Bob Chaney, their producer, poked his head into the sound room during a commercial break Friday morning. Michelle pushed a button on the telephone and handed Jacob the receiver. He looked so different this morning than he had on Wednesday night, and she’d hoped the return to his usual uniform of sweats and T-shirt would have a grounding effect on her growing interest in him. It hadn’t. “Of course I remember. I never forget a beautiful woman,” she heard him say into the receiver. Michelle studied the program sheet in front of her. They had three promos coming up, a telephone interview, a weather spot, sport scores to announce again and six songs to play. What did she care if Jacob was talking to a beautiful woman? It certainly wasn’t anything new. “Tonight?” Please say no. “How late?” You have children to watch. “I only stay up past my bedtime on special occasions.” He was grinning. She had to look away. “You’re on. I’ll pick you up at eight.” Michelle had never felt lonelier in her life.
