really knew much about it,” Jett said.
“You know Earl was like a brother to him – at least in those days. They had so much in common. They had similar backgrounds, were about the same age, and both served in Vietnam. They came home with the same problems. They became drinking buddies. I guess they related to each other,” she said.
Jett sipped his coffee. “That makes sense. But I didn’t know Earl drank,” he said.
“Oh yeah, he just wasn’t open with it. He’d hang out at Ducky’s and get plastered with Bud while they placed bets on the races at Keeneland. But when that girl died...Earl almost lost it. Bud spent the longest time trying to pull him through it. When Earl would miss city council meetings because he was laid up drunk somewhere, Bud always found a way to explain that the mayor was battling a continuing illness. I thought for a while that it might destroy both of them. It’s not easy to run a newspaper and keep a man from destroying himself. It got pretty bad there for a couple of years,” she said.
“I never knew that,” Jett said.
“Bud was pretty good at keeping it hid. He knew Earl had enemies that would have run him out of town on a rail if they knew how bad the drinking became,” Liz said.
“I guess that explains why Edna was always so...distant. That on top of losing a daughter had to be rough,” he said.
She smiled.
“That’s a nice way to describe that cold fish. I’ve known her all of her life and she’s always been a self-centered bitch, pardon my French. Between you and me, I think she hated her daughter. Everybody was all up in the air about that boy that knocked Marie up. I think she was just trying to find a ticket out of that house,” Liz said.
“You don’t think she loved him?” Jett asked.
“She probably did but for all of the wrong reasons. A means of escape is not a good foundation for a relationship,” she said.
“Seems I remember hearing about him once. Didn’t he get killed in some kind of accident?” Jett asked.
Liz nodded. “On Laurel Lake. He was drunk and crashed his jet ski into a boat. I heard that ol’ Edna shouted with joy when they told her,” she said.
“You’d think she would want her daughter to have a husband with her being pregnant,” he said.
“Like I said, I think Edna hated that girl and she sure didn’t like that baby. But I think Mallorie turned out fine in spite of Edna,” Liz said.
“So you already know who Mallorie is,” Jett said.
“I don’t know who she’s fooling calling herself Mallorie Afton,” she said.
“Bud didn’t know,” he said as he sipped his coffee.
Liz looked a little surprised at first and then shook her head.
“I guess a man never gets too old to think with the wrong head,” she said.
“Liz!” Jett scolded as he blushed slightly while she laughed.
“You know your Rose was her babysitter and practically raised that kid for the first couple of years of her life. I knew then she would be a wonderful mother someday. I can still see her carrying that child around the office telling Bud what the baby needed because Earl was too drunk to know and Edna didn’t care. It was so sweet. That baby was almost as big as she was. But they loved each other. She even called Rose ‘mommy.’ And Bud would always get what she needed - until Edna brought in Bertie Stone to raise her. I know it broke Rose’s heart and Bud’s too,” Liz said.
“Why did she do that?” Jett asked.
“No one really knows for sure. One story is that Edna heard the baby call Rose mommy once too often - that’s what Edna always told Bertie, who was an old friend of mine. That’s how I know about the hate Edna had for Marie and Mallorie,” she said.
“You said that was one story,” he said.
Liz looked at him and warmed his coffee and hers. When she sat the carafe down, she looked in the eye.
“There’s another story but Bud won’t talk about it. It was that Marie didn’t commit suicide - or at least wasn’t alone in doing the deed. When he started asking questions, Edna hit the ceiling and essentially banned both him and Rose from her house and ordered them to stay away from Mallorie. And that’s the story I believe,” Liz said.
“What do you mean ‘wasn’t alone in doing the deed’?” Jett asked.
“There were rumors that Marie didn’t have enough drugs in her system to kill her until someone g
ave her more to finish the job. It was never proven and never went beyond the stage of whispers,” she said.
“She was murdered?” He asked.
“That was a rumor but as I said, no one ever produced any evidence to warrant a deeper investigation. What I do know is that once he got straightened out, Earl kept Mallorie with him as much as possible and away from Edna. And now, all these years later, that baby girl is working for Rose’s husband,” Liz said with a smile before adding with a frown, “And sleeping with Bud.”
Jett looked at her with surprise.
“Oh, I hear things and it’s not like either one of them are trying to be discreet,” she said.
Jett sighed. “I know. But they’re both – and I hesitate to say this – adults,” he said.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love Mallorie and I would never say anything to hurt her feelings. What she does is her business and the same goes for Bud. The man has been nothing but good to me...I don’t know, it just bothers me that she doesn’t look for someone closer to her age,” Liz said.
“So you’re saying she could do better?” He asked.
“Better, no. Younger, yes,” she said.
“Maybe it’ll work itself out,” Jett said.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Liz replied.
Chapter Ten
Maggie walked into the newspaper office at 9:15 a.m. Mallorie looked up from behind her desk at the front counter.
“Good morning Maggie! It’s so good to see you!” She said cheerfully.
“Good morning Mallorie. Is Uncle Jett or Uncle Bud available?” Maggie asked.
“Bud’s not in yet and Jett’s meeting with the news staff. I can buzz him if you’d like. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you sitting in,” Mallorie said.
“How long have they been meeting?” Maggie asked.
“They got started at about 8:30 or so,” Mallorie answered.
“No please, don’t interrupt them on my account. I can wait if that’s okay,” Maggie said as a slim, older woman with glasses walked out of a nearby office and looked her up and down.
“Liz, there’s someone here you need to meet. This is Maggie Blake. She’s going to be joining the news staff soon. Maggie, this is our business manager, Liz MacDougal,” Mallorie said.
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