“So it was true love?”
She smiled softly. “Pretty much.”
Miss Beulah arrived with their salads. “A bird couldn’t live on this, but I suppose you know what you’re doing.”
Matt reached for the oil and vinegar after Harlow sparingly dressed her salad. “So what happened? All I heard was you mutually decided to go your separate ways.”
“According to Xander’s press agent.” She stabbed at her salad without taking a bite. “I’ve never told anyone the whole story. Not Mom or Jinx or my therapist.”
“You don’t have to tell me, Harlow.”
“It’s just so humiliating and painful. How could someone I loved, who said he loved me, treat me the way he did?”
“Matt, Matt, Matt.” Dale Cranston’s pear-shaped shadow fell over the table. “How long are you in town?”
“We’re in the middle of a conversation here, Dale.” Matt sat back, guarded.
“My apologies.” Dale shifted the toothpick in his mouth from one side to the other. “You’re not going to win on this eminent domain thing.”
“And here I was expecting to see your John Hancock on the petition for a vote.”
Dale removed the toothpick as he laughed. “Hollywood made a dreamer out of you. I’ll tell you what, though, the prince knew what he was doing when he built the rink on the rock. That’s why we’re reclaiming the land. With the rink out of the way, we can move forward, embrace progress, do what needs to be done. Can’t live in the past, Matty.”
Dale had always been an arrogant blowhard. Even when Matt worked for him at the theater, he’d kept a running dialogue against Granny and the Starlight. Of course, Matt reported back to her. The only reason he worked there was because Granny made him.
“I made the mistake withyour pa and uncle of leaning on them too much for the Starlight. You go work for someone else. It’ll be good for you. Besides, I prefer the titleof Granny, not boss.”
“We’re not trying to live in the past,” Matt said. “We’re all for progress. Just not for destroying the best part of this town.”
“You’re David, and we’re Goliath,” Dale said. “Can’t fight city hall, you know.”
“Dale, Goliath lost.”
“Whatever. Matt, be realistic. Tuesday is too old and decrepitto run the rink. Are you going to give up your career for the Starlight?” He held out his hand to Harlow. “Dale Cranston, Matt’s old boss at the Midnight movie theater. This boy ate his weight in popcorn, but I like to think the Midnight is the reason he fell in love with the movies.”
Harlow offered her hand, which Cranston held too long.
“Have we met?” He stepped back to glance at Harlow up and down. “I’ve seen you before. Where have I seen you?”
“Dale, this is Harlow Hayes. She played Bryn inTalk to Me Sweetly. Which you just showed at the Midnight.”
“By golly, I heard you blimped up, but dang, girl.” Dale scrunched up his face. “Is this why that millionaire dumped you?” He puffed out his cheeks and held his arms wide to indicate an expanded girth. “You were gorgeous in the movie, but wow—” He swatted Matt on the arm with the back of his hand. “Guess she’s pretty enough for a tumble or two, am I right?”
Son of a—
Matt threw the first punch as he slid from the booth, then finished Dale with an uppercut, and cross. The rube movie theater owner and city councilman tumbled backward into a waitress loaded down with dirty dishes. Food and white porcelain went everywhere as the two of them Geronimoed into the adjacent table. Audra and the staff spilled out of the kitchen, demanding to know what was going on.
Matt apologized, dropped a wad of cash on the table, and grabbed Harlow’s hand. “Let’s go.”
15
TUESDAY
MARCH 1937
“You serve a mean pot roast, Tuesday.” Doc shoved his plate forward and patted his belly. “I’d ask for your buttery potatoes with gravy as my last meal.”
“Don’t flatter her, Doc.” Leroy lit a cigarette and shot her a wink. The knife scar down the side of his cheek was new. Longer and deeper than the one Doc bore. More evidence of his dangerous games. “Tooz already knows she’s worth a million smackeroos.”
