Matinees with Miriam

by Vicki Essex

  “It was wrong in different ways.” He didn’t know how to articulate it. He’d never been a man of many words; all he knew was that some things came too little, too late. It wasn’t just about what Jack thought, either. “Jan, we’re both too old to be messing around with...with this.” He looked down at his liver-spotted hands, feeling the arthritis singing in his bones. He wasn’t a young man anymore. Was it fair to make her a grieving widow twice? “We shouldn’t be together. If it wasn’t meant to be then, it isn’t meant to be now.”

  Janice’s mouth crimped into a steep frown. Her eyebrows knitted and her hands clenched over her knees. “I thought you loved me.”

  He didn’t respond. He didn’t want this melodrama dragged out any longer than it had to be. “We each have our own lives, things we need to take care of. You’ve got your boys. I’ve got Mira. I have to do something for her.”

  “So you’re choosing her over me?” She glared.

  Arty decided not to take the bait. She was angry at him—he got that. He was being a class-A jackass. Jan was no more jealous of Mira than he was of their dead friend Jack. “I’d better get going.”

  He left icy silence and everything he’d always wanted behind him.

  It didn’t matter what he wanted now—he’d given up on that a long time ago. There was no point in chasing what didn’t belong to him. What would never belong to him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  SHANE SPENT THE next month finalizing the sale of the Crown with Everville town council. Things moved much more expediently now. The suddenness with which the town had taken the Crown from Mira had galvanized the condo’s greatest opponents, though not enough to actually do anything more drastic than criticize Mayor Welks in the local papers.

  The online campaign run by Riley Lee Jackson got play in global media, as well. They’d nearly made their goal before the theater had been expropriated. The story showed up in a few entertainment blogs and online magazines, but people noticed, and Sagmar’s name was portrayed in a less than positive light.

  “Any publicity is good publicity,” Laura had insisted. “And no one actually remembers company names. For now, though, it puts us on the map.”

  “Is that what the senior managers and investors are saying?” Shane asked skeptically.

  “Relax. I promise you won’t get any flack.” Of course, he knew that if he did get called in, it would be because she’d blamed the situation on him, and he, in turn, would tell them what she’d done. It would be mutually assured destruction.

  When the paperwork had been filed and there was nothing left for Shane to do regarding the Crown, he decided it was time to end his so-called vacation. With a heavy heart, he packed his bags, locked up the house and got in his car. Nothing about his time there had been terribly relaxing. Except for those stolen moments with Mira.

  But she wasn’t answering his calls or emails or texts anymore. She probably wouldn’t ever again.

  He made one more last-ditch effort and went to the Crown. As with all the other times, she didn’t answer his knocks, didn’t even come when he stood directly in front of the hidden cameras and yelled. He tried the back door, hoping the lock was still broken, but by some miracle it was working, so there was no way in.

  He circled the building and noticed one of the ladders from the fire escape had been pulled down. Had Mira done that? Or someone from the city? He stared up, trying to fathom who might have left such a blatant security risk.

  And then he realized there was only one way to find out.

  It took him the better part of an hour to climb the riserless fire escape steps to the balcony entrance and then scale the scorching hot ladder to the roof. Four stories wasn’t nothing, even to someone who wasn’t deathly afraid of heights. Only the thought that Mira might be up there pushed him upward. He had to talk to her.

  By the time he crawled over the lip of the roof he was drenched in sweat and shaking, his hands raw and cramping. What he saw made his heart sink. The rooftop paradise had been completely uprooted. Dirt was scattered everywhere. The greenhouses lay open and vacant. A pile of broken pinwheels and patio umbrellas had been discarded in one corner like old bones in an open-air mausoleum. The only plants that had nominally survived were a handful of stubborn dandelions, their partially crushed heads peeking from the soil.

  Had vandals torn up the garden? Why would they wreak such devastation on such a beautiful place?

  He called Sheriff McKinnon to report the crime, but Ralph only grunted.

  “Wasn’t vandals. It was Mira.”

  “What?”

  “Had herself a bit of a party after the meeting. I got called by some concerned neighbors, but Arty told me what was what, so I let her be. Long as she wasn’t hurting anyone or herself, I figured it was best she let off some steam. I should probably ticket the girl for littering but I’m not inclined to add insult to injury.” He harrumphed. “You wanna tell me what you’re doing trespassing up there?”

  Shane stiffened. “I was looking for Mira.”

  “Seems she doesn’t want to be found,” he deadpanned. “You better run along before I’m asked to press charges. As you’ve pointed out, that place isn’t safe to be around.” The iron in his voice was all the warning and admonishment Shane needed.

  He hung up and began the terrifying climb back down the ladder. A mixture of anger, hurt, worry and fear for Mira distracted him from the ground below. His jumbled feelings for her were stronger than any phobia he had, it seemed.

  Or was that love? He shook his head as he got into his car, taking a deep, calming breath before starting the engine. He would have to live with the bitter stench of fear, sweat and failure on his drive home.

  He knew he should just walk away. Mira was too scared, too stubborn, too paranoid, too challenging. He needed to find someone who didn’t suspect his motives at every turn. He’d met plenty of women who hadn’t given him anywhere near as much trouble as Mira had.

