Free Until I Found You by Victoria Bylin

accept.”
    Kate’s stomach clenched. “You can’t?”
    “No.” Maggie shook her head, but an irrepressible smile formed on her full lips. “My husband’s been promoted to regional manager. It’s great for us, but it means moving to Phoenix.”
    “Oh, Maggie—”
    “I know,” she said. “The timing is awful for you and Leona. Greg leaves next week, but the kids and I are staying until winter break. If you can manage, I’d like December fifteenth to be my last day.”
    Losing Maggie was more than a blow. It was a death knell for the paper Leona loved. Kate leaned back in the chair, clutched the armrests, and battled waves of bone-jarring worry. The Clarion needed an editor, but Sutton needed Kate. And Kate needed Sutton. The creative process made her heart sing, especially when it involved someone as talented and unique as Eve Landon. Kate was already dreaming up ideas for the new campaign. She didn’t know how she’d keep all the balls in the air, but she was certain Leona would give Maggie her blessing.
    With more confidence than she felt, Kate offered Maggie a gracious smile. “December fifteenth is fine, but we’re going to miss you terribly.”
    “I’m so sorry about the timing—”
    “We’ll be all right,” Kate assured her. “If Leona were here, she’d say congratulations.” She’d also declare that God had a plan, but Kate believed the planning was up to her. “How long have you known about the promotion?”
    “Just a few days. I would have told you sooner, but it seemedbest to wait because of the accident.” Maggie blew out a breath, plainly relieved of her burden.
    But the burden was now on Kate. She surveyed Leona’s office as if she had never seen it before, yet the pictures on the credenza were of her own smiling face, and a poster on the wall was something she’d given to Leona—a blowup of the Eve’s Garden ad from the first print campaign. It showed a woman in an evening gown, elegantly posed under the lacy branches of a willow tree. The delicate script read Eve’s Garden . . . Find the You in Beautiful .
    Maggie broke into her thoughts. “I know how much the paper means to Leona. Can you run it yourself, from Los Angeles?”
    “I don’t see how.” Kate’s days at Sutton were so full she barely had time to do laundry. Selling the Clarion was the only option that made sense for her personally, but it would cause the biggest heartbreak for Leona. There was also the matter of providing for her grandmother’s financial future. Before Kate made any decisions at all, she needed to gather the facts. “I guess I need to crunch some numbers.”
    “Eileen can show you tax returns, spreadsheets—all that stuff.”
    “Good.”
    “We’re in better shape than you might think,” Maggie said with a note of pride. “The website reaches people with weekend cabins, and local businesses like the hard copy for tourists. We’re a newspaper first, a tourist guide second; but the tourist guide is effective. It keeps us relevant and it sells ads.”
    Kate understood completely. “I worked here during the summer when I was in college, but it’s been awhile. I need to get up to speed. Dody offered to stay with Leona when I need her, so I should be able to put in some extra time.”
    “Or bring Leona with you.”
    “I will, but later. She tires easily.” Kate glanced around the office, mentally making it her own . . . at least for now. “Where do we start?”
    “You know the basics.” Fortunately the software was the same version from Kate’s college years. She knew it well, though the Clarion was past due for an upgrade. The paper still ran on the same print schedule, and she recognized most of the advertisers. Maggie, Eileen, and Art worked full time, but the journalism staff was comprised of free-lancers, including Nick. When Maggie finished with the background info, they talked about the coming issue. “We’re in good shape. Page one is the repair to San Miguel