An Allegheny Homecoming by T. R. McClure

Author:T. R. McClure
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“FRAUD? ENGAGED? JOE, what is she talking about?” Sue looked up at the man, whose face was as white as the color of the tablecloth. “And who’s Vanessa? Is this some sort of joke?”

The look in Joe’s eyes told everyone Wendy’s accusations were no joke. “Suzanna, I can explain.”

Sue’s voice was soft. “You wouldn’t steal from innocent people.”

The room was so quiet you could’ve heard a tea bag drop. Joe, having no good answer, disappeared into the back room. The only sound was the scraping of chairs as Deb and Bill stood. They walked over and glanced down at the paper.

Bill looked at Deb and said, “Number two.” Deb just shook her head, took Bill by the arm and together they exited the shop. That left Josh, his mother and Wendy, who was busy putting away her equipment.

His mother rested a hand on his arm as if for support. “I guess there really is no such thing as a good man.” She smiled sadly and then patted his cheek. “Except you.” She turned and headed for the door.

Josh’s heart flopped in his chest. If she only knew. He wasn’t sure how to react to the last few minutes. One thing he knew though, Wendy wasn’t some innocent local journalist reporting on lost puppies and county fairs. Skinny had been right. She was looking for the big ticket to propel her to stardom. Unluckily for Joe, he could very well turn out to be said ticket.

Josh walked over and looked down at the wrinkled Pittsburgh newspaper. A bold headline ran across the top of the page:

LOCAL BANKER IMPLICATED IN SCAM

Underneath the text was a picture of Joe smiling up from the page.

Josh skimmed the entire article. Due to a lack of evidence, Joe had been released, while Vanessa Black had been convicted and sentenced. Josh threw the paper on the table. “So this is what you do.”

Wendy knelt and stuck the camera into a black bag. Then she folded the tripod and put it into a side pocket. “Aren’t you happy? Your mother could never care for a man who’s committed a criminal act. Now that she’s no longer interested in Joe, maybe she’ll find a way to forgive your father and they’ll get back together.”

“You’re a weather girl.”

“For the last time, I am not a weather girl. I am a weather—” She seemed to be searching for the right word. “Weather forecaster.”

“All the same, I didn’t know you did these ambush-style interviews.”

Wendy looked startled. Well, maybe Josh didn’t wear suits and work in an office, but he had been around.

“How did you find out about this?”

“I’m a reporter. That’s what I do.”

“Let me ask the question another way. Who gave you the newspaper?”

Wendy had been busily stuffing cords and other items in the black canvas bag, but at his question, her hands stilled.

Josh flashed on the memory of Wendy in his grandmother’s rocker after Thanksgiving dinner, talking to his father. For a man whose wife had left him and reconciliation was nowhere on the horizon, he looked happy relaxing in the recliner.

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