"We're here on business," Jonah explained, grinning, "and brought gifts to smooth things over!"
The basket was set on the counter, and Jonah helped Leah set everything out...plates, flatware, champagne and flutes, and lastly, the chocolate cake.
"Are there enough chairs to go around?" he asked Phineas. There were seven of them, by his count, and he wasn't sure that the newspaper office was set up for that, although he wouldn't mind sitting on a crate if need be.
For Tully, there were too many people here now, although she knew them all except for the older lady, and she liked Dr. Boone. Dr. Danforth and Miss Steelegrave were 'safe', but she was still uneasy. "I'll put some coffee on," she muttered, scurrying for the safety of the back room.
Sarah had just finished the article she had been writing about the school board meeting that had been held that night. She or Phinn usually attended and tonight it happened to be her turn. Knowing it was best to write everything down while it was still fresh in her mind, she had come into the office at what some would think of as a peculiar hour to be at work.
Standing up to greet the guests, Sarah was surprised to see Elinor, whom she had met when she made her trip to live in Kalispell. After the trip, there hadn't been much time to get to know Elinor as the woman quickly vanished soon afterwards. There were, of course, many rumours and a lot of speculation as to why the elusive Mrs. Steelgrave had disappeared and what her possible fate had been. However, all that had been quashed when the woman had suddenly re-appeared. Maybe this time around, Sarah would be able to further their acquaintance.
Smiling, she stepped forward, "Good evening. It seems you have come well prepared...even right down to the plates and cutlery which I am sure Mr. McVey is quite happy about."
The only thing, that Phinn had plenty of was cups for coffee, which was good some of the time but nothing like this...whatever this was. "I'm guessing that this meeting must be very important since it couldn't wait until the morning."
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"I'm guessing that this meeting must be very important since it couldn't wait until the morning."
"Oh, it could have, I suppose." Elinor said, "You would be Misses Sarah Thornton-Carlton, we never had the chance to meet. I'm afraid I was either gone or on the verge of leaving. And how is Shade, as I have not seen him since I returned either.?"
Leah looked on as her mother spoke with Misses Thornton-Carlton, then turned to Phin, "Well you see we were all over at the hotel for an early supper and had this idea that you might see as something that would not only help us, as in the hospital, but you as well."
"Of course, there had to be A catch somewhere in this festive intrusion, that I will willingly partake in," Phin replied with a knowing smirk. He had been worked before, but these were friends who thought enough to bring a celebration with them.
"Phineas, Let me put it to you straight." Josiah spoke up, "I figure we need the Union, and the Union needs us. Meaning, we think if you did a series on the hospital and got it out all over the Territory, why we think, no, we believe your subscriptions would increase exponentially! Isn't that right Jonah?"
"Yes, that's the idea!" Jonah popped the cork on the champagne, then started pouring it into glasses. "So, a toast, and cake, you ladies can see to that," he addressed Leah and Elinor. Then he looked back to Phineas.
"Now that we are getting close to completion, we thought it would be beneficial to have some articles in the paper, so folks in the outlying areas know that there's going to be a proper hospital." He shrugged. "And it would likely garner interest in the paper and maybe even increase circulation."
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Phin, never one turn a gift horse out to pasture, heard the words 'increase circulation' and raised his flute as if there had been an actual toast. "The outlying areas, and there are several settlements and actual towns within say twenty-five to seventy-mile radius, which I don't reach currently. Now, I don't know that people that far away would use our hospital, then again they just might at that."
"Phineas, think of it as spreading the word. And at the same time, it actually could add some coin to your account, and who knows, certainly not I, but there could be some advertising dollars involved if the paper had steady presence in these settlements and towns." Leah interjected.
"And combine that with the talented writing of Misses Thornton-Carlton on not]t just the hospital but stories in general. She might even get a request for a column partial to their settlement or town. The possibilities are endless." Elinor added.
"Well, then, we are in agreement!" Jonah smiled widely, happy that there was a consensus that putting articles in the paper would boost interest in the hospital, and that would also serve as a deterrent to Elias Steelegrave trying to do harm.
"So, we've champagne and cake, shall we drink a toast?" A small reason to celebrate, but more-so, it was a celebration of the company!
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Phin stood by his counter appraising the group gathered for the impromptu celebration of an idea. An idea that benefitted both the hospital and his bottom line of new subscriptions and ad sales. it was almost a perfect union, of course, the cake and champagne helped with the festive atmosphere. It was not Christmas, but the evening had that feeling, everyone was happy, and he smiled. This was good.
@JulieS
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