  But he didn’t want any other woman.

  Surely his attachment to her was related to how hard he’d worked to win her over. Nothing worth having ever came easy, after all. But he suspected he had a serious white knight complex when it came to Mira. That was reason enough to leave this place and forget about her. A relationship wasn’t supposed to be about how he felt when he gave. Love was supposed to be about mutual respect and attraction.

  He firmed his jaw. He didn’t love her. He’d been fooling himself, the same way Mira had tried to fool herself into believing she would one day reopen the Crown when deep down she didn’t want to. He’d tricked himself into believing he cared for her more than he cared for the rest of the town, his family, his own future. He’d come to Everville for one reason, and now that that job was done, he could continue on with the rest of his life. It would take time for people to forget his role in building the condo here, but things would change in Everville soon. Then he could get himself the condo unit he’d dreamed of owning. Dad could go fishing on Silver Lake anytime he wanted, maybe even retire here...

  And Shane would, what? Be reminded of what he’d done to first earn then break Mira’s trust every time he had to deal with the property? Be forced to relive all the memories they’d created together?

  He gripped the steering wheel, wanting to pull over so he could rub at the headache drilling into his temples. He’d barely left town, and he was already too tired to drive. Maybe he was coming down with something after that climb to the Crown’s rooftop.

  He decided a quick pit stop at Georgette’s Books and Bakery was in order. At least bringing some of Georgette’s cookies and croissants back to Brooklyn would make him feel as if he’d accomplished some good in town. A muffin and a coffee would take some of the bitter taste from his mouth, too.

  He parked and entered. The warm space filled him with a sense of nostalgia at once, thoug
h it had changed since he was a child. The dining room had been converted into a bookstore run by Georgette’s grandson, Aaron. The old baker wasn’t there herself—instead, a pretty blonde and a teen were running the counter. As they packed his order and prepped his coffee, Shane perused the books.

  “Shane?”

  He looked up in surprise. It was Maya. She plucked the cat-eye glasses from the bridge of her nose, putting down a book she’d been browsing through. “I haven’t seen you around since...” She trailed off.

  “I’ve been busy getting things squared away with the property sale.” He cleared his throat, unsure of how this woman saw him now that he’d destroyed their plans to resurrect a piece of Everville’s history. “I’m on my way back to Brooklyn now.”

  “Oh.” Surprise and concern rang in her exhalation. “I thought... You and Mira...”

  He gave only the slightest shake of his head. “I’ve got to get back.”

  The muscles in her jaw worked, as if she were chewing over his words. “You haven’t talked to Mira since the town council meeting?”

  “No.” He decided not to mention the number she’d done on the rooftop garden. He remembered how Mira hated people talking about her, and he didn’t want to feed any rumor mills. “She won’t answer my calls. I even went to the theater.”

  “She’s not at the theater.” Maya’s brow wrinkled. “She’s staying with me.”

  “What?”

  “She left the theater days ago. Said she couldn’t stay there. She spent the past few weeks clearing everything out, putting it into storage. I didn’t think she should be alone so I invited her to stay in my guest room.” Her lips pursed. “She really needed a friend.”

  Shane balled his fists. It was on the tip of his tongue to demand to see Mira. He had no right wishing she’d turned to him first. He had to remind himself that her welfare wasn’t his responsibility. She’d made that very clear, and besides, his meddling had only made things worse. So instead, he said, “Thank you for taking care of her.”

  If Maya thought he’d take some other course of action, she was sorely disappointed. “Did you hear about her fallout with Arty and Janice?”

  He hadn’t expected that. “No. What happened?”

  She explained the deception the two had played on her. Shane listened, the tension in his shoulders telegraphing to his stomach as she concluded the sordid tale. At first he felt a little put off by Arty and Janice’s matchmaking. It made him feel as though he’d been manipulated. But then, he’d taken credit for that first potted orchid, and had thus made himself complicit in the scheme. No wonder Mira wasn’t talking to him. There was no way she couldn’t see his involvement as a long-term scam taking advantage of her.

  “I could apologize to her to the end of days, but something tells me it’ll never be enough,” he said, aching.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t know how else to be helpful.” Maya’s shoulders slumped.

  “I think the best course for me would be to leave town.”

  “But you’ll come back, right? I mean, the condo still has to be built.”

  “At this stage, my involvement is almost nonexistent. It’s all paperwork and then contractors and building permits. I don’t handle any of that.” And even then, after all the shenanigans he and Laura had been through, he wasn’t sure he’d still have a job with Sagmar, much less the Everville account. “The only reason I’d come back was if I had to sell something else to the town.” Or if someone asked him to come back. A very specific someone. “I doubt Everville’s ready for a second build just yet.”

  Maya smiled. “I don’t know. People get over change pretty quick around here.”

  “You’re not mad at me?”

  “Not for doing your job. Frankly, I knew the chances of the Crown surviving were pretty slim.”

  He blinked. “But...you were so passionate about the whole thing.”

