“We worked hard to get you a spot at that luncheon. The producers of the new action filmDie Hardwere there. Which, by the way, John McTiernan, the director, just called. He’s going with Bruce Willis.”
“The guy fromMoonlighting? He can’t be serious.”
“Matt, you work like a dog on set. No one can challenge you there, but every now and then your personal life turns into a freak show. I don’t get it.”
“Cosmo, you can’t throw a rock in LA and not hit a freak show. And what’s wrong with a guy blowing off steam?” He glanced around his trashed place. “Or helping out a few down-and-outers?”
“If you wanted to help those less fortunate, start with yourself. Look, Cindy doesn’t want you in her movie. The screenplay was written for her. She’s the star. She has the producer’s ear and probably his heart. So she gets her way. Besides leaving her to fend for herself, you also told her she needed to work on her craft or you’d upstage her. You also insulted the director, saying he didn’t know his head from—”
“I get it, Cos.” When would he learn? Alcohol lured every thought from his head and through his lips. “I’ll apologize.” He’d gotten good at apologies. Except for the one that mattered most. “And for the record, Roger Woods is a brilliant director.”
In twelve years, he’d done twenty films, half of them rom-coms, several with Roger, and they’d all been huge successes. Except forthe one about the alien monsters, but it was early in his career, so Matt didn’t count it.
“I’ll pass that along. Just so you know, I’m on your side, Matt,” Cosmo said. “But you have to figure out why you do this. Maybe filming and promotingFlight Decktook it out of you. Why don’t you take some time off? Go to Club Med or Greece or Australia.”
“I think the Starlight is in trouble.”
“Actually, I’m going home. See what’s happening in Sea Blue Beach.”
“Excellent idea. You can disappear from the news for a while. Make people miss you.”
“Thanks, Cosmo. I mean it. Sorry for all the trouble. If you need me, I’ll be at my dad’s.”
Matt took ten minutes to pack and call Golda to tell her he was going out of town. “I’ll leave you a check on the kitchen counter. Close the place up when you’re done. I don’t want anyone crashing here while I’m away.”
Then he threw his bag in the Porsche and headed east through the evening shadows toward the Starlight.
5
TUESDAY
1987
The weight of carrying the Starlight was almost too much for her old shoulders. At eighty-seven, she needed to slow down a bit. Years of physical labor were taking a toll. She had help from Spike Chambers, who was on his third career after sacking groceries at Biggs, then joining the army. He took over the rink’s concession services years ago. Called it Spike’s Concession at the Starlight.
He didn’t have to help with the rink, but she’d never known a soul more kind than Spike.
She had her youngest, Dupree, who wasn’t so young anymore, who would help if she asked. But he owned a construction company, which kept him hopping. And to be honest, Dup’s love for the Starlight was chilly at best. She suspected he secretly agreed with the town council’s plan. She was too scared to ask.
But now that Matty was here, a bit of her burden lifted.
“Start from the beginning,” he said, munching on the hot dog Spike handed him, along with a tall soda. He’d arrived at Dup’s last night in his fancy car. After sleeping in, he came to the rink.
“Harry and the town council want to tear down the Starlight,” Spike said. “Eminent domain, which I never heard of until theGazettewrote up a big piece on it.”
Just the idea of tearing down her precious Starlight gave Tuesday’s old heart palpitations.
“What are they going to do with the land?” Matt said.
No sooner had he spoken than Mayor Harry Smith himself strolled in for his pre-lunch snack from Spike’s Concession—popcorn and a Coke.
“Harry, just in time,” Tuesday said. “My movie-star grandson has some questions.”
“Matt, good to see you.” Harry extended his hand.
Matt hesitated before he shook it. “What’s this about the Starlight?”
Harry popped some fat kernels in his mouth. “Matt, we’re near the end of the twentieth century, staring down the barrel of a brand-new millennium, and it’s time to bring Sea Blue Beach into the modern era.”
