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  "Good." Mary found another tablecloth. It was in tatters but with a little work would be perfect for placemats. She made a mental note to look for sewing supplies when she was done. "After our little chat she holed herself up in her favorite corner of the attic to think. And knowing her like I do she's probably up there mapping out her strategy."

  "The attic?" The last time she was up there it was dark, dank, and not even close to a place she would consider holing up in.

  Easily interpreting her tone and the unspoken question behind it Mary smiled in understanding. "We've cleaned and straightened things around quite a bit up there, especially in the area of the front corner near the window." Mary continued searching through the pile of colorful linens as she talked. "I know Casey likes thinking of the little room up there as another 'hidey-hole,' and I agree it was meant for storage of some sort, but I'm not certain it was necessarily meant as a hiding place."

  "This is a nice one," Grace pulled out a fruit covered cloth that had seen better days but still had the original design in the middle even though the edges were worn. "Why do you say that?" She asked going back to the comments about the attic room.

  "The latch was jammed tight, probably from years of not being used but it wasn't hidden away from view." Not like the one in the basement, she thought to herself. "I think over the years the door just got covered up by all the boxes and other stuff up there and then just got forgotten about period. Later, in all those years it was a rental, people simply weren't there long enough to clean up, especially in the attic. They just shoved stuff up there and half the time it doesn't look like they bothered taking some of it with them when they moved out."

  "Have you gotten anymore lighting up there?"

  Mary laughed. "We're working on it but for the time being those hanging light bulb things are Casey's new best friends."

  Grace just shook her head. Then thinking back to their original topic as they headed back up to the front of the store together, Mary having apparently found all she wanted for the day, she broached it once again. "Let Casey's boss...old boss or whatever, know where you got these." She opened the freezer area off the little deli bakery counter space she'd set up and pulled out four of the cakes. "If he wants to come by and set up an account for future orders that's fine with me."

  Mary studied her contemplatively. "You mean you're ready to take him on."

  Grace sighed, "As ready as I'll ever be." She rang up Mary's order, thinking the woman was quickly becoming one of her best customers. "Maybe his coming here is fate or something." She ripped off the tape, laid it down on the counter and turned it so Mary could see her total. "I remember thinking along the same lines when I met Casey."

  "That it was fate? Her coming here after having been so tied to what you left behind?" Mary thought about it. She wasn't adverse to it, believed some things were meant. And others weren't.

  "Or something."

  Mary studied Grace's demeanor as she closed up her purse and gathered up her purchases. Those who didn't know her beyond the surface might see Grace as fragile but Mary knew there was a deep well of strength running strong through her. "I'll let him know." She paused, gauging her thoughts and her words. "Grace, sometimes you can find your greatest source of strength in facing the very things you once felt incapable of doing." She waited, wanting to help, but knowing in the end it was in her friend's hands. "That doesn't mean you weren't right for handling it as you did to start with." She smiled gently, knowing from her own experiences of what she spoke. "We do the best we can when we deal with difficult situations in our lives. If we're really lucky, somewhere along the way we get smarter for it, learn from it, and do better the next time we're faced with them." She patted Grace's shoulder gently and made her way out the door without allowing time for her to respond. Some things, she knew, needed to be thought about, not talked about.

  

  Mary was able to give Mark the message from Grace later that afternoon along with the three coffee cakes that she'd wrapped in foil and boxed up for his trip home. Casey had received a call from him earlier and upon hearing he was catching an early morning flight home she invited him over for an early dinner with the two of them, something they had discussed and decided that face-to-face was better than phone or email. Especially since Mary had yet to get internet and wasn't in any hurry to do so.

  Because of the last minute nature of the plans Mary opted for quick and easy for dinner. Her homemade lasagna was baking in the oven and the garlic butter bread to go with it was warming on top of the shiny new appliance.

  Since Casey wasn't feeling off guard or nearly as threatened as she had that morning, Mary was relieved to hear her being almost cordial to the man who at one time was her co-worker and then her boss.

  They had talked before his arrival about how to handle Mark's idea. Between the two of them they had tossed around a couple of possibilities for stories she could do, would enjoy doing, then discussed some of the more practical aspects including the technical issues Casey wanted to maintain some sort of control over. When it came right down to it, whether Casey liked it or not, a lot of the decisions would come down to how Mark wanted it handled. Because of that, Mary had suggested being nice, or at least nicer for the moment. "If you want him to go along with some of this you're going to have to do your part and that includes something more than spitting words at him." Mary had suggested just before he arrived at the door.

  "So Mary, what is your favorite news network?" Mark asked not bothering to be casual about it, always looking for positive feedback. He didn't particularly like to hear the negative but was always willing to hear what it was.

  Casey laughed and almost choked on the garlic bread she'd just bitten into. "Look around, Mark. Do you see a TV?" She could barely hold back the continuing desire to snicker as she watched his eyes widen. He didn't look around, he didn't need to. He'd known her for years, they'd been close friends, trusted friends, she thought wryly. Enough so that each could read between the lines of the other's words.

