FB - CA, Los Angeles - KDJA News (February 2022)

[Hollywood Heidi]

KDJA News Station

Located in Los Angeles, CA. Events taking place in February 2002.

[Kristi Lynne]

She stood in the empty breakroom, emptying another packet of sugar into her coffee cup and methodically stirring it.

“Stealing coffee while you still can?” a voice asked from the doorway.

She looked up to see a distinguished older gentleman. Allen Grayson, the vice-president of network marketing who occasionally dropped by their studio for visits. His excuse being that the coffee was better, but mainly he enjoyed watching the broadcasts from the booth. A suit who really should have been in front of the camera, was Gwen’s estimation. “Eh, it’s cheaper than Starbucks.”

He crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter. “I really wish you’d reconsider, Gwen.”

“Sorry, Grayson, I just can’t do this job anymore,” she answered sadly. “We walked these halls all the time. We discussed show line-ups at these tables. He taught me the trick to getting two Milky Way bars from that machine. Everywhere I look, it’s just…too many memories.”

“We all miss Tim. The show hasn’t been the same since he left, but we still need you. I know things have been difficult for you since he passed, and it’s probably futile to say that you’re the best CG operator we have—“

“I lost the baby,” she muttered, taking her coffee and walking away to sit at one of the tables.

“You what?”

“Tim’s baby. I lost it,” she repeated, meeting his eyes for only a moment before staring at the tabletop again.

“Gwen…” Grayson began, the picture of sympathy as he took a seat next to her. “I didn’t even know you were pregnant. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you’re not supposed to tell anyone till after 12 weeks,” she recited, bitterness creeping into her tone. “I lost it in week 7. Stress, if you can imagine that.” She forced a smile. She’d resolved not to tell anyone but Grayson was like a father to her. And he needed to know all the details of why she was leaving. He deserved that.

“And really, I must have been mad to even consider the possibility of raising a child on my own,” she laughed hollowly. “My maternal instincts are practically nonexistent. But that was my last connection. This part of him that I could hold on to, and now it’s gone. I don’t have anything left.”

“Did Tim know?” he asked hesitantly.

She shook her head. “No, no. 12 weeks,” she repeated. “He would have been so happy. We would have been so happy. But then he died,” she stated flatly. “Suddenly and violently, half a world away. My life ended that day. Now I have to go find a new one.”

“You know that I wish you all the best, Gwen. I’m here anytime you need me.”

“Thank you.”

“For what it’s worth, we did finally find a new executive producer. Interim guy was only supposed to be here a few months.”

“Who is he? Tim’s replacement?”

“Uh, Erik Mason,” he replied, handing her one of the man’s business cards. “He’s a good guy. One of those East Coast liberals you’re so fond of.”

She inspected the card. “Please. I could never work for a guy who spells Erik with a ‘k’. Honestly, who does that? Is he a Viking? Does he wear a helmet with horns?”

“No, but sometimes I wear a tiara,” another voice interrupted from the doorway. “It makes me feel pretty.”

Gwen and Grayson both looked up to see a sharply-dressed man with a prominent forehead and eyes that seem to be always searching.

“Ah, hello, Erik,” Grayson greeted, getting up from the table to shake the man’s hand.

“Who is this?” Erik asked, nodding to Gwen.

“This would be the outgoing graphics supervisor,” Grayson explained.

“I dunno, she seems kinda’ introverted to me.”

“He means outgoing as in departing, leaving, going out the door,” Gwen clarified, gathering her coffee and heading back to the control room.

“That’s a shame. I think we would have hit it off. What was your name again?” Erik asked.

She paused to address him. “I’m no longer an employee, Mr. Mason. Worry about learning the production team’s names, not mine. We’ve built a good show here; do I have your word that you won’t wreck it?” she demanded.

He was visibly amused by this petite brunette giving him an ultimatum, but she was clearly passionate about the show. “No, ma’am, I won’t wreck it,” he pledged.

“Good. May the ratings be with you.”

********************

Gwen sat down among the rows of chairs outside Gate 23 at Los Angeles International, thinking it was strange to be in an airport terminal when she was neither coming nor going on one of the planes. She was waiting. Waiting for her future to be determined by someone else. And all the events in the past that had led her to this exact point in time…well, she didn’t want to think about those just now.

She exhaled a lungful of air and idly watched the passersby. Two pilots in uniform were walking side by side down the concourse en route to their next flight. When she realized she’d made eye contact with the dark-haired one, she smiled politely and he returned her smile, touching his hand to his hat in a quick salute as he passed. She laughed slightly at the gentlemanly gesture and went back to staring at the floor.

A grey door emblazoned with the Oceanic logo opened and a tall blonde woman stuck her head out. “Gwendolyn Havers?

“Yes, that’s me,” she called.

“They’re ready for you now.”

“Right.” She quickly stood and gathered her things, following the woman into a conference room where an older woman already at the table reviewing paperwork. Gwen took a seat and waited to be addressed, trying to maintain good posture and a pleasant accommodating air despite the stern scrutiny.

“Well then, Miss Havers, what do you feel you can bring to Oceanic Airlines?” the woman finally asked, glancing up from her papers.