When he’d gone, she tried to read the article, but she kept reliving that split-second kiss, the warmth of his lips radiating on her skin.
“Are you two a thing?” Nora returned to the sound booth.
“We’re just friends. You didn’t have to pretend Spike needed you.”
“I felt like a third wheel.”
“You weren’t.” Harlow slipped from her stool. “I’m going to open up.”
Afterward, she perched at the ticket desk, skimming the last of the article.
Sea Blue Beach’s founder, Prince Rein Titus Alexander Blue of Lauchtenland, a royal sovereign nation, wasborn in 1857. After his wife and son died duringchildbirth, the prince set sail around the world. The 1882storm off the coast of Cuba sent his yacht into the Gulf, where he lost his crew. He, along withbroken pieces of his ship, washed ashore. Prince Blue dieda hero on the Somme in 1918.
He lost his wife and child. Founded this great town. Died on the Somme. A hero. And Harry Smith wanted to demolish his legacy. A man like the prince deserved to be remembered. Honored. In that moment, Harlow felt as if her journey and the prince’s, no matter how improbable, landed both of them on these shores for a reason.
One by one, skaters trickled in. Friday afternoon was a fairly busy session, and Tuesday warned her it would be even more so during the summer. Around one thirty, a group of retirees from the Nickle High class reunion of 1920 and 1921 ventured into the Starlight. Tuesday came out from her office and greeted them like family, which Harlow was beginning to understand as the heart of the Starlight.
“I haven’t seen a couple of them in years,” Tuesday said, looking very young in her tan slacks and pale blue blouse, a black bow clipped in her silver hair. “Harriet will be disappointed she missed it. I told her not to move to Melbourne Beach.”
“Who’s Harriet again?” Harlow smiled at the young couple entering, who looked like they needed a break from the sun.
“I forget you’ve not lived here your whole life. Morris and Harriet Nickle used to own your place. Matt may have told you about them. Harriet was my best friend, and her son, Abel, was best friend to my boys. Her grandson Booker was Matt’s best friend. For a while, anyway.” Tuesday’s light faded. “They’ve not talked in years. Sad shame, really.”
“His sister Trinity was my cashier at Biggs. She gave Matt a cool greeting.”
“I’m not surprised.” Tuesday pointed the sunburned couple to the skate room, then picked up theGazette. “I’ve not seen this yet. Matt said it favors eminent domain.”
“I liked the last paragraph about the town founder. Seems like a fairy tale to think Sea Blue Beach was founded by a real prince.”
“I knew him my whole life, but when my mamaw left me behind, he was my savior. Gave me a job and place to live.” Her voice fadedas she remembered. “He left a few months later for the war, and all these years later, I still miss him.”
“So we have to save his Starlight,” Harlow said.
“I knew you’d catch the vision.” Tuesday gave her a knowing smile. “Yet in the end, the prince always said, the life of the rink belonged to Immanuel.”
“The man on the wall?”
“He’s more than a man, Harlow,” Tuesday said. “He’s God with us.”
17
MATT
Small southern towns moved slow. He understood that, but for Tyler to put him off again was too much.
“You said the flyers were done,” Matt said.
“No, I said I was doing them, but then a big order came in for Harry’s business and—”
“Tyler, you see what he’s doing.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Stonewalling us.”
Matt pulled out his credit card. “I’m paying for his order and adding extra to have ours done today. Come on, Ty, all you need is a photo of the rink and some text. ‘Save the Starlight. Sign the petitions at the courthouse and post office.’”
Matt had checked both petition locations on his way to Copycat. So far, they had four signatures. Really three. Dominic Moreno signed in both places. And he felt sure Jeremy Chambers, a Nickle High basketball star, was not old enough to vote. So two. They had two signatures.
Come on, Sea Blue Beach.Let’s save the Starlight.