  But he did look at Mary. "No TV?"

  Before she could respond either way Casey added another layer to that particular pie. "No internet either." She shoveled in lasagna, no one made it like Mary. She'd pay and pay dearly for days to come but the neighborhood was safe and she loved to walk. She forked in another bite before adding, "Ask her what she really thinks of our beloved network. I dare you." She smiled at him companionably, for the moment the tension between them forgotten.

  Mary interrupted before it went further. "First of all, I do have a TV..."

  It was Casey who interrupted again. "It doesn't count when all it gets is the five basic channels, actually four, the fifth one is iffy at best unless you have a penchant for pattern lines."

  Mary sighed. "I just don't watch enough television to justify it." She tried to explain but really not wanting to get into her thoughts on TV and where and when it had gone south.

  "Oh, please." Casey stabbed her fork in the air to express her disagreement. "Mark's a big boy, he can take it." She stabbed her fork in his direction. "Can't you?"

  Mark leaned to one side. While he didn't for a moment think that Casey would ever intentionally injure him, if the fork slipped out of her hand the way she was waving it he'd be injured regardless. "I don't think I've been limited to five channels since I was a kid." He thought about it. "Test patterns were what came on after the nightly news unless you were into Johnny Carson."

  "Close." Casey agreed. "Try living here."

  "Casey..." Mary tried once again to shift the direction of where this discussion was heading.

  "Please." Mark entered the conversation carefully. "Explain to me why the author of untold number of wildly successful novels has animosity to cable TV and from what Casey has alluded to, specifically the news."

  Mary gave her cousin an I don't appreciate this look, then leaned back in her chair to make the best of a crappy situation. "I would assume this is all off the record."

  Ma
rk smiled. "It is." Though he would dearly love to change that. His wife was going to croak when she heard who he had dinner with. Or would she, he wondered glancing in Casey's direction.

  "At one time I was disastrously close to what they now term a News junky."

  "That's the truth," Casey chimed in.

  "I flipped around the channels, mostly when I needed a break to clear my mind."

  "Writers block." Casey again filled in the blanks in the event Mark couldn't follow.

  "In any event," Mary continued as if her cousin hadn't spoken. "When my youngest was born with colic, I discovered your network mainly because it ran all through the night. I loved it." She smiled at the memories that were much easier to think of in a positive light now, from a distance, than they were to deal with at the time. "But over time, television has changed." She shrugged. "Everything has, not just TV. Not just the news."

  Mark nodded his agreement. "At the heart of it, cable television has had a lot to do with that. In many ways it’s changed everything."

  "Yes." Mary agreed. "Not only has the content changed drastically but in some cases, including the news, the tone has changed as well."

  Mark leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Explain, please."

  "I watch the news for just that, news. I don't watch it for a contest of the wills. I don't mind a good opinion piece, but when the news is presented in a snide tone it doesn't take an idiot to figure out where the reporter's position on the issue is, even if he or she isn't reporting it as an opinion."

  "Keep going," Casey encouraged. In her mind it wouldn't hurt and might even be beneficial for Mark to hear it. She glanced at the man, pleased to see he was unexpectedly riveted and added, "Passive aggressive is the new term for snide. Mary tends to stick with the tried and true."

  Ignoring her cousin's last statement Mary continued. "Television is filled with shows I wouldn't watch. But there're more choices today than ever before so even if I don't like most of what's on there's still an awful lot to choose from." She continued as Mark nodded his understanding. "But with the news, even though there are more channels and alternatives than there once was it's a much more limited selection than what you have with sitcoms, movies, or whatever it is that you want to watch. And quite frankly, it seems more and more that all the news shows are competing so much against each other they're all beginning to look and sound the same."

  "Is that a bad thing?" He personally believed it was but asked, honestly wanting that unbiased answer.

  "Yes," Mary stated adamantly getting worked up on the topic. "If they're all the same there are no true choices. When the only real difference is the person sitting in front of the camera the audience no longer has a choice regarding the coverage, their only choice is the person reporting it."

  "In other words," Casey broke in to fill the sudden silence that filled the room. "In trying to compete with your competition you're starting to become your competition."

  Mark looked hard at Casey. She was a lot of things he didn't agree with, but without dispute she was smart as a whip and knew the market. "You believe that?"

  She nodded and because she recognized the serious tone in his voice she offered the same. "Take some time and watch the shows, as a viewer not as the big guy making sure it all happens." She gave in and cut herself another helping of lasagna. "Better yet, ask your wife."

  "She won't give me her opinion. I've tried."

  "I can see her saying that but I bet if you asked specific questions she'd answer them for you."

  Mark continued to study Casey and wondered what she knew about his wife that he didn't. More, he wondered what his wife knew that he didn't.

  Mary spoke into the quiet. "It's not just the news. And it's not just a matter of wishing it was the way it was when I was a child. The bottom line is that while we have lots more choices in entertainment, we also have lots more responsibility to make sure its directed at the proper audience. That children aren't exposed to what they shouldn't be and normally wouldn't be except they often are because they're watching today's TV."

