Meet Me at the Starlight

Chapter 37

HARLOW

MANHATTAN

OCTOBER 1987

About a month ago, she’d started thinking of herself as whole. Not the broken, rejected girl who dulled her pain with food.

She was loved. By the adorable Matt Knight, who proposed again, this time with his granny’s ring. But she was also loved by Immanuel. A fact she realized more every day.

“So you saved the Starlight and now are opening a cookie store in Sea Blue Beach.” Mom waited with her outside Charlotte Winthrop’s office. “Have you and Matt set a date? Did you go through the magazines I sent you?”

“Yes, and we’ve picked a date at the end of December.” Matt was in LA, doing studio work for the rom-com and prepping for the spy-thriller, which began shooting in February.

“Seems rather rushed.”

“When you know, you know.” Harlow squeezed Mom’s hand. “I know I’m a disappointment to you.”

“Harlow.” Mom finally glanced her way. “You have never been a disappointment. And you may think you weren’t a wanted child, but you were. Very much. Your dad and I have been talking quite a bit lately, saying things that needed to be said. And we’re planning a vacation to Europe.”

“I knew you had it in you.”

In September, Dad spent a lot of time in Sea Blue Beach, helping Harlow purchase the retail space for her Hayes Cookie Shop. He hired Knight Construction to finish the build-out. In the evenings, father and daughter talked business and Immanuel.

“What do you think they’re doing in there?” Mom adjusted her position to peek through the glass of Charlotte Winthrop’s office.

“They’ll come for us when they’re ready.”

“I can’t believe they are keeping you—of all people—waiting. Like some intern applying for a job.”

Charlotte’s door opened, and she apologized for the delay. “We had an issue with our Port Fressa office in Lauchtenland. Please, come in. Harlow, at last. How lovely you look.”

Charlotte led them to the position of honor and introduced her team. Jinx, of course, then Michele Brown, the CEO, and Emmitt, VP of Marketing and Sales, and on around the table. There were eight in all, looking very serious and more like Xander’s crowd than Harlow’s.

“I’ll cut to the chase,” Michele said. “We’d like you to lose twenty pounds, Harlow.” She held up her hands. “Yes, you look fantastic. We know you’ve lost a good deal of weight already, and we are sympathetic, but I don’t have to tell you how this business works. If it was just about advertising, there’d be no problem. We can airbrush you however we like. But it’s the commercials and live events. It’s our reputation in the fashion world.”

“I’m happy with you as you are, Harlow,” Charlotte said. “But I must also work with my team. We’ve built a strong brand, so if they feel we need a thinner you, then we have to ask.”

“We agree.” Mom piped up as if Harlow were seventeen again. “Harlow can easily—”

“Thank you for considering me as your brand face, Charlotte.” Sit down, Mom. “But I’m not losing another twenty. I’m not losing another ten. I’m happy with where I am now. I lost weight for me, not CCW.” She reached for her handbag. “It was lovely to meet all of you. I will always be a CCW girl.” Harlow walked around the table, shaking everyone’s hand. “Jinx, let’s talk soon.”

She’d find another way to end her career on a high note. Matt had mentioned Cosmo “wanted a word.” Maybe he could find her a movie role.

“Excuse me?” Jinx said. “You’re just walking out? No discussion?”

“You made your position clear, and I’ve made mine. What’s to discuss? Not to brag, but I think I look pretty freaking fantastic right now. If I lose another ten, never mind twenty, I’ll be on the edge of skin and bones. I hate that look.”

“This business is about skin and bones. You know that, Harlow,” Jinx said.

“And I’m over it. Not going to do it.”

“Good for you,” Charlotte said. “I started CCW because I didn’t like how things were done in the cosmetic industry. You’re pioneering your own path, and I wish you all the best.”

“Harlow, can we talk this over?” Mom remained in her seat, siding with those in the room. “This opportunity is—”

“Mom, I’m leaving. You can stay, but I think these people have work to do.”

Jinx walked them to the elevator. “I was right, you know,” she said, reaching around Harlow to press the down button. “When you got the key from Xander. I said, ‘Go to the beach, it will do you good.’”

The elevator doors opened, and Harlow stepped inside with Mom. “Our wedding is at the end of December, Jinx. Mark your calendar.”

“I’ll be there. And oh, Anne, call me next week,” she said. “We may have a job for you in our Atlanta office.”

“Really?” Mom slapped her hand against the closing doors. “In what capacity? How? I do have some ideas. ...”

“We’ll talk next week.” Jinx winked at Harlow as the doors closed.

They descended a few floors before Mom grabbed Harlow’s hand and whispered, “Thank you.”

SEA BLUE BEACH

MARCH 1991

We lost our beloved Tuesday in January. We mourned her death all winter, but somehow we understood she wanted to start her new year on the other side of the Starlight.

Her final years were her best. A direct quote. She saw her grandson marry the love of his life, and ten months later, she rocked her first great-grandchild to sleep. A girl. Tuesday Anne Knight, who recently started walking and goes by the nickname Little Toot. Two years later another little one arrived, Leroy Hayes, nicknamed Hazy.

Xander’s call to the House of Blue made some interesting connections, and Tuesday, along with Dupree, Matt, and Harlow, flew to Lauchtenland for an audience with King Rein IV and the Crown Princess Catherine.

The king was most appreciative of Tuesday and the rest of us fighting to preserve Prince Blue’s legacy. So much so, they gave Tuesday an honorary title, Lady Tuesday Knight, and Sea Blue Beach a Key to Lauchtenland. Rachel Kirby tagged along and filed a daily update for the Gazette, which we buzzed about over breakfast or while going about our day.

Taking a cue from Doc, the family sailed the English Channel and said good-bye to LJ, then visited Leroy’s marker in Normandy. Upon coming home, Tuesday collected Harriet and Jubilee and flew to New York with a very pregnant Harlow for a few Broadway plays. Then she visited Hollywood.

What a storied life, Tuesday Knight.

While in Lauchtenland, she deeded the Starlight to Spike, with an official seal from the House of Blue, and as the first of the Knight Construction hotels were completed on the west end of town—we knew Dupree couldn’t retire—vacationers booked their holiday at Sea Blue Beach and skated at the now-famous royal skating rink.

After the spy-thriller, which actually earned Matt an Oscar nomination, his career skyrocketed, so he decided to run for mayor “next time,” and threw his support behind Harry. Forgiveness was a powerful tool.

Between babies, Harlow won the lead in a romantic comedy with a British chap, Hugh Grant, and no one said a word about her losing another pound, let alone twenty.

She has never worn the Jane Fonda workout gear.

These days, we see Matt and Harlow at home at 321 Sea Blue Way, running down the street with Little Toot and Hazy in a stroller. On sunny days, Harlow dons her hat from Biggs.

The Hayes Cookie Shop does a swift business with Cookie himself coming down to look things over and mentor Simon Caster, the manager. The kid is one sharp cookie. (Yes, we know . . . punny.)

Dupree met a lovely gal from LA—that is, lower Alabama—and we saw sparks flying from under his porch roof the other night.

Every now and then, if we look real close, we catch a glimpse of Immanuel walking among the streetlamps, between the homes and shops, and we remember the first night He walked onto our shore.

Perhaps you too will see Him one day. Until then, we’ll keep the Starlight on for you.