CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ashley’s fingers flew across her keyboard. She had a tight deadline and needed to finish her story.
“I just got a text from Harry.”
She peered around the edge of the partition separating her desk from Bonnie’s. “Are you talking to me?”
Bonnie rolled her office chair toward her. “There’s a rumor going around that The Reaching High Foundation is selling the building we visited two weeks ago.”
“What will happen to the youth center?”
“I don’t know, but Harry’s heading there now. Want to come?”
She looked at the mess on her desk and sighed. “I can’t. I need to finish this article by four o’clock.”
“You’ve still got three hours. It will do you good to get out of the office. You’ve practically lived here since Matthew left.”
Ashley would like to think Bonnie was exaggerating, but she wasn’t. Working had helped dull the ache of not having Matthew here. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. For three years, she’d been reasonably happy with her life. Missing Montana, her friends, and Matthew was the price she had to pay if she wanted to be a reporter.
When she felt really low, she slapped a smile on her face and kept going. This time, it wasn’t working. “Can I meet you at the youth center? If I can’t make it, I’ll call you.”
“Have you finished your first draft?”
“I should have it done in ten minutes.”
“Awesome. Harry will be here in fifteen minutes. That gives you enough time to finish the draft. You can edit it once we’re back.”
Ashley bit her bottom lip. “How long will we be at the center?”
“No more than half an hour. Anita, the youth center manager, is meeting us there.”
“Okay. I can do that, but I can’t stay any longer. Can I ask a favor?”
“Sure.”
“I haven’t had lunch. Could you get me a sandwich from the cafeteria?”
“Vegetarian, beef, or chicken?”
“Vegetarian.” She handed Bonnie some money. “If you want to buy something for you and Harry there should be more than enough money.”
“Thanks.” Bonnie reached for her bag. “Keep working. I’ll be back soon.”
Ashley frowned at her computer screen, then started typing. This story was about the latest exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It wasn’t as groundbreaking as her story about Congressman Welsh, but it was still important to write a good story.
Her phone rang and she picked up the receiver. “Ashley Fisher speaking.”
“Hello, Ms. Fisher. This is Des Malone, the investigations editor for The Washington Post. Do you have a couple of minutes to speak to me?”
Ashley stopped typing. “I do. How can I help?” Since her first story about Congressman Welsh had been published, she’d had calls from a lot of reporters, but not their editors.
“I’ve read the series of articles you wrote about The Reaching High Foundation and Congressman Welsh. I was impressed with each of them. The reason I called is that we have a position vacant in our investigations team. If you’re interested, I could email you a copy of the job description and application forms.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. The Washington Post’s readership was huge. “That would be great. Do you have my email address?”
“It was on The Daily Times’ website. I’ll send it through now. Applications close this Friday.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your call.”
“You’re welcome. I look forward to seeing your CV.”
Ashley put the phone down and opened her emails. Her mind was working overtime, imagining what a job in Washington, D.C. would mean. She’d have to find an apartment and move her entire life to another city. She’d be a long way from Harry and Bonnie, but the opportunity to really prove herself as a reporter was huge.
The email from Des Malone appeared in her inbox. She opened the first attachment and read through the job description. It was perfect. She’d be working with ten other reporters, as well as a rapid-response team.
“Here’s your sandwich,” Bonnie said from beside her. “The line was out the door, but luckily everyone was in a hurry and didn’t dawdle. How’s the article coming along?”
“Not much further than before you left.” Ashley peered over the partition walls surrounding her desk.
“Everyone’s either at lunch or working away from their desks,” Bonnie whispered. “What’s happened?”
“The investigations editor at The Washington Post called me. They have a position available in his team and he wanted to know if I was interested.”
Bonnie’s mouth dropped open. “The Washington Post?”
“Ssh.” Ashley held her finger to her lips.
“Did he send you the job description?”
Ashley pointed to her screen. “It’s here.”
“That was quick.”
“I know. I can’t believe he called me.”
“You’re a great reporter—he’d be crazy not to contact you.” Bonnie’s smile disappeared. “You’d have to move. What would I do without you?”
Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat. “We could call each other. It wouldn’t be the same, but we could make it work.”
“You’re right. If you got the job, I could visit you. We could send each other lots of pictures and still stay in touch.” She looked at her watch and sighed. “Harry will be here soon. Are you ready to leave?”
“Just about.” Ashley quickly gathered the papers on her desk and placed them in a folder. “I’ll take my laptop. If we’re caught in traffic, I’ll work on my story from the car.” With one last look at her desk, Ashley slipped her laptop into its bag and walked with Bonnie to the elevators.
