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Violet sat curled in one corner of the backset, Hayden in the opposite corner. They both remained strangely silent during the ride, the palpable tension between them making the short trip seem interminable.
Ten minutes later, they arrived in the middle of Nowhereville, Missouri. A dirt road and fields surrounded them for miles.
“Out you go.”
After they climbed out of the car, Charles stood in front of them. Hands in his pockets, his jaw was tight, his voice firm. “My methods might be a little unconventional sometimes, but I do what I need to in order to get the results I want.”
“That’s why you own the radio sta . . ..” Hayden’s voice faded when their boss held up one hand.
“For once, you two listen. I’ll do the talking.”
“Yessir,” they said in unison.
“This is the only way I could think of to get you alone to talk to each other. Reallytalk, not hurl insults at each other like two kids on a playground.” He harrumphed. “In truth, it’s more like bickering between an old married couple.”
Violet sucked in her cheeks not to laugh. Not that it was funny, but now she found it inexplicably amusing to hear it from the man who signed her paychecks. Besides, if she didn’t laugh, she might cry. “People generally like that and think it’s cute, don’t they?”
Lame and unprofessional, Violet.
Charles blew out a sigh of obvious exasperation. “We don’t wantcute, Violet. Our listeners call the station with serious, legitimate questions about issues they’re having in their relationships. You’re not medical doctors who can write a prescription for what ails them, but I thought I’d hired two reasonably mature adults trained to listen and give helpful, godly advice.”
“I understand that, but—”
“Sorry to interrupt, and correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that what youpayus to do?” Hayden said. “Spar with each other? If we constantly fawned over each other, our ratings would plummet.”
“I’m not asking for lovey-dovey on the air,” Charles said. “If you listened to that little snippet I played on the way out here, you might see that a little more give-and-take might be nice. If you’ll remember, thatwasthe original goal for the show.”
“I promise to do my part.” Hayden lifted his hand as though making a pledge. “Our ratings are decent and helping the station, aren’t they?” He appeared seriously befuddled, but he’d posed the same question sitting on the tip ofhertongue.
“The ratings are sky-high, and there’s a definite buzz about the show,” Charles acknowledged. “Everywhere I go in Arcadia Valley, I’m getting inquiries from people wanting to know the story. Frankly, it’s driving me a little nuts.”
“Inquiries?” Hayden said.
Violet shook her head. “Story?”
“Nuts?” They asked in tandem.
“Between you two!” Charles motioned between them and began to pace. “I’m as happy as the next station owner to have high ratings, but not at the expense of two people I’ve come to care a great deal about. If this collaboration is going to work, you need to learn to work together. Good-natured teasing is one thing, but I can’t have you constantly snapping at each other onandoff the air. I need you to get along. If you can’t do that, we’ll nix the show.”
Hayden balked. “You’re notfiringus, are you?”
All Violet could do was stare at Charles, her heart in her throat. Sheloveddoing the show,bothshows. If she didn’t love it so much, she would have stopped showing up the minute Charles proposed the idea of co-hosting with Hayden. Or quit altogether.
“If I fire one of you, then I’d have to fire you both. Trust me, I don’twantto do that, but as I said, I’ll do whatever’s necessary. The ship might sink in the process, but I can’t have you barking at Jillian and causing callers to hang up because you’re too busy arguing with each other.”
The color drained from Hayden’s face. He knew as well as she did how much time, effort, and money Charles put into getting KGOLD up and running. Plus all the ongoing maintenance and TLC required tokeepit going. This man would actually be willing to give up the station because of their childish behavior?
Talk about humbling.Violet’s gaze fell on the ancient Chevy station wagon. Charles’s kids went to public school, and his family lived in a modest house in an older section of Goldenrod. She and Hayden might work extra jobs, but this man knew better than anyone what it meant to sacrifice and go without. All for the privilege of serving God and bringing hearts to Jesus.
“I didn’t realize I’d scared Jillian. I’ll apologize, but are callers really hanging up because”—Hayden shot a glance her way—“Violet and I aren’t, um, getting along at the current time?”
Charles’s laughter lacked any real humor. “I’ve had people call and suggest you both need counseling for anger management issues.” He slapped a hand on his knee. “I’ve got two trained psychologists on my staff, and now everyone else in the area wants to analyzeyou!”
“Whoa,” Hayden said.
“I didn’t realize we werethatbad.” Violet moved one arm over her stomach, feeling a bit nauseated. “The replay was bad, though.”
“Awful,” Hayden agreed.
