Our secret is still out there. We believe there’s one person who knows the truth. But we’ve not seen him in a long, long time.
TUESDAY
She listened to Matt on the Rollo on the Radio show in the Starlight’s sound booth with Nora and Harlow. He was charming and entertaining until he told behind-the-scenes stories about the filming ofFlight Deck, including how he fell overboard into a rather turbulent sea.
Her joy depleted as she pressed her hand over her thudding heart. She’d not lose another of her loves to war. Even a fake one.
Still, she swelled with hope when he talked about the Starlight. The townsfolk would get off their duffs and sign the petition now.
“What’s next for you, Matt?” Rollo said. “After you save our Starlight?”
“Got an invite to join my buddy David Letterman onLate Night. Then I’m filming a rom-com with Cindy Canon this summer. Should be fun.”
“Is it true Harlow Hayes lives in Sea Blue Beach these days? I’ve been stuck in this dark studio far too long.”
“She is ... has a home here. She’s getting her life together after—” Matt stopped abruptly.
Tuesday took Harlow’s hand. She seemed rather somber today.
Rollo smoothed over the dead air. “So, Sea Blue Beachers, get out, sign the petition to stop the ugly high-rises from obstructingour cerulean shores. Save the Starlight.” Bumper music introed a commercial for First Federal Bank.
“Matt’s going on Letterman?” Nora said. “How cool. I love him. Look at me, little Nora Kittle, surrounded by celebrities and friends of celebrities.”
“Matt was swell, wasn’t he?” Tuesday said, smiling at Harlow and Nora. “I think we’ve got the momentum. You know I’ve been getting calls from out-of-town folks wondering what the blazes is going on.”
Harriet Nickle rang from Melbourne Beach to give her an earful about Harry Smith. Tuesday listened for a good twenty minutes before Harriet took a breath and said,“I’mjust preaching to the choir, aren’t I?”
Matt informed her there were a bunch of locals shocked to hear the news. Even more to learn such a thing as eminent domain existed in the United States of America.
Paul Holland was all fired up the other day, talking to Spike.“Didn’t we fight a war to keepthe government from taking our property? Does President Reagan know about this?”All politics aside, it seemed a shame that a handful of elected officials could make such a monumental decision.
Ever optimistic, Tuesday imagined they’d have the number of signatures required by now, but Matt informed her yesterday they only had fifty-three.
“I should get to work.” Harlow slipped her hand from Tuesday’s. “I didn’t finish washing the front window yesterday.”
“Harlow, is everything all right?” Tuesday said. “Is it about what Matt said on the radio? He does get to talking sometimes, forgets where he is, who he’s talking to, and who’s listening.”
“No, no, he’s fine. I’m fine.”
“Before you wash windows, I was wondering if you could run the deposit to the bank for me this morning.” Tuesday pressed her hand to her lower back. “My lumbago is acting up.”
In the office, she unlocked the safe and took out the blue bankbag. “You know you can tell me if something’s bothering you, Harlow. Matt mentioned your former fiancé stopped by for a visit. And that business on the radio, he’s just chatting. When he was a boy, if Dup and I suspected him of any shenanigans, all we had to do was buy him an ice cream and sit with him on the beach. He’d tell on himself and half the kids in town.”
Harlow reached for the bank bag. “Matt’s been a good friend. And yes, my ex showed up. Rather took me by surprise. But I showed him. Ate myself into a stupor. Ask Matt, he saw the aftermath.”
“Harlow,” Tuesday said, “can I be bold with you? Go easy on yourself. You’re healing. You’ll achieve what you’re after.”
She sighed and fidgeted with the bag’s zipper. “Xander says he still loves me, wants me back. That he made a mistake going back to Davina.” She smiled softly. “I feel like an episode ofAll My Children.”
“Chalk that one up for a lesson learned. Next time you feel like eating yourself into a stupor, come to the Starlight and skate. Always worked for me.”
“Maybe.” She slumped forward. “I don’t know why Harlow Hayes hurts herself to get back at Xander Cole. Or if I’m honest, my mother—but let’s not go there.”
“You’ve given them too much power. No other human should have such control. You’ve got to love yourself, Harlow.”
“I’m not sure I know how, Tuesday. My whole life has been about making others happy.”
“Has Matt told you my story? I didn’t have it easy growing up as an unwanted baby. But the Starlight gave me purpose. It became my vocation, my way to help my fellow man.”
