Meet Me at the Starlight

Chapter 36

TUESDAY

There were two sessions on this Labor Day evening. Seven to eight-thirty. Nine to ten-thirty. By then, she’d be spent. Nothing left to do but grieve with all who came to mourn.

“Have you eaten?” Harlow peered into the office with a box from the Blue Plate. “Audra sent this over. I think it’s the turkey dinner. She said you loved her mashed potatoes and gravy.”

“She uses real potatoes.” Tuesday smiled and reached for the Styrofoam container. “It was good to see Matt talking to Booker. Warmed this old girl’s heart.” She sighed and stared toward the wall. “Is it wrong for me to be so exhausted and want to go home? I could sleep for a week.”

Harlow took the chair next to the desk. “It’s been an emotional summer and even more emotional weekend.” She cupped her hand over Tuesday’s. “It was good to see your friend Harriet and her sister Jubilee.”

“They want me to visit them in Melbourne Beach. Harriet suggested a trip to New York City. I always wanted to see a Broadway play. But . . .” She exhaled the last of her energy. “Maybe I am too old for living life.”

“Why not get some sleep before deciding your life is over? Which it’s not. If you want to see a Broadway play, I might be able to help. I know people.” She winked. “Matt knows people. We could treat the three of you to a tour of the city. Dine at the best restaurants, see a few shows from the good seats, get backstage passes.”

“Harriet said there’s a show called Dreamgirls about Motown and the Supremes. Could we see that one, Harlow?”

“Absolutely. We can hire a car to drive us around and play the tourist. Go shopping.”

“Dupree wants to take me to California.” She opened her dinner from Audra. “I think everyone’s trying to tell me there’s life after the Starlight.”

“Though it doesn’t make it any easier, does it?”

“There’s one thing I’m grateful for, Harlow,” Tuesday said, “and that’s you. You came here broken and discouraged, but look at you now.”

“Granny, where’s the deed to the rink?” Matt and Booker banged through the door like they were boys again. “Is it here or at home?” He started opening cupboards and cabinet, the filing drawers.

“What’s going on? Why do you want the deed?”

“Miss Tuesday,” Booker said in such an urgent breath, “the deed to the Starlight shows ownership.”

“We’ve been over this, Booker. While I’m the owner, the law gives Harry the right to take the land.”

“Yes, under the US Constitution. But not under Lauchtenland rule. The rink belongs to the Royal House of Blue. Not Sea Blue Beach.”

“Slow down, Booker.” She glanced from him to Matt. “Are you two friends again?”

“Turns out we were both to blame,” Matt said. “And I’ll regale you with that story after we save the Starlight. Granny, where’s the deed?”

“Miss Tuesday, if the rink and the land belong to the royal family, Harry can do nothing without their permission.”

Tuesday pushed away from her desk. “This is news to me, Booker. How do you know?” She could just burst seeing him teamed up with Matt like the old days. “Do they own all of Sea Blue Beach?”

“Grandpa Morris only talked about the Starlight.”

“God bless your grandpapa. That man was a wealth of Sea Blue knowledge.”

“Granny, we can reminisce later. Where’s the deed?”

“Matt, I don’t know.” She dropped down onto her chair. “The only one who did is buried in the English Channel.”

MATT

“Okay, humor me, Granny. Map out all the places Uncle LJ might have hidden the box.”

“I have no idea, Matty. He was hiding it from your grandpa. So, discount the Starlight or the house, even the barn.”

“We discount nothing.” He took a pen from the holder and pointed to the legal pad centered on her desk. “Sometimes hiding in plain sight is the best. What did he love to do, where did he hang out?”

“He loved to skate and fly. He spent all his free time watching the boys at Eglin and flying an old crop duster.”

“Let’s hope he didn’t hide it at the airbase. We’ll never get it back.”

“Or in an old crop duster.” Booker paced, thinking.

“I know this is a crazy idea,” Harlow said, “but what if we reach out to Lauchtenland and the House of Blue?” Matt loved his beautiful fiancée—for whom he had yet to buy a ring. He’d not found the right one.

