The Article - Jackie Zufall (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .txt) 📗

you’re not going to speak to either one of us until you know what’s going on huh?” Abby looked at Paul and her dad with faked innocence on her face and said, “I have no idea what your talking about.” Paul and Ben smiled as they glanced at one another. “Here,” said Paul as he removed the envelope packet from his jacket, which he had hung on the back of his chair. Looking at both men, Abby said, “what’s that?”, as she reached out to take it. Paul suddenly pulled it back and said, “well I wanted to wait till it was official, but seeing as your being a spoil-sport.” Suddenly feeling a bit ashamed, Abby did not reach out when Paul again held out the papers. “Go ahead Abs.” he said, “I’d like to eat and enjoy the company and conversation.” Abby finally took the papers, looked them over and then trying to contain her excitement over knowing that Paul was home to stay, calmly said, “I’m happy for you.” and handed the papers back to Paul. Suddenly Mr. Miller piped up and said, “That’s it, that’s all you have to say after all the moping around and one syllable conversations all afternoon?” Abby replied “What else am I supposed to say?” “Well,” answered Ben. “you could actually look happy for Paul.” “It’s ok,” Paul said, “I have a feeling that Abby will let me know later how she really feels.” He winked at Ben as he said this. Abby, blushing, glared at Paul then said, “Would everyone eat already before I end up having to re-heat everything?”

They ate in silence for a time then Ben asked, “Are you planning to change the name of the paper Paul?” “Nah,” replied Paul, “Mr. Peabody named it, and Mr. Lewis never changed it, It’s always been the Loganville Tribune, so why change it?”
Finally Abby could not pretend to be mad anymore and asked, “What made you decide to buy the paper?” “Well,” answered Paul, “I’ve always thought I’d like to have my own newspaper, and last week I heard that Mr. Lewis was thinking of retiring, so I asked to meet with him. We met this morning, reached an agreement, and this afternoon he gave me the papers to look over and sign.” “So you’re staying after all, what about the house, still planning to sell?” Inquired Abby.
“No,” Paul answered, “In light of the recent events, I’ve decided that my parents probably would not want anyone but family living there, so I’m buying the paper and moving back home.” “All that’s left to do is find me a good woman and settle down.”

Abby shifted uncomfortably in her chair but said nothing. Paul smiled to himself, winked at Mr. Miller and also said nothing.

They finally finished dinner while talking about a variety of topics, from old times to baseball, to the latest news in the nation. Paul helped Abby clean up and finally near midnight took his leave.

Abby, already working on a plan in her mind to capture Paul’s heart again, happily drifted off to sleep a short time later. She had no idea that there was no need to capture Paul’s heart, as she had it in her possession for most of their lives. Paul had never attempted to reclaim it for any other woman, to Paul there was no other woman and never would be. He had loved Abigail since they were kids on the grade school playground, him pulling her pigtails and her screaming at him, and as is usually the case, they secretly had a crush on the other right up to Jr. High and their first dance together. After that first dance, they never looked at another, at least Paul hadn’t. Though he did not have an ounce of blame towards Abby. He had been the one who left without a word. Naturally Abby, being confused and hurt, would eventually get on with her life. But now, once again after coming full circle, Paul had another chance at happiness, and the fact that she had two kids, could not have pleased him more than if they been his own, as he had already grown very fond of them in the almost eight weeks that he had now been home.

Chapter Fifteen

The weekend came, and as planned earlier, Paul and Jay set out early Friday morning for the eight hour drive to Dallas. Paul had already talked to his boss weeks before when he first thought of staying in Loganville. His boss had already had an idea that once Paul had headed there after the death of his stepfather, that Paul would end up staying. As he had been friends with Paul for the past thirteen years as well as his boss. He knew all about why Paul left home and he also had known since Fayes death, that Paul had always suspected that his stepfather had a hand in her death. So when he called the other day with news of finding his mother’s journal and the will, and insurance papers, then told of the local papers owner retiring, he knew his star reporter and protégé was home to stay.


The trip passed quickly as the guys talked about everything under the sun. they were each happy with Paul’s decision to return home permanently, as they both had missed each other terribly over the years. Carrying on as they were though, it felt as though they had not been apart the past fifteen years.

