Page 46 of Heart of Mystic Valley
“I can’t just sit idle,” Faith muttered to herself, making her way to her desk. Removing the sling, she slid a fresh sheet of paper into the typewriter, her fingers itching to put words to the page. The explosion, the robbery, and whatever Joshua hadn’t shared with her. It all needed to be told.
As she continued to type, the door creaked open. Joshua stepped inside, grabbed the only other chair in the office, and sat down.
“You must be exhausted. How about I walk you home?”
Faith’s chin rose. “I’m almost finished with the piece on the explosion and robbery. It would be nice to end with whatever you had to tell Brodie.”
Joshua leaned closer, his voice gentle but firm. “It would make a good ending to your story, but I promised Brodie not to say a word to anyone else. Including you. Think about what could happen if publishing this information jeopardizes Sheriff Brodie’s investigation.”
Faith’s brow furrowed. “But surely the townsfolk should know—”
“Timing is crucial,” he interrupted. “Why don’t you wait for Brodie? Get all the facts before you print anything. You don’t want to rush forward without all the facts.”
She leaned back in her chair, conflicted. Her instincts as a reporter warred with the logic of Joshua’s words. She studied his face, seeing the sincerity there.
“You’re right,” she conceded after a long moment. “I’ll wait to speak with Brodie. But I won’t sit on this story for long, Joshua.”
His shoulders relaxed. “That’s all I ask. We’ll go together to see Brodie as soon as he’s available. Which will be after you get some rest.”
“I am pretty tired.” She slid the sling on, adjusting it to accommodate her arm.
Standing, he held out his hand. “I’m walking you home.”
“Joshua?” He paused to look at her. “Thank you… for watching out for me.”
A small smile played on Joshua’s lips. “Always,” he replied before taking her hand.
Joshua’s hand hesitated on the doorknob, his heart pounding in his chest. The almost full moon streamed through the newspaper office windows, washing Faith in an ethereal glow. He swallowed hard, knowing if he didn’t speak now, he might never find the courage again.
“Faith.” He turned to face her. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
“What is it, Joshua?”
He took a deep breath. “I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time.”
Her eyebrows rose slightly. “Go on,” she encouraged softly.
Joshua’s usual quiet manner gave way to a storm of emotions. “Faith, I… I care for you. Deeply. More than just a friend. I think I always have.”
The room fell silent, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall. Her lips parted in surprise. She stood frozen as she processed his words.
He waited, his heart in his throat, the tension in the room palpable. He could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. The silence stretched on, becoming almost unbearable.
“We should go,” he finally said, his voice rough with emotion. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I just needed you to know.” Opening the door, he motioned for her to walk past him.
He walked beside her, the quiet almost painful. Faith’s unspoken response hung in the air like a phantom, creating a wall of unresolved emotions and possibilities.
The eerily quiet streets of Mystic seemed to echo with the weight of his confession as they made their way to her house. Walking up the steps, she opened the front door, not looking at him. He bid her goodnight, hesitated a moment, then hurried off.
She stood at the living room window, watching his figure disappear down the street. Her heart pounded against her ribs. She pressed her palm against the cool glass, her breath fogging the pane.
“Oh, Joshua,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Chapter Eighteen
Faith woke with a start, the dull throb in her left shoulder immediately yanking her from the comforting fog of sleep. She blinked at the morning light filtering through the lace curtains of her bedroom, then tried to stretch, only to wince and bite her lip. The sling on the bedside chair was a stark reminder of the previous night’s chaos. The rough hands dragging her from the street, of Joshua’s timely rescue, and of his unexpected confession.
“Faith, you mean more to me than just a friend.”
