Love After All by Celeste O. Norfleet Page A

for her or about the package he’d received.
    Jessie smiled, knowing that there was no getting around him at times. “Anything I can help with?” she asked with sisterly concern.
    â€œNo, not this time. Don’t worry, I got this.”
    â€œBy that sly look on your face I’d say that there was a woman involved, but you haven’t exactly been burning up the social scene lately. To tell you the truth, I have no idea how you give such great advice to your listeners when you haven’t been out on a date in almost a year.”
    â€œDating is tricky,” he confessed.
    â€œYou’re preaching to the choir on that one,” Jessie said. “But I remember hearing your show last night. I think it was called, ‘The Making of a Fantasy.’ I was stunned. The advice you gave was seriously on target. You actually made me want to get out there and find my soul mate.”
    Jackson smiled proudly.
    â€œDon’t look so smug,” she added. “You should take your own advice and get out there yourself.”
    â€œI’m too busy at the moment,” he confessed.
    â€œToo busy for a fantasy, for love. Mom would have hated hearing you say something like that.”
    â€œShe would have understood.”
    Jessie nodded. “Yeah, she probably would have, up to a point. But she would never have agreed with work precluding having a life and you know that.”
    They smiled, each remembering their mother fondly. Then for no particular reason they started chuckling. “Did she ever talk to you about things?” Jackson asked.
    â€œWhat kind of things?” she asked.
    â€œPersonal things,” he said.
    â€œFor instance…” she prompted.
    â€œFor instance, she lived on the East Coast, right?” Jessie nodded. “Her family, did she ever mention anything about them?”
    â€œAre you getting sentimental?”
    â€œNo, just curious. Did she?”
    â€œYeah, we talked about family sometimes.”
    â€œShe never talked to me about them.”
    â€œYou were busy.”
    â€œDoing what?” he asked, seriously not knowing.
    â€œJackson, you’ve worked steadily since you were fourteen years old. Then after college you did everything to avoid this business, even being a cop for a while. But it’s in your blood. Now you live and breathe this business. I’m surprised you even remember me. I guess it’s no wonder you don’t have a life now, you never had one before.”
    â€œThere’s nothing wrong with wanting to succeed.”
    â€œOf course not, but there is a balance. You spout remedies for the single life after midnight and never take your own advice. I’ll tell you what, after last night’s show, ‘The Making of a Fantasy,’ go out this weekend, find a fantasy. Better yet, I have an idea, why don’t I fix you up with—”
    â€œDon’t even think about finishing that statement,” Jackson warned firmly. Then seeing Carla raise her hand to get his attention that the commercial was almost finished, he replaced the mic and headphones.
    â€œAre you sure?” she asked playfully. Jackson gave her a firmer look. Jessie chuckled. “Okay, okay, I get it. No fix-ups.”
    â€œThank you.”
    Jessie nodded with assured trust as Jackson looked up at the clock. It was almost time to end the show. The commercial and promo ended and Jackson returned to the air, said his final goodbye, then motioned to Carla to cue up the promo for the replacing segment.
    At one o’clock, the show ended.
    Jackson looked up at his producer. She nodded. Seconds later the On-Air light on his panel went out. He removed the headset and pushed back from the counter. It was over. He stood, stretched and gathered his half-filled water bottle. As he turned, a parade of coworkers came into the booth carrying a cake, glasses and several bottles of champagne. Jackson looked over to his sister. She