How proud I was when I got your call tonight! This thing you’re doing for Penny Walton—how gracefully you are coming into your own! You’re a true MacIntyre woman and the sort of wish fetcher I always dreamed you would become.
Thank the stars, while I was busy being cautious and tight-lipped, you blossomed into a real courageous girl. One who does what’s right, no matter what her fretful old granny says. I reckon, in the end, you set a better example for me than I did for you. I’m so pleased for your mettle. You’ve taught me how to face providence more bravely.
Now, if for some reason you don’t see me as soon as you might expect, don’t you worry. Everything’s taken care of here, and I mean that. I AM ALL RIGHT. Your only business is to be your beautiful self and, as I told you once before, to find your own way. All shall be well.
I love you, Gen. So much.
I’ll see you when I see you,
Your Gram
In a corner of the letter was a faint bit of silver where, I imagined, Gram’s hand had lingered.
My gram was all right.
24
Rural News Network
A FEW MORNINGS LATER, I WAS ROUSED BY A KNOCK on the front door. It was Travis.
“Come on,” he said.
“What? Is something wrong?”
“Just come on.” He tugged at my arm.
It was so cold out, his words turned the air to smoke, so I left on my pajamas and put something more presentable over them. Then a coat. Then my boots.
“All right, now! What?” I demanded as I followed him out the door.
He grabbed me tight by the hand and led me downtown. When we got there, let me tell you, there was quite a hooray going on.
Penny Walton’s car with the big WALTON REAL ESTATE magnets along the side sat parallel parked in front of two empty storefronts. Penny herself was looking a bit bedraggled, but she nodded eagerly as she sipped from a HAM’S coffee mug, Travis’s pa speaking, well, at her is the best way to describe it. JoBeth Haines stood at Kip’s side, apparently explaining things when his communications lapsed into California-speak.
But that wasn’t all. There were two TV vans and a whole mess of nicely dressed people milling about. They didn’t look like they’d had any more sleep than Penny, but they bustled around with a great deal of purpose. They folded their arms and looked meaningfully at the storefront. They pointed at the wires overhead and the abandoned phone tower on Cheegee Hill. They stood on the roof of Ham’s Diner, shouting into their cell phones and conversing with each other at the same time.
Tom’s jeep was parked nearby, too. Him and Miz Tromp seemed to be walking in a big circle, right in the middle of the intersection of Main and Earl, talking something through. Sometimes he’d stop pacing and just turn around to look at her for a long time. Sometimes she’d grab him by the sleeve and wave her hands like she surrendered.
While Travis and I looked on, Mayor Cussler’s pickup pulled up. He climbed out dressed in a suit and tie, which was startling, seeing as how I’d only ever seen him in jeans. He hightailed it over to Penny, JoBeth, and Kip.
“What on earth is all this?” I asked Travis.
“If everything goes well,” he said, grinning, “you’re witnessing the birth of the Rural News Network.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a scheme Kip made up—and I’m helping him,” Travis replied. “A TV channel that gets picked up direct by special satellite receivers. Real news, no static. We aim to build one in every small town, everywhere. And the headquarters is gonna be right here, in Sass.”
“That’s huge,” I said.
After my shock wore off, I realized: “That’s jobs! Here in Sass!”
And another thing: “You’re gonna stay! Doesn’t that mean you’re gonna stay?”
“Near as I can figure,” he replied.
The Rural News Network. I shook my head. “I don’t understand how it happened.”
“You don’t?” Travis pointed to Kip and JoBeth. They were standing awfully close, looking real cozy.
I couldn’t help feeling a little aggrieved for Travis. The presence of his son, alone, wasn’t enough to bring Kip to Sass, but just add a lady friend to it—
“It’s all right,” Travis said, as if he’d read my thoughts. “I’m figuring out who he is. I won’t let him hurt me.”
I wasn’t sure it would be that simple, but I wished it were so with all my heart. And considering the smile on Travis’s face as he eyed the commotion, I couldn’t help being excited for him.
“So what about your ma and Tom?” I pointed to the two of them, still pacing in the street.
“Oh, he jumped the gun and said something about getting engaged,” Travis said. “She told him he was addled, but she ain’t exactly sent him away. I expect that’s what they’re bickering about now.”
“Maybe he’s in a rush ’cause he’s afraid one of Kip’s TV people is gonna snatch her up. Give your ma her own cooking show. Make her a star.” I made little sparkle motions over my head.
Travis laughed.
I just stood there for a time, enjoying the look of him, of his smile.
“I am glad you’re staying,” I said at last.
Then he kissed me, all boyfriendly, but still real polite.
And then we went over to see what we could do to help fetch the Tromps’ big wish.
25
Something Like a Family
I RECKON WE’RE CLOSE TO THE END OF THE STORY—AT least the one you came to hear. As I said, I ain’t fetching wishes no more. I don’t know. Maybe I could if I really tried. Someday.
Happily, there’s no shortage of wish fetchers in Sass now.