Talk of the Town by Sherrill Bodine Read Free Book Online

time keeping her voice light. “Sworn to secrecy. Even to you. Pauline, do you know Kate’s home number?”
    “Gosh, I’m sorry. I don’t know it. She’s real private. Is everything all right?”
    “Of course, sweetheart.” Rebecca tried to sound reassuring. “Everything is fabulous. See you in the morning.”
    Each time the phone rang she hoped it was Kate, but it was always one of her many sources who had fed her dozens of gossip items over the years. The phone had been deathly quiet since last week’s bloodbath. This morning it rang off the hook, with people feeding her juicy tidbits of news. Obviously they all assumed she was back in business as usual.
    Was she on the way back to the top? Or had she recklessly sealed her fate and Kate’s?

Chapter 5
    O n Monday morning, Rebecca put on her darkest, biggest sunglasses, clasped Sunday’s Food section to her chest like armor, and walked as fast as her four-inch heels would take her to the Daily Mail building. Everyone in Chicago always seemed to know her business before she did. She didn’t want to hear any
new
bad news from a cabbie or passerby before she dealt with Tim.
    She
had written the gossipy note out of damn-the- consequences outrage.
She
was prepared to face the possible dire consequences of her choice. But she wouldn’t allow Kate to suffer.
    If Tim does David Alan Sumner’s dirty work and fires anyone this Monday morning, he’s in for a real fight.
    Chest heaving, Rebecca started to push through the
Daily Mail
’s door.
    “Rebecca!” George’s shout stopped her. She twirled to find him racing across the street toward her.
    Breathless, his cheeks flushed, and his thick dark hair slightly windblown, he bent to kiss her cheek. “Hi. I’ve got a meeting down the block in the Wrigley building. I hoped I’d catch you. I’ve been calling you for days.”
    Rebecca forced a slow smile. After all, her raw nerves weren’t George’s fault. “Sorry, darling. I promise we’ll get together soon.”
    He bent closer, his warm breath tickling her ear. “I’ll hold you to that. I’ll call you tonight.”
    She waited until he safely dodged traffic across Michigan Avenue before she swung through the door into the lobby.
    Pauline looked up with her usual sunny smile, and unshed tears of relief burned in Rebecca’s eyes.
    “Everyone’s talking about your column. Joe Richards has a betting pool on about who the Soup Lady could be.” Pauline clasped her hands to her chest. “I wish you could tell me. I’m in for five dollars.”
    “Would if I could, but I promised never to tell.” Rebecca laughed, suddenly feeling lighter and younger than she had in years. Well,
better
than she’d felt since this time last Monday.
    “Wasn’t that George talking to you outside?” Pauline giggled. “He’s so handsome. He sorta looks like George Clooney. You’re not done with him already?”
    “No. He’s sweet. Just too busy for him at the moment.” Rebecca waved. “See you later.”
    This fabulous sensation of being lighter and younger carried her up the steps, through the chaotic newsroom, where she blew a kiss to Rose before sweeping into the relative quiet of Kate’s cubbyhole office.
    Kate looked up, and as suddenly as relief had come over Rebecca, it fled in the face of what this column might still mean for both of them.
    Rebecca didn’t flinch away from Kate’s long, piercing look. “I’m sorry to have put you in the middle of my messy situation with the new owner. Tim suggested I kick up the recipe column with my old Rebecca Covington touch, so I did. If it costs your job, I’ll never forgive myself.”
    “No need to worry about Kate’s job.” Tim’s cheery voice startled Rebecca. Prepared to do battle if necessary, she whirled to confront him.
    He positively beamed. “Our new owner thinks very highly of Kate’s work.”
    “You mean David Alan Sumner?” Rebecca said, keeping her voice casual and light.
    Color drained from Tim’s ruddy