Page 16 of And Now, Back to You

“Ah,” I say, satisfied that I didn’t miss something. “Okay.”

Her mouth pinches and pink brushes across the tops of her cheeks. “Is there something wrong with the European model, Jackson?”

“The Global Forecast System model is better.”

“Not in the winter, it isn’t.”

“When you’re looking at a lead of longer than five days, your best bet is—”

“The point remains,” Keith interrupts, sounding like he’d rather drown himself in the harbor than listen to us talk about weather models for another second, “a storm is coming and if we hope to maximize engagement for both of our stations, we need to coordinate our efforts now.”

“Coordinate? Why would we coordinate?” I ask. I turn halfway toward Maggie. “Do you see this impacting the radio station’s weather updates?”

“This will be all the region is talking about, Jackson,” Maggie says. “It’s going to be bigger than the weather update. We hope to dedicate a whole segment to it for the duration of the storm.”

“Oh, that’s fine.” I try to catch Delilah’s eye. “Feel free to double broadcast, or whatever it is you intend to do. No hard feelings from me.”

She blinks at me, the corners of her mouth turned down. “Even though I use an inferior model?” she snipes.

I crack a smile. I like her rattled. “Even then.”

“We had something else in mind, actually,” Maggie hedges. I stare and wait. This entire meeting is twenty questions, apparently. I wish everyone would stop talking in riddles and just explain what the hell is going on.

Maggie must be able to sense my growing frustration because she straightens her shoulders. Fixes me with a severe, unrelenting look.

“The two of you are going to cover the storm with joint broadcasts for the duration of the snowfall. We’re sending you to Garrett County, Jackson. You’re going to cover the storm live, right where it’s supposed to hit the hardest.” She gestures across the table at Delilah. “And you’re going to do it together.”

DELILAH STEWART: Now, if you look way out west, you can see the whispers of a winter storm beginning to form. The westernmost part of Maryland, Garrett County, will likely be hit the hardest as it’s completely within the shelter of the Appalachians. But if everything comes together over the next couple of days and the storm picks up power in the mountains, the effects could be felt all the way in Baltimore. Stay tuned.

CHAPTER 4

JACKSON

Once when Penelope was six, she decided to take a vow of silence until I bought her the Polly Pocket Groom and Glam Poodle Compact she wanted. Unfortunately for her, I’ve always enjoyed silence. She caved before I did and had to settle for a secondhand barrel of Legos instead.

I’ve been channeling that same energy since I left the YBAL News studio two days ago. I didn’t agree to a partnership with Delilah and Delilah didn’t agree to a partnership with me. Maggie has been trying to get me to commit, but I feel fundamentally unable to comment on the situation.

“Hey, buddy.” Aiden Valentine, host of the late-night romance hotline and my supposed best friend, edges his way into my office. “I brought you some cookies.”

I grunt in acknowledgment of his presence, not looking up from the weather model on my screen. I’ve been running dual projections every day with the European model and the Global Forecast System model. The differences aren’t huge, but they’re there. And one thing is glaringly obvious.

Delilah was right about the European model. It is more accurate for this type of storm prediction. I dismissed her because I thought I knew better, but—

Delilah was right.

I minimize the forecast screen. “Did Maggie send you?”

“Yep.”

“Because she wants an answer about the broadcast?”

“Correct.”

“Great.” I click around some more, trying to pretend I’m doing something productive. “I still don’t have an answer for her. You can leave now.”

“Don’t be like that.” Aiden holds out his peace offering and shakes it. “Have a cookie, at least. I brought you your favorite.”

I eye them speculatively, then turn back to my computer screen.