  A secret smile tugged at her lips. “I’m passionate about a lot of things, but mostly, I want to help people in town be the best they can be.” Her gaze grew distant. “A long time ago, I was told I’d never amount to anything. Suddenly, I was gifted with opportunity and means to accomplish whatever I wanted. I knew the people of my hometown needed that same kind of opportunity. That’s why I came home.”

  He remembered her inheritance, but decided not to mention it. “So you’re the town’s fairy godmother?”

  She gave a small shrug. “I try not to draw attention to myself.” She peered up at him. “You, though... You want to be this town’s savior, don’t you? And Mira’s?”

  Heat crawled up his throat. Was he that transparent?

  “That’s not a criticism,” she added gently. “Times change. After all the factories closed the community isn’t what it what it was. But some people don’t realize that. And they take umbrage that anyone thinks they need a hand up, a chance to flourish again, no matter what form it takes. Change is a threat to the way things were always done, to people’s perception of themselves as self-sufficient and successful.”

  “You’ve given this a lot of thought.”

  “It’s why I do what I do. No one wants to be looked down upon.”

  Was that what he’d been doing all this time? Looking down on Everville? On Mira? Had he been that condescending? “I never meant to hurt anyone.”

  “I know. And eventually, Mira will get that, too.”

  The ladies at the bakery counter called his name, indicating his order was ready.

  “I guess this is goodbye,” Shane said, holding out a hand. “No hard feelings?”

  “None from me,” she replied wryly. “And if living here has taught me anything, it’s never goodbye. Just...see you later.”

  Shane picked up his pastries and got back in the car. The fresh-baked croissants and coffee filled the interior with a sense of hominess and hope he hadn’t felt before. Or perhaps it was Maya’s words that had bolstered his spirits.

  The feeling followed him back to Brooklyn. Despite the fact he was going home, his mission accomplished, he knew he wasn’t yet done with Everville or Mira.

  * * *

  “LOS ANGELES OR VANCOUVER,” Mira declared as Maya walked in. “Or possibly Toronto. It’s going to be one of those three, though I’m not sure about the West Coast. Nice weather, but earthquakes...” She shivered. “Toronto, then. Or maybe Montreal?” She scrolled across Google Maps and considered the metropolitan areas of Canada, a country she’d never been to but knew plenty about from all the film festivals she covered remotely.

  It would be so different to get a job somewhere else, live in an apartment and work in the city. Maybe she’d even have a desk in an office. How weird would that be? She laughed drily at herself. She never would’ve contemplated such a mundane existence before, but since moving out of the theater, she felt...rootless. Drifting, like a bit of dandelion fluff on the wind. Not having the Crown like a millstone around her neck to watch over and worry about was completely freeing.

  Maya set a box of croissants on the coffee table and sat in the wingback armchair across from where Mira was curled up on the red velvet settee. The place was as stylish as the consignment shop owner’s outfits—vintage chic with all the flair, but none of the gaudiness. Somehow, she made it all work together.

  “I’ll admit a partiality to Toronto,” Mira said. “More media jobs, plus I won’t have to learn French.” She reached for the box of baked goods. Maya toed it just out of her reach, and she looked up into her serious face. “What?”

  “You really want to leave town?”

  “Of course I do.” She cleared a frog from her suddenly sticky throat. “I can’t stay. There’s nothing left for me here.”

  Maya was silent. She plucked a croissant from the box and set it on a plate, but didn’t slide it over to Mira. “I wouldn’t try to stop you. But saying
there’s nothing here for you... I thought you loved Everville.”

  She did. But it would be too painful to stay. She’d probably lose her mind watching the Crown get knocked down. After that, people would forever be whispering about her, pitying her, the orphan recluse in the old theater who’d been evicted. At least in another city, another country, she could reclaim her anonymity. She couldn’t stay in Everville. She would never again be someone’s emotional charity case.

  “Have you thought about moving to New York? I mean, that’s where all the action is moviewise, right? And there are tons of media and publishing jobs there.”

  She bit the inside of her cheek. “Thought about it. Doesn’t appeal.”

  “Because Shane lives there?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a city of, like, eight million people.” Which wasn’t enough to put between her and the man who’d taken her home from her. She needed real, physical distance. “It’s too...expensive.”

  “You don’t have to live in Manhattan, you know. Even if you wanted to, two and a half million can get you pretty far.”

  Mira didn’t say anything. For the first time in her life, she didn’t have to worry about feeding herself, paying the taxes, keeping the lights on or fixing some busted plumbing. Sure, she’d have to find a place, pay rent, get some new furniture, but that would hardly make a dent in $2.5 million.

  She swallowed. God, that was a lot of money.

  Speaking of money... “What’s Riley Lee Jackson going to do about the crowdfunding thing?”

  “Don’t worry, it wasn’t for nothing. They were really close to the target, and he did a lot to help raise awareness for endangered independent second-run theaters. He doesn’t hold it against us.”

  Mira nodded. Maya had called the actor after the town council meeting and handled everything while Mira had licked her wounds, packed and moved her things out of the theater. Arty and Janice had tried to convince her to stay with one of them, but she couldn’t even look at them right now. Maya had come to her rescue and given her a place to stay. She’d never really had a girlfriend like her. Mira would miss her when she left.