“It would have been better if you’d left San Francisco,” Sam said through gritted teeth.
“For who?”
One of the women in a neighboring building called out to Cole, inviting him to come into a hotel that looked like it might double as a brothel.
“I see you’re still living at Sadie’s,” Sam said.
“I had to move somewhere after you kicked me out of Bess’s Place.”
“I would have done more if I could.”
Cole let out an unimpressed snort and pushed past Sam to join the woman, running his leering gaze over me before he disappeared into the brothel.
10
September 4, 1929
Hollywood, California
It was the biggest filming day we’d had in years. Over fifty extras had been brought in to film the crowd scenes needed throughout the movie. From the opening in Concord at Christmastime, to the street scene when Jo leaves a publishing house with her first check, to the wedding when Meg marries Mr. Brooke, there were several scenes that needed to be shot, and we would be at the studio until late that night.
Papa was in his element as he directed. Some scenes would be shot on our back lot, where buildings and streets for different movies had been created over the years. Everything from Middle Eastern markets to Wild West frontier towns could be found there.
“Spencer!” Lydia called during one of the breaks.
I glanced up from where I was sitting on my canvas folding chair, memorizing my lines. Spencer was late. Papa had been forced to rearrange his schedule to accommodate Spencer’s absence, and though Papa would be happy that Spencer had finally arrived, there would probably be tension between them.
Lydia and Annette rushed to Spencer’s side, both talking at the same time. They were so far away, and the space was so full ofpeople, I couldn’t hear them. Spencer was laughing and shaking his head at Lydia.
“Are things getting serious between you?” Vicky asked from her spot next to me. She was watching as I studied him, and I could see that my response was important to her.
“I wouldn’t say it’s getting serious. We’re just having fun.” It was the truth. Spencer was fun to be around. Sometimes he exasperated me, and he could come across as arrogant, but I’d learned that he was usually joking, and he liked when I teased him right back.
For some reason, Vicky’s question made me think about Sam, too. I’d been working at Bess’s Place for the past few days, and though Sam was different, I was enjoying my time with him, as well. He didn’t tease in the same sense that Spencer did, but I’d had fun learning how to cook with him, and when he did tease me, it was about funny things I said or did—and not to get a reaction out of me.
I looked forward to waking up each morning because Sam and I had a few moments together as he lit the cookstove before he fetched the water. Then we would begin breakfast and talk about whatever came to mind. I didn’t know anything about his life before he arrived in California because I didn’t ask. But I had a feeling that if I did, he would tell me. Sam wasn’t one to hide information about himself. I was almost afraid of learning the truth and thinking differently about him. It was easier to watch the way he treated people to understand his character instead of learning about the horrible things he’d done before I’d met him.
“I’m happy to hear it’s not serious,” Vicky said, touching her brown wig, which was styled in an updo.
Her comment tore my thoughts away from Sam and returned my attention to Spencer. Vicky was attracted to him, and the last thing I wanted was another rivalry between us. For the time being, Spencer was contractually obligated to be in a relationship with me. It would only cause trouble if she tried to pursue him.
“It doesn’t mean it couldn’t become serious,” I added, trying to sound nonchalant.
Vicky didn’t respond but turned her gaze on Spencer and watched as he came closer.
People milled around the soundstage, waiting for the next scene. They were dressed in period costumes, all of which had been rented or borrowed or repurposed by the costume department at a huge expense. There were elderly adults, children, and every age group in between. Several of them noticed Spencer’s arrival, and though he didn’t acknowledge their attention, his shoulders grew stiff.
“You’re finally here,” Vicky said as she got off her chair to meet him. “It’s nice to see you again, Spencer.”
He smiled at Vicky, but then his gaze slipped over her shoulder and landed on me.
There was a softening to his eyes as he regarded me. It didn’t feel forced or obligatory, but natural and genuine, making me wonder if he really liked me.
I returned his smile as my cheeks warmed. I wasn’t sure if his attention made me feel good because everyone else was looking at him and he was looking at me—or if I enjoyed it because I was starting to like Spencer.
The way my heart melted when I saw him made me think it was the latter.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Vicky said to Spencer as she stepped to the left, blocking his view of me, “do you have any tips for me? I’m wondering if I’m underacting Meg’s character. It’s so hard since this is the first time I’ve had dialogue, and I feel like I need to balance my acting with my speech. Do you feel this way? This isn’t your first talkie, is it? You’ve done two others for MGM, if I remember correctly.”
