“Sure. She. I mean she made her contract contingent on me signing?”

“She wants to work with you. She said she believes it is a good combination and we do too.”

“I will be there. Can I talk to her?”

“Sure.” She handed the phone to Karen.

“Hi Patti. Welcome aboard. I am so glad they picked you. I didn’t know when we went east that you were in this business.”

“I do lots of things. But they said you wanted me, that you made it contingent on my signing. Why me?”

“Because you are a lot smarter than me. I believe you can fill in the holes I have. I think we can work together and we can do a much better show together. In addition you look great. Older and younger women will relate to you and me better together. And I think I need the moral support you give just being there.”

“You know something? In Chicago I almost asked to stay. If you hadn’t told me that you needed to try that alone I would have. On the way back I thought several times, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to work with her?’ I never in my wildest dreams expected to be able to.”

“Thanks for not staying. I wanted you to but I knew I had to do that alone. Got to go. See you Monday.”

“Thanks for the confidence.”

“Bye.”

The show that had fluctuated between number three and five for three anchors moved to the number one slot in four weeks and only relinquished that spot three weeks in the following year. They picked up a couple of out of town stations every month except the first one. Both Patti and Karen were offered extensions of a year and signed but only after checking if the other was going to sign.

Karen: Chapter One – The Attack

Karen Chapter 7: Rebuilding Her Career

Karen Chapter 9: Her Life Deteriorates