“Why not?”
“Why not what?”
“Why isn’t it for you?”
“Because I’m not a talk show host, Jojo.”
“You’re an entertainer.” She points out. “Tell me about the offer.”
Sighing heavily, I tell her about Bex, the storyboard, and the program. “The Love Line with Liam. Cheesy, right?”
“Not cheesy, and I think she’s right. People will flood your phone line because they get to talk to you. It’s like how we used to listen to Delilah and dance to the slow songs outside your truck. Katelyn and I always tried to call-in there, to tell her about the boys we were in love with. People are going to do the same thing if you’re on the line.”
My wife sounds like Bex. They’re both saying the same thing, yet I don’t believe it. I can see myself sitting in the studio, waiting for the phone to ring. Everything would be scripted and I’d have to read from the page to fill the air.
“I’m a musician. Not a DJ or radio show host. I wouldn’t know what to talk about.”
“You’re an entertainer.” She reminds me. “And it sounds like if people are asking you questions, you’ll have plenty to talk about.” She steeples her fingers, much like I do when I’m contemplating the impossible. It’s nice to see I’ve either rubbed off on her or she’s mocking me. “Are you going on tour soon?”
“No.”
“When’s your next album coming out?”
I think for a minute. We don’t have anything planned. I shrug.
Josie rests her elbows on her desk. “Do you have songs written and ready to start laying tracks?”
I shake my head.
“So, someone comes along and gives you an opportunity to do something and because it’s not standing in front of thousands of people, you’re not interested?”
“There are a lot of things I could do to fill my time.”
She leans back again. “Like what? Fix the cooler? Reorganize the garage, again? Bartend? Play gigs at Ralph’s?”
I run my hands down the front of my jeans.
“Just because I don’t have a plan for a tour or new music doesn’t mean I need a radio show.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
She nods. “I’m not going to convince you to do something while you’re at home. I’m sure there are things you can do to occupy your time until you’re bored and schedule a tour.”
“I don’t schedule a tour when I’m bored.”
She eyes me. “So, you’re happy being home?”
I nod. “I’m the happiest when I’m with you. If you were on tour with me, everything would be perfect. But I’m home, you’re here. The kids are here. I’m happy.”
Josie tilts her head. “So why would you say no to the thing that keeps you grounded here, at home? Why are you saying no, without trying it?”
“Because what I do matters. The band matters. Thirty years isn’t something you walk away from because a woman flies down from New York and tells you you’d be good at talking.”
“Nobody said walk away.”
“That’s what it is. That’s what it would look like.”