She pushed the job at The Washington Post to the back of her mind and thought about the youth center. If the Foundation were selling the building, she hoped they had a clause in the contract about keeping the youth center open. Without it, there was only a slim chance that the new owners would continue the programs.
***
By the time Harry was near the youth center, Ashley was glad she’d brought her laptop. The traffic had been bumper-to-bumper for most of their journey. From the back seat of his car, she’d not only finished her story but edited it as well.
“Finally,” Bonnie sighed. “I wonder what the traffic will be like in Washington, D.C.”
“Are you planning a vacation?” Harry asked.
Bonnie shook her head. “The editor of the investigations team at The Washington Post called Ashley. He asked if she was interested in applying for a job.”
“Wow. That’s an incredible opportunity.” Harry’s gaze connected with Ashley’s in the rearview mirror.
“I have to be offered the position first,” she said. “There’ll probably be a lot of people applying for the job.”
“But not all of them would have received a phone call from the editor.” He turned left and pulled into one of the car parks reserved for the youth center. “Will you take the job if they offer it to you?”
Ashley hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“You’d be crazy not to take it.” Bonnie unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door. “There will be lots of stories like this one in Washington, D.C. You might even meet the President.”
“That’s pretty unlikely.”
“You never know. Strangers things have happened.”
Harry stood beside Ashley. “And an excellent example of that is the sale of this building. It’s hard to imagine the warehouse being used for anything other than a youth center. I wonder how the staff and volunteers feel about it being sold.”
The entrance doors opened and Anita walked toward them.
“We’ll know soon enough,” Ashley said.
Harry shook Anita’s hand. “I didn’t know if we would be welcome. I’m sorry we left so suddenly the last time we were here.”
Anita didn’t smile, but she wasn’t hostile either. “You had your reasons. At least the article on the center was positive. We’ve had a lot of support from people who didn’t know we were here. Hopefully, the next owners appreciate what we do in the community.”
“So the Foundation is selling the property?” Ashley asked.
“They will as soon as the FBI’s investigation is finished. I spoke with someone from the Foundation yesterday. The bank accounts are still frozen.”
“How are you getting paid?” Harry asked.
“We aren’t. Our next pay is due in four days, but no one knows if the money will go through.”
“That’s terrible,” Bonnie said. “Can we do anything to help?”
“Keep writing stories about the center. The more people that are aware of our situation, the more pressure it puts on the FBI to finish their investigation. I’m lucky—with my husband’s salary and some savings, we’ve got enough money to cover our rent and food, but other staff aren’t so fortunate. Most of the people who work here are looking for other jobs.” Anita opened the front doors. “Come inside out of this heat.”
As soon as Ashley walked into the main activity room, she smiled. At least fifty children were working in different areas. “You’ve got a full house today.”
Anita nodded. “There are another thirty kids in the sports area. Becoming famous is wonderful, but it has brought a lot more children into the center. It would be great if we had the funding to support them, but we don’t.”
Ashley pulled out her notebook. “Can you tell us anything about the people who are interested in purchasing the property?”
“The staff at the Foundation’s head office aren’t saying much. All I know is that a property developer has made an offer to purchase the warehouse and the vacant lot beside it. They say they want to keep the youth center operating, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Harry took his camera out of its case. “That must give you some hope?”
Anita shrugged. “I’ll wait until we know exactly what’s happening before I start celebrating.”
“Can we look around and speak to some of the children?” Ashley asked. “I didn’t get a chance to interview them when we were here the other day.”
“No problem. When you’re finished, come into the kitchen. We made cookies a couple of hours ago.”
Harry grinned. “Sounds good to me.”
He left with Bonnie, and Ashley headed toward the computer desks. If the children told her what difference the youth center was making to their lives, she knew it would make another great story. And later today, if she was really lucky, someone from the Foundation might tell her who had made an offer on the property.
***
“You’ve been home for two weeks. You can’t mope around forever.”
Matthew scowled over the top of his book at his brother. “I’m not moping. I’m reading.”
Sean sipped his cup of coffee. “You haven’t gone anywhere since you got back from New York.”
“It’s not as if we live in the middle of Bozeman. Besides, I like it here.”
“So do I, but everyone needs to get away once in a while.”
The front door banged open and Catherine rushed into the living room. “Uncle Matthew! Uncle Sean! Look what I’ve got.”
Catherine skidded to a stop beside Matthew’s chair. She was holding a green cushion against her chest. “Ashley sent me this. Isn’t it cool?” She put her hand inside the cushion and a red worm poked his head out of the apple shaped fabric.
Sean laughed. “Looks as though a worm’s taken a bite out of the Big Apple.”
