She laughed softly. “He lived by his own rules, didn’t he?”
“The ring will speak to you every day.”
The beautiful,largediamond surrounded by smaller ones still surprised her.
“What was he thinking? I’ve never had anything so grand in my life.”
“That’s exactly what he was thinking, Ma.” Dupree covered her hand. “All my life, I saw how much Pa loved you, despite his reckless career. He’d want you to wear it. He kept his promise. Now, since I’m about to choke up, I’ll go to see if Spike needs help cleaning the grease traps. Then we’re going home. How about a bite of breakfast at the Blue Plate on the way?”
37
HARLOW
MANHATTAN
OCTOBER 1987
About a month ago, she’d started thinking of herself as whole. Not the broken, rejected girl who dulled her pain with food.
She was loved. By the adorable Matt Knight, who proposed again, this time with his granny’s ring. But she was also loved by Immanuel. A fact she realized more every day.
“So you saved the Starlight and now are opening a cookie store in Sea Blue Beach.” Mom waited with her outside Charlotte Winthrop’s office. “Have you and Matt set a date? Did you go through the magazines I sent you?”
“Yes, and we’ve picked a date at the end of December.” Matt was in LA, doing studio work for the rom-com and prepping for the spy-thriller, which began shooting in February.
“Seems rather rushed.”
“When you know, you know.” Harlow squeezed Mom’s hand. “I know I’m a disappointment to you.”
“Harlow.” Mom finally glanced her way. “You haveneverbeen a disappointment. And you may think you weren’t a wanted child, but you were. Very much. Your dad and I have been talking quite a bit lately, saying things that needed to be said. And we’re planning a vacation to Europe.”
“I knew you had it in you.”
In September, Dad spent a lot of time in Sea Blue Beach, helping Harlow purchase the retail space for her Hayes Cookie Shop. He hired Knight Construction to finish the build-out. In the evenings, father and daughter talked business and Immanuel.
“What do you think they’re doing in there?” Mom adjusted her position to peek through the glass of Charlotte Winthrop’s office.
“They’ll come for us when they’re ready.”
“I can’t believe they are keeping you—of all people—waiting. Like some intern applying for a job.”
Charlotte’s door opened, and she apologized for the delay. “We had an issue with our Port Fressa office in Lauchtenland. Please, come in. Harlow, at last. How lovely you look.”
Charlotte led them to the position of honor and introduced her team. Jinx, of course, then Michele Brown, the CEO, and Emmitt, VP of Marketing and Sales, and on around the table. There were eight in all, looking very serious and more like Xander’s crowd than Harlow’s.
“I’ll cut to the chase,” Michele said. “We’d like you to lose twenty pounds, Harlow.” She held up her hands. “Yes, you look fantastic. We know you’ve lost a good deal of weight already, and we are sympathetic, but I don’t have to tell you how this business works. If it was just about advertising, there’d be no problem. We can airbrush you however we like. But it’s the commercials and live events. It’s our reputation in the fashion world.”
“I’m happy with you as you are, Harlow,” Charlotte said. “ButI must also work with my team. We’ve built a strong brand, so if they feel we need a thinner you, then we have to ask.”
“We agree.” Mom piped up as if Harlow were seventeen again. “Harlow can easily—”
“Thank you for considering me as your brand face, Charlotte.”Sit down, Mom.“But I’m not losing another twenty. I’m not losing another ten. I’m happy with where I am now. I lost weight for me, not CCW.” She reached for her handbag. “It was lovely to meet all of you. I will always be a CCW girl.” Harlow walked around the table, shaking everyone’s hand. “Jinx, let’s talk soon.”
She’d find another way to end her career on a high note. Matt had mentioned Cosmo “wanted a word.” Maybe he could find her a movie role.
“Excuse me?” Jinx said. “You’re just walking out? No discussion?”
“You made your position clear, and I’ve made mine. What’s to discuss? Not to brag, but I think I look pretty freaking fantastic right now. If I lose another ten, never mind twenty, I’ll be on the edge of skin and bones. I hate that look.”
