I Didn't Marry Him, I Married The One He Hated novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: Ask Me After

Magnus's POV

The reporter called at nine on Thursday night, while I was hanging paper lanterns off the loft rail.

I let it ring four times.

Then I picked up, because my father had told me to be done with being quiet.

"Mr. Ekdahl, this is the Duluth paper. We're running a piece tomorrow about your family and your conviction. I'm calling for comment."

"Come to the party," I said.

"Sir?"

"The yard's sixtieth anniversary. Tomorrow at six. It's open to the public, and the harbor's invited. Bring your notebook and ask me anything you like."

"We were hoping for a statement."

"You'll get one," I said. "In front of the people it concerns."

I hung up and stood there with the lantern in my hand.

I had told no one at the yard for eight years what I thought, and I had just told a stranger to come and hear it.

My hands were steady.

That surprised me.

Behind me, Linnea set down the box of string lights.

"Who was that?"

"The paper. I invited them."

"You what?"

"I'd rather they hear it from the stage than read it off Trevor's phone." I put the lantern on the rail. "Is that all right?"

She crossed the floor and looked up at me for a long moment.

"You asked," she said.

"I did."

"Yes. It's all right."

The foreman had gone home an hour ago.

The crew had left the hulls draped for the night, and the lake was black outside the loft windows.

Moby lay in the doorway with his chin on his paws.

I took a folded sheet out of my back pocket.

I had written it on Monday and carried it for three days.

"I need you to read something," I said. "Then I need you not to say anything for a minute."

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