Matthew frowned.
The front door opened again, and Toby ran toward his sister waving a bubble wand in the air. “Me, too.”
“Wow, look at the two of you,” Sean said as he ruffled Toby’s hair. “You’re going to be busy.”
“Mom’s got the bubble mixture,” Catherine said solemnly. “We had an accident.”
“Spilled on the floor,” Toby said quietly.
“Tabitha licked it and got sick.” Catherine nudged her brother.
Matthew frowned. Their old cat didn’t usually go far from the barn. “What was Tabitha doing inside your house?”
“She was in the barn,” Toby said. “I showed her the bubbles.”
“She’ll be all right,” Sean said. “Tabitha’s eaten a lot worse than a few bubbles.”
Matthew left his book on the coffee table. “I’ve got an idea. How about we make our own bubbles?”
Toby held his wand in the air. “Yeah!”
Matthew found the dishwashing liquid and squirted some into a tall glass. “Bring your wand here, Toby. Let’s see if it fits.” He knelt beside the counter and waited for his nephew.
Toby dipped his wand into the glass and grinned.
“Well, done, little man. It looks as though we’re ready to blow some bubbles.
Toby sucked in a deep breath and blew through the wand.
Matthew moved out of the way as half a dozen bubbles flew toward him.
Catherine popped the bubbles and grinned at her brother. “Make more.”
Toby handed Matthew the wand. “Uncle Matthew’s turn.”
Matthew lowered the wand into the bubble mixture. “Are you ready?”
Catherine and Toby nodded.
He blew a string of bubbles into the air and Toby squealed with delight.
“More bubbles,” Toby said as Matthew dipped the wand into the slippery bubble mixture.
The next bubbles shot toward Sean. His brother moved fast, barely missing two excited kids rushing toward him.
Matthew added more bubbles to the mayhem, laughing as Sean balanced a bubble on his nose.
“I thought I’d find everyone in here.” Nathan stood in the doorway with a grin on his face.
“We runaway,” Toby said proudly.
“It looks like it.” He held a plate toward his children. “I took your muffins out of the oven. Do you want to share them with Uncle Sean and Uncle Matthew?”
Catherine nodded and turned to Matthew. “They’re chocolate. Would you like one?”
Matthew left the bubble mixture on the mantelpiece. “I’d love one.”
“Me too,” Toby said from beside his dad.
Nathan handed Catherine the muffins and picked up his son. “We wouldn’t forget you. How about we go into the kitchen and make everyone a drink?”
Toby snuggled into his dad’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around his neck. “Where’s mommy?”
“She’s watching her favorite TV show. I left two muffins at home for her.”
Matthew sighed as he followed Nathan and Toby into the kitchen. He’d always thought that one day he’d get married and have a family of his own. But the only person he’d ever wanted to marry was Ashley and she would never be his wife.
Sean placed his hand on Catherine’s shoulder. “It sounds like Uncle Matthew needs a muffin.”
“I need more than that.”
Catherine held the plate toward Matthew. “Just for you, Uncle Matthew.”
He took one of the muffins and smiled at his niece. “They look yummy.”
Sean held his cell phone toward Matthew. “They’re not the only thing that will make you feel better. Call her.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. Just tap the buttons and let technology do the rest.”
“Technology won’t make her answer my call. I told her I can’t even be her friend.”
Sean dropped the phone into Matthew’s shirt pocket. “Tell her you changed your mind.”
“It won’t do any good. Ashley’s life is in New York, not Bozeman.”
His brother shrugged. “It’s your decision.”
Catherine slid the plate of muffins onto the kitchen counter. “Ashley’s nice.”
Matthew tapped the end of her nose. “She is nice. Do you think Toby has found the cookies we made yesterday?”
A giggle came from inside the pantry. “Daddy found them.”
Nathan’s head appeared from behind the pantry doors. “Are they mom’s honey crunch recipe?”
Matthew smiled. “How did you guess?”
A cookie appeared in Nathan’s hand. “They taste just like hers.”
“Yummy,” Toby said from beside his dad.
Matthew handed Sean’s cell phone back to him. He wished all his troubles could be solved with cookies and muffins. It would have made his life so much easier.
***
It took Matthew another four days to call Ashley and another day before he started worrying. He’d left three messages, asking her to call him. They’d both been upset when he’d left, but it wasn’t like her not to return at least one call.
“Have you spoken to someone at the newspaper where she works?” Sean asked.
“They said she was away from the office.”
“What about the friends she talked about while she was here? Maybe they know where she’s gone.”
Matthew had already contacted Harry, but he hadn’t returned his call either. “I’ll try Bonnie.”
