Read Online Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman - Free Book Online Page B

Elliott was sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of the small office with his feet propped up on the porch rail typing away on a laptop. His eyes never left the computer screen as I climbed up the stairs, but a small playful smile appeared on the side of his face.
    I didn’t bother trying to hide the fact that I was surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?”
    He finished typing something and then looked up at me, amused. “Every time you see me you ask me why I’m here. You do realize that I live here, right?”
    â€œSorry, that did sound rude. I’m just surprised to see you again.” I peeked through the window to see if there was anyone official looking inside that I could speak with. I could hear a phone ringing incessantly but no one seemed to be around to answer it. “Do you know when someone from the paper will be in?”
    Elliott closed the lid to his laptop. “Yes, right now. I’m the paper.”
    â€œYou’re the what?”
    â€œI am the paper. I own the newspaper.”
    â€œOh, you do? That’s weird, although I guess that explains what you’re doing here.”
    He looked at me with a sort of delighted confusion. “Do you say everything that pops into your head the second it shows up there?”
    I sighed. “I do.” I sat down on the rocking chair next to him. “It’s a really bad habit. I have no filter. Sorry.”
    â€œActually, I find it incredibly refreshing.”
    The phone began ringing again. I waited for a moment, thinking he would rush in there to pick it up, but instead he just rubbed his face and sort of grumbled. I pointed toward the phone. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”
    â€œNo.” We waited for the ringing to stop before he spoke again. “So how are you today? I mean about everything? The lake and Huntley.”
    â€œOkay, I guess. It wasn’t really what I was expecting to find.” I shrugged because there wasn’t anything else I could say about it.
    â€œHoly drowned town, Batman.”
    That made me laugh. “Exactly. That’s why I’m here. I was hoping Logan and I could go through the newspaper archives to see if we can start doing some research about the town and my mom.”
    â€œSure. I’d be glad to help you. Do you know what you’re looking for?”
    â€œNo, not really. I just need to start looking.” The phone started again. My eyebrows rose at him, questioning.
    He crossed his arms in a tight knot and pursed his lips, holding his ground. “I’m not supposed to be in the office today, which she knows, so I couldn’t possibly answer that. And my cell phone doesn’t work out here. I am legitimately and innocently unavailable.”
    â€œOh, got it. Girl trouble. Women love it when you avoid their calls.” I pointed back and forth between the office and his rocking chair. “Nicely done.” The racket finally stopped. She’d given up, whoever she was.
    Elliott gave me an exasperated look. “Do you want my help or not?”
    â€œYes, I do want your help. I won’t make any more comments about the way you’re treating your lady friend.” I changed the subject. “So how long have you been the official face of the Tillman Free Press ?”
    â€œWe just had our second anniversary.”
    Oh no, they were a brand-new publication. There may not be any archives to go through. I didn’t want to waste his time. “The paper’s brand-new then. So, uh . . . what were you doing before you started it?”
    â€œI didn’t start it. I just reopened it. So yes, there are archives that you can access.” Busted. He leaned back in the chair. “I was an engineer for years but just decided it wasn’t for me.”
    â€œReally? That’s funny. I work for an engineering firm.” That was another thing that had snuck up on me out of nowhere and