  Casey let out what could only be described as a hoot. "Let me tell you what happened while I was visiting a friend the other day." And she went on to tell him what Pete's youngest had questioned after watching one of the zillion commercials broadcast daily on men's sexual health and ability. Mary watched him, trying to understand his thoughts on the issue, and was pleased to see him torn between amusement and concern. But she also thought they needed to get on to the real purpose of tonight's dinner meeting and was willing to do just that. "So, have you and Casey had a chance to discuss her thoughts on what you've suggested in trying to calm concerns over her sudden departure?" She sat back in her chair, ready to let Casey occupy the hot seat for a bit.

  Instead, for Casey it was the opening she had been waiting for. Mark had caught her off guard before. This time she wanted to take the lead. "Actually, I think his idea has merit. I've come up with a number of ideas for stories." She saw his questions and waved them off. "I don't want to go into them because I haven't looked into the plausibility of all of them yet, but if I find any don't work, I'm sure I can come up with something else to take its place."

  "I'm certain you will." Mark had a couple of ideas himself but decided that aspect of the entire concept could be approached at a later time when the die was cast and there was no turning back.

  "I've considered the technical aspects of doing stories from a distance." This time when she glanced his way it wasn't questions she saw but surprise and maybe a hint of concern. "It's not like you're going to keep a crew here full time waiting for me to do a story so I think it would be best if I handled that angle on my own." She held a hand up staying the argument she expected and knew was to come no matter what she said. But she also wanted it all out at one time so that nothing was forgotten or left out in the heat of the discussion. "I also want a guarantee, a written one, that there will be no post submission editing." She held her hand up again to stop him. "I'm not referring to playing clips of the piece, but I won't even consider doing this if I can't get a no-edit guarantee in writing. Let them say or do what they want. There are more than enough lawyers in the family that I've never made use of and have no problem doing so now if I need to." She looked at Mark and waited. She didn't like being rigid about it but there were some lines in the sand she wasn't going to cross. She splayed her hand out in a low arc. "Have at it," she invited.

  Mark was tempted. If for no other reason she expected it. But truth be told he would have probably insisted on the same had he been in her place. The editing process was one thing if you were there and had some say so in the matter. From a distance you were at their mercy. Just like the movement or elimination of the written word, the same held true with video. The entire content could be changed or worse, made inaccurate. "Let's say that I agree to this, how do you propose providing us with a clean, professional submission?" Even before he saw her slow smile he suspected she already had a plan. And considering the source, it was probably original and sound.

  "That in itself will be the topic of the first segment." Casey said with no little amount of pride. Thanks to Pete and his overwhelming knowledge of everything Burlington, this was her solution to the initial quandary she had that morning with Mark's idea. She didn't want a bunch of network folks intruding on her little piece of paradise. Not yet. She also didn't want them messing with her work. "The high school here has a wonderful Video Production program. I'm going to use them. I've already spoken to their teacher and the school principle. They're very excited and so am I."

  Mark could see that without being told. She practically vibrated with it. Even as she spoke he could see the potential of her idea, the benefits to the story and for the kids. He also thought about how long it had been since he'd seen Casey this excited about anything let alone anything having to do with her job. The more he saw the more he began to wonder if perhaps his wife had been right about why Casey had taken off. Besides the fact that he hated
it when Terry was right and he wasn't, he also worried if he'd had a role in driving her to it.

  "So what do you think?" Casey infused as much casual nonchalance as she could into the question. The last thing she wanted was for him to know just how important this had become to her.

  "I think it's a good idea," he paused before continuing. It was a great idea actually but he knew her well enough to know she would suspect something was up if he agreed offhand without any form of negotiation. "I think we should do the first segment as you request, without anything on paper so we can see how it works out for both of us." This time it was he who held his hand out to stop her from interrupting. "If everyone is happy after that, we write up a contract and put it all in writing just as you laid out."

  Sensing her cousin's impending argument, Mary spoke up first. "I think it's a fair offer Casey." She caught her cousin's attention. "Each of you is taking a risk on the other. This way no one is locked in until each feels comfortable with the feasibility of going forward."

  Casey knew she was right. Knew that it was a better offer than she expected especially without a bunch of haggling. But for form's sake she had a hard time just giving in. "What if they muck it up?" she questioned, knowing it was feeble even as she spoke.

  Mary shrugged. "Then you do as you said and call in the troops." She smiled meekly at Mark. "It's almost embarrassing the number of lawyers in the family."

  "Yeah." Casey agreed, giving Mark a look that said she would do it too. But both knew it was all bark and no bite. The network had an entire floor filled with lawyers and their hungry assistants.

  "Then we're agreed." Mark stood, brushing bread crumbs from his pants. It wasn't late but he had the need to talk to his wife. And he knew without a doubt she would be waiting, wanting to know how tonight had worked out.

  "We are." And Casey felt good about it. She had a bounty of ideas and was surprised at how willing and excited she was about carrying them out when just weeks before she swore she'd never again get in front of another camera in her life.