Heart Shaped Spotlight

Wednesday afternoon I was actually ahead of my work. Gary had asked me to create a manual that explained exactly what I had set up for the live broadcast system, but then I lost most of a day with that sudden live stream. I finally finished the first draft, but stopped him when he was coming back from lunch.

"Hey, Gary, you didn't tell me why you wanted this manual created. It would help me with some of the details if I knew who it was intended for. Is it so that someone else could take over if I caught the flu?"

He sighed heavily, then shook his head. "No, actually, it's for my brother Warren."

"Oh." I couldn't camouflage my obvious surprise. "Do you want me to send it to him so that he can duplicate what we have?"

“That was my first thought.” He cocked his head, giving me his best smile that instantly implied he was about to ask for a favor. "But now I'm hoping that you can set it up for them. I already sent the gear list you had given me last month. They are going to start setting it up, and you're going to fly there to oversee it, make sure it works, and get it running."

I honestly wasn't sure whether he was asking me or telling me. But I was incredibly excited to set up a new system, no matter where it was. That was the kind of nerdery that I absolutely adored.

"I was thinking that maybe we could send you there tomorrow morning. Then you could set it up on Thursday, fine-tune it on Friday, then spend the weekend in Vancouver and come back Sunday night." He looked a little sheepish. "You know, as sort of a thank you gift for having to send you there last minute."

"Oh. Thanks." My mind was already swirling with all of the things I'd have to do. Gary always did things at the last minute, so that barely surprised me.

"I'll tell Curtis to do his best with all of the regular stuff here for the next few days. You just focus on this new project until Monday. Kim or Karen will be sending you airline tickets."

My lips pursed as I gave him a flat look.

He nodded with a chuckle. "Karen will be sending you airline tickets, hotel reservations and any other information you need. Warren says that his tech people are pretty good, but since you have the system running so smoothly, you might as well help them fast track it."

"Okay. I'll get on it."

He shuffled back to his office, and I hurried back to my desk to start making do lists. I immediately got in touch with the Vancouver station’s head tech person, to review the gear list. Within an hour he had assured me that they had absolutely everything I would need.

It was a relief that he seemed to know what he was talking about. It was one thing to put a system together in a hurry, it was another thing to have to train people. Doing both would be extremely slow. Just doing the set up should be a breeze, since I'd already done it once.

I found myself grinning at my laptop. This was an exciting assignment, and I would be able to bring both stations up to the level of the larger broadcasters.

Plus, I really loved Vancouver. I hadn't lived there long, and was under the crushing pressure of my father, but it's a beautiful city. Having the weekend off there would be amazing, even if all I did was walk around and visit as many restaurants as possible.

My phone beeped, and I saw it was a text from Carrie.

Carrie: Haven't seen you in a week. Wine after work tomorrow?

Me: I'll be out of town tomorrow. How about tonight? Five-thirty at Duncan’s?

Carrie: Sure. See you there.

By the time I arrived, Carrie was already in our favorite booth with a carafe of wine in the center of the table. The second I sat down, she motioned to my glass, then fluffed her light hair, before sitting primly with her hands clasped on the table.

"This meeting has come to order. I request complete notes and all information on why you have been missing in action for a few days." She looked so hopeful that I was up to something.

After three large sips of wine, I took a breath. "Keep your voice low, and don't freak out."

She nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Tell me."

"Nate came to do an interview at the station”

"Holy shit!" she squealed. "You finally met him? What happened?"

“He saw me hiding in the corner."

"Oh, come on,” she said, exasperated. "You didn't march up to him and say, ‘Hey, how have you been?’"

"No, of course not," I hissed. "I couldn't take a chance on anyone finding out that I was the Trisha he had been singing about."

“Why not? You should be totally proud that a hot guy is completely infatuated with you."