He half expected the call to go to voice mail, but Bonnie answered straight away. “Hi, Bonnie. It’s Matthew.”
“Hi. How’s Bozeman?”
“Much quieter than New York City. I’m sorry to call you, but I’ve been trying to reach Ashley. I’ve left a few messages, but she hasn’t returned my calls. Is she okay?”
“She’s in Washington D.C.”
“Is she still working on the story about Congressman Welsh?”
“Didn’t Ashley tell you why she was going there?”
Matthew rubbed his forehead. He didn’t know what Ashley had told Bonnie, but he was guessing it wasn’t much. “I haven’t spoken to Ashley since I left New York.”
“That was two weeks ago.”
“I know. I made a mistake.”
“Don’t we all,” Bonnie muttered. “I’m surprised Ashley hasn’t returned your calls.”
“Have you spoken to her?”
“She called me last night after she arrived at her hotel.”
At least Ashley was okay. “Why did she go to Washington D.C.?”
Bonnie sighed. “She’s being interviewed for a job at The Washington Post.”
Matthew’s heart sank. “I thought she liked living in New York?”
“She does, but this job is exactly what she’s been looking for. Call Ashley tonight. She can tell you about the interview.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Bonnie.”
“No problem. Bye.”
Matthew disconnected the call.
“What did she say?” Sean asked.
“Ashley went to Washington D.C. for a job interview.” He slid his phone into his pocket. “I’ll check the fences on the northern boundary. I should be back in a couple of hours.”
Sean held onto his arm. “Are you okay?”
“I will be. Amy and Nathan invited us for dinner. We need to be at their place by six o’clock.”
His brother smiled. “You can drown your sorrows in one of Amy’s world famous desserts.”
Not even the thought of his sister-in-law’s cooking made him feel better. His brain was telling him there was no point calling Ashley, but his heart was still as stubborn as ever.
***
Ashley collected her suitcase from the carousel and headed toward the car rental counters. She’d stayed in Washington, D.C. until six o’clock that night, then caught a six-hour flight to Bozeman.
For now, no one except her father and Bonnie knew she was here.
After what had happened over the last few months, her dad had insisted on seeing her. To make it easier for both of them, they’d decided to meet halfway across the country in Montana.
“Ashley!”
She turned around and smiled at the man on the other side of the arrivals area. Her dad’s lean frame hadn’t changed since she’d last seen him. But the stress that had lined his face and left his shoulders stooped had disappeared. He was walking tall and looking like the man she remembered from before her mom became sick.
“Hi, Dad. I didn’t think you were arriving until tomorrow afternoon.”
“I caught an earlier flight so that we could spend more time together. You look great.”
Ashley stepped into his open arms. “So do you. Married life agrees with you.” She hugged her dad tight. “I love you.”
“I love you too, honey. How about I drive us back to the hotel? We could get some sleep, then meet for breakfast.”
“I was going to hire a rental car as well.”
“Do you need one? I can drive you where you want to go.”
Ashley thought about Matthew and the messages he’d left on her phone. “I’d like to visit the Gray family ranch while we’re here. Will that be a problem?”
“Of course not. It will give me a chance to see Matthew again.”
She gripped the handle of her carry-on and ignored the butterflies running around her tummy. If thinking about Matthew made her nervous she had no idea what a few hours of his company would do.
Her dad took her suitcase out of her hands. “My car isn’t far away. Did you have dinner on your flight?”
Ashley nodded. “Thanks for coming here early, dad.”
“I want to make the most of our time together. I haven’t seen you since Trisha and I got married.” He stopped outside the terminal building. “I wasn’t in a good place after your mom died, Ashley. I’m sorry if I said anything that made you leave Bozeman.”
“It wasn’t you, dad. I’d already talked to mom about living in a different city. When the job was advertised in New York, it seemed as if it was meant to be.”
Her dad wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m proud of you, Ashley. Now let’s leave the airport before they lock the gates.”
She smiled as she pulled her carry-on across the parking lot. If she’d learned one lesson over the last few months, it was that life was too short for regrets. And she didn’t want to regret not getting to know her dad again.
“Who do you want to visit apart from Matthew?” her dad asked.
“Logan Allen and my friend, Erin.”
“Is that all?”
“It’s enough for now. Is it okay if we visit the cemetery while we’re here?”
Her dad slowed down. “I’d like that. Your mom would be proud of what you’ve achieved.”
Ashley wrapped her hand around her dad’s elbow. “I think so, too.” Her mom used to tell her to dream big and reach for the stars. She’d done that and then some.
Now all she had to do was work out if she wanted to reach for the moon.