Free Plain Jane by Fern Michaels Page B

couldn’t say more than two words without saying “uh.” But when it came to weather, the brothers were always on the money. Either you loved them or you hated them as an early-morning start to the day.
    Trixie and Fred hated them. In Jane’s opinion, KSIG was a great radio station, the best for Acadia Parish. The moment the “uh” brothers rattled off the current weather conditions, she switched to KATC for local news. As always, she felt disloyal because she didn’t tune into her own station, KRFG, but she shrugged off the feeling. Years of habit were hard to break.
    Jane continued down the boulevard to North Adams, crossed over the railroad tracks, and continued down South Adams until she came to the small building that housed the KRFG station. She parked, attached Olive’s leash, and headed for what she called her lair, her briefcase and purse slung over her shoulder.
    “Five minutes, Jane!” Tom Bradley shouted from the control room. “Move it!”
    Jane adjusted the swivel chair, then slipped on her earphones, all the while keeping her eyes glued to Tom Bradley behind the glass in front of her. The moment his thumb shot upward, Jane knew she was on.
    “Good morning. I’m Dr. Jane Lewis and this is Talk to Me ,” she said cheerfully. “I’ll be live on the air for the next hour to take your calls. If you’ve got a problem you can’t resolve, pick up your phone and talk to me. I’m hear to listen and to advise you. I have a feeling it’s going to be one of those days. I’ve got my first caller on the line. This is Dr. Jane Lewis. How can I help you this morning?”
    “First, I want to say that I really enjoy your show,” the caller said.
    “Thank you. Whom am I talking to? First name only.”
    “Dewey.”
    “Okay, Dewey. Talk to me.”
    “I need you to tell me who is right. My wife says she’s with the kids all week long while I work. She thinks I should watch them on the weekend while she goes out to do whatever she wants to do. I say I worked all week long, too, so I should have at least one day to myself. What do you think?”
    Jane rolled her eyes as she stared across at Tom Bradley. “What I think is you’re both right. You each need a day here and there that’s just for you. But you also need to spend some time together without the kids. So compromise and make a plan. You take a day once or twice a month to do what you want to do, and she can do the same. Hire a sitter occasionally and go out somewhere together, even if it’s only for a ride. Rides are a great way to enjoy each other’s company. How does that sound?”
    “There’s no money to hire a sitter.”
    “Okay, how about trading baby-sitting time with some friends of yours. Maybe they’d like to get away, too, or maybe you can trade for services. Where there’s a will there’s a way, Dewey. It’s doable if you’re willing to work at it.”
    “I’ll run it by her. You’re right, it does sound doable. Thanks.”
    “Okay, next caller. Stacy, talk to me. What’s bothering you on this rainy morning?”
    A small, tired voice came over the line. “Life. It’s not worth living anymore. I hate my job. I don’t have any friends. And my cat just died. I just want to go to sleep and never wake up.”
    Jane bolted upright in her chair. Her shoulders tensed. “Okay, Stacy, I’m here to listen to your problems and try to help you work them out. Let’s start with your cat. I’ve got my dog right here beside me, and I know how bad I would feel if anything happened to her. It’s perfectly natural to grieve over the loss of a beloved pet. It’s also healthy. People need to grieve to heal. I suggest you get another cat right away, not to replace the one you lost because nothing will do that but because you need another animal to love. The SPCA has so many animals that desperately need homes. Will you think about it?”
    “You don’t think I would be betraying her memory to get another cat right away?”
    “No. Not at