Diamonds and Dreams by Brenda Bone Page B

delighted
you proved me wrong.”
    “You’re
delighted?   Even when
we argue over how to go about doing things regarding our show?”
    “Especially then.   You exhaust my patience sometimes when you
refuse to bow to my wishes, but that keeps me on my toes.   Anyway, many of your ideas are good.   Like the time you organized the fund-raiser
and teenagers helped you to raise money for the burn unit of the local
children’s hospital by offering their services out for a work day.”
    Reflecting
on the situation, she beamed.   It was
wonderful that he appreciated her professional talents as well as her personal
traits.
    One
afternoon when she sat, reading emails, at her desk, and looking over
listeners’ song requests, Brant told her “ Desi wants
to see us.”
    “What
does he want this time?”
    “I
have no idea, but he looked serious when he told me to bring you and meet him
at the office.”
    “ Desi always looks serious when he wants to discuss our
program.”
    “This
time he seemed bothered.   I hope he
doesn’t have bad news.”
    Seeing
the tiny lines of his eyes and mouth, she realized that Brant was really
worried.   Maybe I should be, too, she thought.
    Desi gave them the bad news.   “You’ll both participate in a contest that
entails going out and meeting listeners as well as making more public
appearances.   Listener votes will determine
the winner.”
    Brant
frowned.   “You’re forcing us, the weekend
team, to compete against each other?”
    “I’m
afraid so.”   Desi took off his glasses and cleaned them, a habit which
Lindsay noticed he usually resorted to whenever he found himself in
uncomfortable situations.
    “Which
of the other radio personalities will be involved in this contest?” she wanted
to know.
    “None.”
    “Only Brant and me?   But why?”
    “You
said Lindsay and I are a great team,” Brant reminded him.
    “True,
but now it’s necessary to have this contest, even if the station didn’t cut
back on funding.   Please don’t ask
questions.   Just trust my judgment.   I’m doing what’s best to maintain our high
ratings.”   Desi passed a set of papers to Lindsay and another to Brant.   “Here’s the list of rules and more details
about the contest that begins tomorrow.   Good luck.   You may leave now.”
    “Wait
a minute!   What does the winner get?”
Brant inquired.
    “To
keep the position you now have here at WBKB.”
    “And the loser?”
    Desi pointed a finger toward the street
below the window.   “The loser must look
for another job.   Sorry to break the news
to you so bluntly, but I want you both to understand.   The station must make cuts or it won’t survive!”
    “Unfortunately,
we do understand,” Brant spoke sharply while Lindsay felt like Desi slapped her face.
    In
the hall Lindsay met Brant’s concerned gaze.   “I didn’t expect this.”
    “Me, either.   Promise me something, Lindsay.”
    “What?”
    “That
you won’t let the contest destroy our personal relationship.”
    “I’ll
try,” she vowed, “but that might not be easy.”
    “Nothing
worth having ever comes easily.   You’re
the most important person in my life, and I don’t want to lose you over some
ridiculous contest.”
    “You
won’t.”   Yet she knew the contest would
add pressure and test their loyalty to one another.
    A
new Columbus shopping mall opened several days later and the weekend team
traveled there for the ribbon cutting ceremony.   While Brant spoke with the mall manager, Lindsay noticed Rafe Wagner as he sauntered toward her.
    “Hello, Rafe .”
    His
eyes sparkled merrily and the corners of his mouth tugged slightly upward as he
joined her.   “What a nice surprise to see
you again so soon, Lindsay.”
    “Like
the new mall?”
    “It’s
convenient, especially the computer store.”   He held up a large bag full of software he purchased.   The bag wasn’t strong enough to hold them all
so it split and his items tumbled to