No Wife Required!

“When I came here from California, it was a little like Alice in Through the Looking Glass. Everything was just a little different Your highway sense is unique. My producer is letting me know the calls are stacking up. Let’s go to our local phone line first and talk to Mavis.”

“Hi, Max.”

“Hi, Mavis. What’s your outrage this evening?”

“You won’t remember my husband Joe who died two years ago, but he felt exactly the same way you do. He used to drive—”

Lacey removed the earphones and reached for the cordless phone. She knew Radio Talk’s number by heart and punched the digits.

“Hi. This is Rob Clark. You want to go on the air with Max Jarvis?”

“Yes.”

“What’s your name?”

“Lorraine.”

“Hey—Lorraine. Hi. It’s me.”

“I know.”

“How do you like the lotion?”

Rob had just given her a legitimate reason to call in. “I thought I’d say something about it over the air.”

“Uh-oh. Okay. You’ll be on after Mavis.”

“Thanks.”

“Sure thing.”

Suddenly she could hear Max’s conversation with Mavis and waited until he switched over to her. The thought of talking to him made her heart leap into her throat.

“He would have liked your show, Max. Keep up the good work. I’ll hang up now.”

“Thanks for your vote of confidence, Mavis. Perhaps before the night is out we’ll have some answers. Let’s go to our other local line.

“Well, well. My producer says it’s Lorraine, our talk show celebrity from last week. How are you, Lorraine?”

She couldn’t tell if he was happy to hear from her or not.

“I’m fine, Mr. Jarvis,” she answered nervously, trying to ignore Greg’s speaking glance.

“You’re on the air. Can you talk a little louder.”

She cleared her throat. “Yes. This is open forum, isn’t it? We can talk about anything?”

“Absolutely.” The adrenaline started to flow. “But first, give us your outrage.”

My outrage. How perfect.

“Well—you never talk about your wife and family. Does that mean you’re not married?”

There was a slight hesitation before he asked, “That’s your outrage?”

“Yes.”

“Since this is the second time you’ve asked me that question over the air, I tell you what. If you’ll call Rob on the business line and leave your full name and number, I’ll be happy to call you personally and answer your question. Does that sound fair?”