“Well, I’ll take this on down to the truck,” Jay said, leaving Paul alone with his former boss, and now good lifelong friend. The two men stood there a moment, finally Paul said with a slight choking sound, “Bob, I’ll never forget all you’ve done for me over the years, You’ve been a great friend to me and maybe even a great substitute father as well.” “Paul, anytime, and I do mean anytime you need me…” Bob said, also beginning to choke on his words. The two men started to shake hands, then each with misty eyes reached to embrace as good friends or a father and son would do. “You keep in touch now.” Bob said, “Mavis would never forgive you if you don’t.” Paul agreed, knowing full well that Bob’s wife of fifty years, definitely had a motherly affection for him, and most assuredly always would.

Bob and Mavis Reynolds had recently celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, in all their years together they had never been able to have children of their own. Over the years they had grown to love Paul as their own son, and unbeknownst to him had placed him in their wills, upon both of their deaths in the future, he would inherit both their home, and their newspaper business. It was to be not only a surprise to him someday, but also their thanks for being an important part of their lives.

Paul and Jay headed to the nearest moving truck place as they left the parking lot of the newspaper. Jay turned to Paul and said, “ I sensed that you guys needed a minute alone, were you very close?” Paul responded by saying “Yeah, Bob and I met when he came to my journalism class as a guest speaker. He offered me a job as a mail room clerk while I finished school. Then I worked for a time as a copy editor, and finally becoming a full fledged reporter in 1986. He and his wife kind of adopted me since they have no kids of their own, Mavis told me once that if I ever have kids they were to be called grandma and grandpa.” He said with a smile.

It was nearing midnight as they put the last of Paul’s things into the truck. “What do you say we stop by somewhere and pick up some takeout, find a hotel for the night, and start out in the morning.” “Sounds good to me.” replied Jay as they climbed into the truck. They had rented a tow bar as well to tow Paul’s Pickup with. They would not only save on gas, but would still be able to keep each other company for the trip home.

Late the next afternoon they pulled down Paul’s long driveway, as they neared the house Paul said, “What the heck?!” Every one of his friends vehicles were lined along the drive, hanging across the porch was a huge banner that read “Welcome home Paul!”
They stepped out of the truck as adults and kids came around the side of the house. Abby told Paul and Jay to go on in and oversee the placement of Paul’s things as Don, Allen, Josh, Justin, and John Jr. proceeded to unhook and move Paul’s truck, then turning the moving truck around and backing in, they began to unload Paul’s things. When everything had been placed temporarily in both Pauls old room and his mothers rooms, they all washed up and then went out back where the women had dinner all ready. As they all sat eating Paul finally said, “I want to thank you all for your help with the house, and also for today, and I just want to add that it is great to be back home with all of you, I’ve really missed all of you over the years.” “Here, here.” called out Allen as he raised his beer in toast, to which they all raised their drinks and toasted.

Paul looked around at all his oldest and dearest friends in the world and thought to himself, “Yeah, it’s a great time in my life to return home.” Finding Abby standing by the deck across the back yard, he smiled to himself, and thought “Yeah, definitely a real great time.”


Chapter Sixteen

Two weeks passed during which a lot had happened, the paperwork finalized, Paul now owned the “Loganville Tribune”. They had finally totally painted the inside of the house, which they did in one day. For a few days after he stayed in the guest room at the Miller home. With each passing day Paul found himself more and more in love with
Abby. Now the whole gang was getting ready for the long talked about camping trip. Although there were plenty of tents for everyone, Paul had recently bought a used camper, one of those that looks like a van on the front. He wanted Mr. Miller and his lady friend, the widow Snyder, or Betty as she insisted they call her, to be comfortable as they were both in their late sixties. The camper could sleep six, so he knew it would be plenty big enough. It also gave them a fridge to keep perishable foods and milk in. As they planned to spend a week out at the lake, they did not want to have to travel to town much for supplies. So the camper helped in that department as well.
Paul pulled up to the Miller home in the camper and honked the horn, Tony and Amanda came running out, their arms loaded with bedrolls, Paul told them to put them on the bunk above the cab. He went into the house and started grabbing ice chests, fishing poles, backpacks, as well as overnight bags. After several trips everyone was ready to go. Ben, Betty, and the kids slid into the booth dinner table preparing to play Yahtzee on the two hour drive to the lake. Abby climbed up into the passenger seat. When everyone was settled Paul said, “And away we go.” They drove the two blocks to Jays store where they had all planned to meet.
Pulling up, Jay walked over and opened the door leading into the camper, he handed Paul and Tony each two gallons of milk and a couple of