“Great idea, babe, but how? Do you know anyone with connections?”

She winced. “Xander. He attended Princess Catherine’s twenty-first birthday party right after he dumped me. It was all over the news.”

“Then never mind. We’ll find what we need another way.”

“I’ll call him. I have one more guilt-trip point to spend.”

“That’s my girl.” He gave her a quick kiss, loving that he could do that any time he wanted. “Even if he agrees, we may not cut through the diplomatic red tape in time.”

“We have to try.” Booker leaned over Granny’s shoulder to read her list. “The back room, the barn, under your bed and back of the closet, the school, my grandparents house.”

Granny tore off the list and handed it to Book. “We have until morning. Harry assured me the wrecking ball crew would arrive first thing.”

While Harlow returned to manning the Starlight, Matt and Booker searched from the back room to concession just to be sure. Even gave the Wurlitzer the once-over.

The barn really had no hiding place, but they struck gold in Granny’s closet, finding a small box tucked away in the corner.

It was empty except for a note inside.

Dear Tooz,

In case you throw away the slip of paper I gave you, ’cause I’m figuring you will, here’s the name of the bank in New Orleans.

He listed an account number, safe-deposit box, and the name Monte.

Just so you know, everything in the bank box I earned honest. I was going to surprise you, but Herr Hitler had other plans for the world. I hope one day we’re reading this together and laughing about the good ol’ days, eating dinner from your new electric stove. For now, I’m off to war.

Yours always,

Sgt. Leroy Knight

Matt found Granny watching the afternoon session, smiling at the skaters with a sadness in her eyes.

“We found this in an old metal box on the top shelf of your closet.” He handed her his grandpa’s note. “Did you know about this?”

“Yes.” Granny sniffed the note before reading. “I never intended to use the money so I stored the note in the box. It smelled like Leroy’s aftershave.”

From concession, Spike hollered something to Simon Caster as they served the last ever Starlight session. He’d landed well. Purchased a premier spot on the Beachwalk. Pete’s Pretzels upgraded to a franchise in Tallahassee. He sold Spike his trailer for a song.

“Did you ever call the bank?” Matt said.

“Never.” She tucked the note into her pocket. “I didn’t trust Leroy earned the money honestly.”

“Booker and I are road-tripping to New Orleans in the morning. In the meantime, let’s visit Harry. Buy some time from him.”

“Matt, the deed isn’t at the bank in New Orleans. LJ hid it long before Lee went to war. He’d have never told where.”

“Still, I want to see what’s in the safe-deposit box, Granny. Leave no stone unturned. Wonder if Harlow got anywhere with Xander.”

She rounded the office door as he spoke. “He said he’d make a few calls.”

“Excellent. I’m off to find Harry.”

“Knock, knock.” Gazette editor Rachel Kirby walked in with a story in hand. “I’m running this piece tomorrow. I thought you’d like a sneak piece. All this talk of the Starlight, Prince Blue, and Malachi Nickle got me digging about our history, see if I could do a series on our founders and key citizens. I spent weeks in city hall going over all the records, births and deaths, land deeds, who had what and did what and for how long, talking to old-timers. Even learned a few things about the newspaper I didn’t know. And a couple more of our buildings can go on the historical register. Harlow, your house qualifies. Anyway, trouble is, I can’t find anything on the rink. There’s literally no record of it. It’s crazy.” She looked at Granny. “Do you know why?”

“The land and rink belong to the Royal House of Blue,” Booker said. “I think if we had the deed, we’d be able to prove it.”

“Rachel, didn’t you work for the AP in London?” Matt said. “Got any connections in Lauchtenland? The House of Blue? Harlow made some calls, but let’s try more than one approach.”

“A royal mystery? I’m going to need more to the story, but yeah, I know a few people in the Royal Rota. Let me make a few calls.”

Matt and Booker headed over to Harry’s, who was tearing down after his Labor Day bash.

“I’d have invited you,” he said, shaking Matt’s hand, “but given the current situation ... Booker, it’s good to see you back in town.”

“Came to say good-bye to the Starlight. And mend a few fences.”

