Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Jake cleared his throat and got comfortable in his seat; he leaned back and folded his arms over his chest.
“I did four tours in Afghanistan,” he said. “I served alongside some of the best men and women I’ve ever met. A few of them are no longer with us today.”
I took another breath and shifted my gaze to the camera. “I come from a long line of firefighters and police officers in New York. My dad and youngest uncle were in the North Tower when it collapsed on 9/11. We lost my mom that day too.”
Jake waited a beat before he spoke again. “Throughout history, we have shared tales of guts and glory. Of famous battles and wars.”
“Currahee is about what happens when a soldier or first responder comes home,” I continued. “After the battles, after the calls of mayday.”
“After the stories packed with action and adrenaline end, a new one begins, where the first responder all too often stands on their own,” Jake said.
We took a couple seconds before I nodded for him to continue. We didn’t know exactly what would make it in the final cut of the intro, but we did know this next part was going to be shared in promo footage.
“We’ve visited VA clinics, hospitals, police stations, firehouses, military installations, and rehab centers,” Jake said.
“We’ve been invited into the homes of family members who no longer have their first-responder loved ones around,” I added. Yeah, I was definitely gonna do that one again later. I didn’t like the wording. “We’ve spoken to wives, fathers, siblings, and grandparents who’ve lost a family member to opioid addiction and suicide.”
“These are the wars they fight alone,” Jake finished.
We glanced at each other and nodded. A few more takes, and then we’d have our intro in the bag.
After the following weekend, I was glad to return to work on Monday morning. Evidently, I was gonna miss the first ultrasound because Sandra had gotten an earlier appointment for right when I was on air with Off Topic, and she just couldn’t wait two extra days all of a sudden.
I was disappointed, but I was done fighting about it. Her mom was gonna take her instead.
By the sound of things, someone else was disappointed too. Before I even opened the door, I could hear Sam crying.
I gathered the breakfast I’d brought in one hand and headed inside. The house should be fairly empty; I hadn’t seen Seth’s car outside, and it was usually just Jake and me in the house during Off Topic. Not counting Haley, who came and went at all hours.
What a sight. Sam sat on the floor where the living room met the hallway and the kitchen, and she was screaming at the top of her lungs. No clothes, just a diaper.
“Ucka Woe,” she wailed.
“Hey, hey, hey, what’s wrong, sweetheart?” I was almost there when Jake appeared from the kitchen. “Morning.”
“Hey.” He looked tired. “Haley’s on her way. Did you get pancakes?”
“Of course I did.” If Sam wanted pancakes, she was getting pancakes.
“Thank fuck.” He picked up his girl from the floor and smooched her tearstained cheek. “Did you hear that, baby girl? Uncle Roe got pancakes.”
She nodded and hiccupped around a sob. That poor little thing. Not only had she contracted that flu last week, but she’d gotten an ear infection too, and it was just now starting to pass.
We brought our party to the kitchen, where I spotted Colin pouring milk over his cereal. He was already wearing his backpack. The boy loved kindergarten.
“Morning, buddy.” I ruffled his hair and kissed the top of his head. “No flu for you, I take it?”
“No, Daddy says I’m healthy as a horse.” He flashed a toothy grin. “And I eat like one also!”
I grinned back and sat down next to him at the island. We had at least twenty minutes before we had to haul ass to the studio, so I wouldn’t mind breakfast with the kids.
Jake got Sam to calm down some when he sat her on his lap and brought out the pancakes I’d brought. Just the way she liked them—the thin pancakes with extra strawberry jam.
I unpacked the rest. Coffee, bagels, breakfast taquitos, and scrambled eggs that I reheated in the microwave.
“Can I have a taquito, please?” Colin asked.
“Absolutely.” I slid the container closer to him and grabbed a bagel for myself.
Casper was missing. Whenever Jake brought his kids to work, even if it was just for the first half hour before Haley whisked them off, I wanted my son here too. The meals we shared continued to be the highlight of my day. My condor family.
Jake yawned and was more interested in coffee than anything else.
“Rough weekend?” I asked.
I hated that I had to. Not talking to him for a whole weekend felt so wrong.