“Doing about what? I don’t follow.”
For the first time on our call, he seems to relax. Not a lot, but enough to soothe my own worries. “They’re keeping locals from the beach and canceling contracts with local growers and ranchers, including my parents.”
“They’re not supposed to do that.”Frankie Forsythe now playing the part of Captain Obvious.“We have agreements with them.”
Cal lifts his shoulders. “Yeah. They’re breaking them. They don’t want Holloway avocados or beef.” He bites his lip again, which is maddeningly attractive right when he’s got no business being such. “And Brandon McVey’s the one digging up the information.”
Brandon’s name hits like a punch to the gut. I close my eyes. “He’s been ringing me, but I’ve ignored him. I should have kept him blocked.”
“Is this story his way of getting your attention?” Cal’s voice lowers to soft, protective growl, which, again…maddeningly attractive at exactly the wrong time.
“Reckon it could be.”
“Daddy!” Junie yells in the background. “Let me talk to Frankie!”
Cal sighs and mumbles, “Birthday girl’s getting in all of her bad behaviors today.” Then points the camera toward Junie.
“Hi, Frankie!” She waves her chubby little hand right and left. “Now can you visit?”
I swallow hard; shake my head. “No, love, but soon.” Then I blow her a kiss and end the call before Cal can come back on.
Once again, my mess of a life is impacting him. Not just with parking at the beach. When I went to the Wild Coast Investment Group about developing Sanctuary, I made sure the local farmers and ranchers who would have been put out of business by Rancho Mirage were offered contracts with Sanctuary. I knew local producers had spent profits they couldn’t spare to fight BIG and Rancho Mirage. I wanted to make sure they got at least some of that money back.
The Holloways were one of those families. I helped them pick the avocados meant for Sanctuary.
Couldn't tell ya how bad this blow will be for them, but it won’t be good.
I slide the door shut, trapping the heat I’ve let inside.Malcolm gets cold so easily that, despite the August temps, the aircon’s not on. Even with a ceiling fan running, the air is hot and suffocating.
I make it across the room once before I text Cal.
I keep making a mess of things. I promise I’ll fix this.
The next person I ring is Bran, who answers a lot quicker than Cal did.
“Hey, babe. I wondered when you’d call me back.”
“Don’t call me that.”
He’s silent for half a beat before pushing out a loud breath. “I guess you’ve heard about the story, then?”
“Don’t do this to me again, Bran.” I’m not pleading with him. I’m ordering.
“I can’t walk away, Frankie, not when farmers in Serenity asked for my help. They reached out to me. I tried calling to tell you Wild Coast was breaking contracts. I wasn’t sure if you knew.”
I clutch my mobile tighter. “I didn’t know. But is that going to keep you from putting my name in your story?”
“Fran,” he sighs, and I picture him closing his eyes, trying to stay patient with me and my inability to comprehend how important his work is. “My job as a reporter is to tell the truth without bias. No matter what. I can’t keep your name out of this story just because of our connection. I made that mistake with the BIG story, remember?”
I used to love how calm and assured Brandon was when he talked about his job.
Now all I hear in his voice is maneuvering to justify hurting me. To make it my fault, just like he did last time.
“What Wild Coast is doing is wrong. They should be stopped. But don’t play like truth is your reason for chasing thisstory.” I pause…wait for him to fill in the rest. When he doesn’t, I do it for him. “What is it you really want? Are you looking for money to keep you from publishing this story? No idea where I'd get it if you are.”
It feels like a lifetime before he answers. “I don’t want money. I want you. I want to try again, Fran. I still love you. We could unravel what Wild Coast is doing together.”
There’s sincerity in his answer. I do believe he loves me. But I’ve opened the door wide for him to admit he asked for money from Malcolm in exchange for not writing any more stories about him. Not only that, but he’s also given me the same argument he gave me when he asked me to marry him. That time around, he promised we’d take down BIG and Malcolm.