“Harry, we need you to delay the wrecking ball.”

“Can’t. The bulldozer and cranes are already here and the crew is scheduled for the morning. Delays will only cost the town money. Look, we’ve given you the summer to—”

“I’ll pay for the delay. I need a day or two.”

“What are you up to, Matt? I put up with your petition, listened to the arguments. It’s time to let it go.”

“Two days, tops, Harry. Maybe three. I’ll cover the cost.”

The mayor sighed. “Two days, then the Starlight is coming down. End of story.”

HARLOW

When Tuesday closed up the rink for the last time in her life, it was all Harlow could do not to break down. She waited with Matt and Dupree outside, under the glow of the neon sign, letting Tuesday have her final moments alone.

Then with a loud ca-chunk, the Starlight went dark. In fact, the whole world went dark. No Beachwalk lights. No downtown glimmer. No moon. No stars. Just darkness.

To think, when she first came here, she wanted to block the neon sign from glowing into her living room.

Harlow fell against Matt, her ear listening to his thudding heart.

While he had extracted a stay of execution from Harry, Harlow didn’t hold out much hope.

Xander laughed when she called in her favor. A detail she didn’t pass on to the others.

“Could you ask King Rein’s equerry about the Starlight?”

“You can’t be serious? Call the royal family of Blue about a skating rink?”

Fine. She played her final trump card. “Xander, when you were on the cover of People with Davina, did my eyes deceive me or was she wearing the Van Cleef and Arpels Pont des Amoureux diamond watch you gave me on our first anniversary? You told me it was lost.”

“I’ll give him a call.”

Dupree offered to drive Tuesday down to see Harriet Nickle in the morning, before the cranes and bulldozers fired up, but she refused.

“I can’t leave the Starlight in its darkest hour.”

There was a minuscule possibility of a Xander call. Even less for Rachel Kirby and her connections. Unless Matt discovered something unbelievable in the safe-deposit box, Harry would execute his plan. Tuesday reassured them Leroy never had the deed. “I don’t know what you’ll find in the safe-deposit box, Matt, but it won’t be the deed.”

Matt walked her home and kissed her good night on the porch. “Are you as sad as I am?”

“I’m sad, but you grew up here. I can’t image how I’d feel if I were you.”

“Do you want to join me and Booker at the diner?”

“No, you two have some catching up to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll stop by on our way to New Orleans.” Matt held her close for a final kiss. “I love you.”

She watched him go, then sat in her window seat that faced the rink. “Immanuel, can’t you help?”

She showered and slipped into her nightshirt, the one that was too big, and her sweatpants, and just before she shut off the closet light, she glanced toward the corner.

Wasn’t there a loose floorboard in here? Wasn’t this once the home of Morris and Harriet Nickle? Wasn’t their son Abel Uncle LJ’s best friend?

Harlow dropped to her knees and crawled across the floor, tapping every board until one gave way. Eureka!

Plunging her arm below the deck, she felt around until her fingers grazed something hard and cold. It wasn’t a floor joist. It was a box. A metal box.

She ran to the kitchen for her newly purchased hammer and tore up floorboards until the box was free. Setting it under the light, she popped the latch and peered inside to find a rolled-up parchment-like paper.

Prince Rein Titus Alexander Blue, of the House of Blue, to Miss Tuesday Morrow, on this day, the Twelfth of June, 1916 AD.

The prince’s titled signature along with a royal seal anchored the bottom right corner.

This was no ordinary county deed. This was a deed from the House of Blue and nation of Lauchtenland. “Oh my gosh. I found it. It was here all along.”

Down the stairs and out the front door, she shouted to the night. “I found it! The deed! The deed. Matt, Dupree! Tuesday! Everyone!”

She ran back inside for her favorite running togs and sprinted toward Dupree’s.

“Matt, hey! Booker? I found it. The deed. I have the deed. Dupree!” She banged on the door, then took off toward the diner. “We’re saved. We’re saved.”

SEA BLUE BEACH

THE STARLIGHT IS SAVED. MAYBE.

