“Tell me.”
“That I wake up one day to find an electric stove and refrigerator right here in this kitchen.”
“Golly mo, Tooz, you dream of appliances?”
“I’m more practical these days. It’s 1932, and I cook on an ol’ potbelly and keep our food in an icebox.” He laughed and hugged her close. “But, Leroy Knight, hear me now, I don’t mind none of it if it means you hang your hat on that hook”—she pointed to the largest nail by the door—“every evening.”
“One day, I promise, Tooz. I’ll be home. We just got to get through this government mess. Ol’ FDR and his henchman Hoover has messed us up something fierce, but—Oh, wait, I got a surprise for you. How could I forget? It’s the reason I’m home. Shoot fire, your kisses got me all confused.”
“Oh hush, now what are you talking about?”
“When I proposed, I promised one day I’d buy you the biggest, brightest diamond to wear on your finger.”
“How could I forget? My warrior is also a big talker.” She didn’t want him to buy her a ring if it meant him running all over who-knows-where, but oh, wouldn’t it be lovely to have a symbol of belonging? A sensation she’d never had growing up. Until Mamaw left and Prince Blue took her in, gave her a room at the Starlight along with a job.
“I mean to keep that promise, Tuesday. But for now, I wondered if this would do.” Lee stepped onto the porch and took a rolled document from his worn travel bag and tossed it to the old, scarred table. “Read it.” He puffed up like he’d done something extraordinary.
Tuesday set her skates on the floor and reached for a parchment-like document. “It’s a deed ... to the Starlight.” She peered up at him. “Lee, what is this? I don’t understand.”
“I got you the Starlight, Tooz.”
“You ... youboughtthe Starlight?” She scanned the ornate deed with gilded edges and calligraphed inscriptions.
Prince Rein Titus Alexander Blue, of the House of Blue, toMiss Tuesday Morrow,on this day,the twelfth of June 1916AD.
The prince’s titled signature, in his lovely penmanship, stretched across the bottom of the parchment.
“It’s signed by the prince.”
“Yeah, ain’t that something? Anyway, I’d heard Hoboth decided to scratch his itch to see the world. You know running a skating rink weren’t his idea of a good time.” Leroy shrugged, leaving Tuesday to figure out the rest of her husband’s noble deed.
“Goodness, I figured he’d leave one day, but we were just talking last week about how Mrs. Elkins made me the most delicious silk cake for my birthday. He said, ‘How old are you now?’ I said thirty-two, and he got this smarmy expression and said he had something to do.” She read the parchment again. “Leroy Knight, you best not be joshing me. This doesn’t look like a county deed. And my married name isn’t on it.”
“Got me, Tooz. I handed him money and he handed me that-there deed. Maybe he forgot your married name.”
“The date is 1916.”
“Hoboth is missing a few, if you know what I mean.” Lee tapped the bottom of the document. “But it says whoever’s name is on this piece of paper is the pure and true owner of the Starlight. That’s good enough for me. But ask the boys at county records when you file the deed.”
“Where did you get the money? How much did it cost?”
“Listen, doll, when a man gives his wife a gift, he doesn’t tell her how much it cost. Do you like it? Are you happy?”
“Leroy Knight, you almost make me sorry I badgered you about never being home. This . . . this is the greatest thing anyone has ever done for me. I feel like. . . a princess. With her own little kingdom.”
“I promised you a diamond ring, but—” Leroy tugged her curves against him. “How about a little starlight for now?”
2
HARLOW
MARCH 1987
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY
About a month ago, she’d started referring to herself in the third person.Harlow Hayesshould dosomething abouther life.Harlow Hayesshould takea shower.Harlow Hayesshould geta haircut.Harlow Hayes, HarlowHayes, HarlowHayes.
That’s when she realized something had to change.
