“My Matty boy,” Tuesday said.
Harlow rose up to see him cutting through the crowded center aisle, speaking to folks, shaking hands.
“Matt, save your breath, there’s nothing you can do.” Harry waved the gavel over his head. “We’ve done our due diligence and—”
“Not here to see you, Harry.” Matt exited the crowded center aisle, eyes on Harlow. “Granny, you okay? We’ll figure this out.”
“I’m fine, but you do what you got to do.” She tipped her head toward Harlow.
What’s going on?
Matt grabbed Harlow’s hand and spun her into his arms, his debonair expression like one from Hollywood’s Golden Age. His gaze lingered on her lips, and for a moment she watched the scene from those would-be rafters along with the rest of the room.
He said nothing. Then, “Can I kiss you?”
“Yes.” Here. Now. Please.
His warm, full lips touched hers as he wrapped her in his arms. She surrendered to the pure pleasure of it all—to every firing nerve and luscious tingle. Yet she felt more than pleasure. She felt love.
Cheers erupted to the beat of ol’ Harry’s gavel.
The kiss lingered until he rested his forehead against hers. He whispered something, but the cheering was so loud, she couldn’t make out a word. She just laughed and drew him back for a second round.
“This meeting is adjourned,” Harry said. “The petition failed. The Starlight will be demolished.” He brought his gavel down so hard the face flew off and hit Carny Albert on the head.
“Let’s get out of here.” Matt gripped Harlow’s hand and dashed down the center aisle, with Dupree helping Tuesday through the crowd as Spike hollered, “Gangway, folks, gangway.”
When they got to the double doors, Tuesday turned back to the crowded room. “Everyone who wants ... meet me at the Starlight.”
“Good job, Granny,” Matt said just before he pulled Harlow into his arms on the steps of city hall and kissed her again.
“Matt,” she said, “didn’t you hear? The petition failed.”
“Did you hearme?” Matt asked Harlow.
“With all the loud cheering? No.”
“I said I love you, Harlow Hayes. What do you think about that?”
TUESDAY
Sea Blue Beach without the Starlight. How would the world make sense? Despite the music and skaters still rounding the floor, the somber band of citizens gathered in concession foreshadowed the days ahead.
Yet seeing Matty and Harlow in love cheered her to no end. About time.
“Okay, citizens of Sea Blue Beach.” Audra’s voice needed no magnification. She could be heard into next week. “What are we going to do? We’re losing our Starlight. Don’t think you’re safe and this won’t impact you. With Harry having eminent domain power, any one of us could be next.”
“I don’t own a business, Audra,” someone said. “I work in Fort Walton.”
“Fine, Grady, but your old neighborhood could be at risk.” Audra wagged her finger at the lot standing about, arms folded. “It’s unconstitutional what Harry’s doing.”
“Federal law allows it.” This from another voice in the crowd.
“Well, it shouldn’t. Let’s start a second revolution.”
The crowd stirred, and a debate followed until Matty calmed everyone down. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if everyone had signed the petition.”
“We need to double-check the signatures, make sure Harry’s on the level.”