This is better than Christmas morning. Everyone in town is reading the Gazette, huddled together in front of the Blue Plate or outside of Sweet Conversations, and gradually making their way to the Starlight.

From what we gather, the deed to the Starlight was no ordinary deed but one linking it to the Royal House of Blue in Lauchtenland under a Royal Charter.

Sort of like a little piece of their kingdom on our earth. The moment was worthy of a Hollywood soundtrack.

Bodie Nickle is talking. “As far as I can tell, the rink and the rock do not belong to the town. Harry, you’ll have to buy the rink and land from them if you want to clear this area for progress. If not, you could risk the wrath of two state departments. The print on the bottom of the deed is clear. Tuesday is the caretaker until she gives it to someone else. Even then, she’ll need a new document with a royal seal.”

There you have it. The Starlight belongs to another kingdom, and Tuesday believes Immanuel knew all along.

TUESDAY

When all was said and done, Tuesday Knight had few regrets. She’d loved her husband, her sons, her friends, her town, and her Starlight.

Well, she regretted one thing.

When Matt returned with the contents of Leroy’s safe-deposit box—a cashier’s check for a ten thousand dollars and the most stunning diamond engagement ring—she wished she’d trusted Immanuel more.

Use the money to buy your gall dern electric stove. Wear the ring to remember Leroy Knight keeps his promises.

After a bit of rigmarole and posturing, Harry deflated like a stuck balloon. “Well, I wondered what was going on when we couldn’t find any records of the deed. I’d heard rumors about the royal family owning the place, but it seemed rather outlandish, and since we’ve not seen a Royal Blue on these shores in my lifetime, I figured it was a fairy tale.”

Then Rachel Kirby delivered detailed findings about Murdock’s crooked ways. “I think we dodged a bullet, Mayor Smith.”

Dupree offered to sell the town some land he owned toward the west with Knight Construction as head of development.

The Starlight officially reopened the first of October. With the windfall provided by Leroy—that man kept speaking from the grave—and the generous gift from the Brandley’s, Tuesday paid Dup and his crew to redo the floor, fix up all the benches, remodel concession for Spike, and buy all new equipment since he already fitted out his food truck. She upgraded the sound system, painted over the scuff marks, mended the balcony railing, updated the bathrooms, and bought a whole new stock of brownies.

This Friday was the first All-Night Skate at the refreshed and updated Starlight.

Spike’s Concession ran at full tilt, with Simon Caster at the helm until Spike closed up his food truck for the night. Even Harry Smith came by to shake hands and put on a pair of brownies. On the house, of course.

Matt announced his future plans. “I’m running for mayor of Sea Blue Beach.” He started campaigning, even though elections weren’t until next year and he had a new movie to shoot. Booker reminded him he had to film one on his ranch too.

Harlow sat at the ticket booth for a while, going through a couple of bridal magazines sent down by her mother.

Now, as the sun rose over Sea Blue Beach, Tuesday made her way to the office exhilarated but exhausted. Maybe she’d let the kids handle the next all night skate.

At her desk, she reached for the velvet ring box and inspected her once-young fingers that were now covered with spots and wrinkles. Yet it was the hand Leroy held and kissed.

“Are you going to wear it?”

She looked around to see Dupree at the door. “You should go home. Get some sleep.”

“I’m taking you home first. And you didn’t answer my question.”

“The ring is lovely, but the moment I put it on, Leroy will have spoken his last. Why didn’t he just give it to me? Get down on one knee and slip it on my finger?”

“You’re asking why Pa wasn’t traditional, Ma?”

She laughed softly. “He lived by his own rules, didn’t he?”

“The ring will speak to you every day.”

The beautiful, large diamond surrounded by smaller ones still surprised her.

“What was he thinking? I’ve never had anything so grand in my life.”

“That’s exactly what he was thinking, Ma.” Dupree covered her hand. “All my life, I saw how much Pa loved you, despite his reckless career. He’d want you to wear it. He kept his promise. Now, since I’m about to choke up, I’ll go to see if Spike needs help cleaning the grease traps. Then we’re going home. How about a bite of breakfast at the Blue Plate on the way?”