The Last Chance Matinee

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The Last Chance Matinee Page 22

by Mariah Stewart


  “Can I get you anything else?” Jessica asked, having noticed they’d both finished eating.

  “Nothing more for me, thanks.” Cara sipped the last of her drink.

  “Just the check, please.”

  Jessica handed it to Joe and looked about to say something to him when she was beckoned to another table.

  “See you at the Frog on Wednesday night?” she asked before she tended to her other customers.

  “Don’t know. I’ll be at the meeting but not sure how long it’s going to go this week.” He stood and held the back of Cara’s chair.

  “Joe, the people at the front table are gone. Can we take a close-up look at the photo of the theater?”

  “Sure thing.” He walked her over to the photo.

  Cara craned her neck to get a better view. There was glare on the glass, but even so, she could see the building as it had looked many years ago.

  “It was so handsome,” she said almost to herself. “The marquee is so fancy and all the lights around the door make it look like a big fairy house.”

  “I hadn’t looked at it in quite that way, but okay.” Joe looked down at her and grinned. “I think if you look closely you can see people coming out. Or maybe they’re going in. My gran said that going to see a play or a movie at the Sugarhouse was the thing to do back then. Everyone dressed up for the occasion.”

  “I can’t see how anyone’s dressed from here, but there must be pictures in the house. I wonder if the owner would let me borrow this one.”

  Joe looked around. “I don’t see Madeline—the owner—but I’ll see if I can get ahold of her. She might let you take it long enough to have a copy made.”

  Joe paid the cashier, after stopping at two tables to greet acquaintances, and he and Cara finally walked out into the warm afternoon.

  “This is such a nice change from the weather earlier in the week,” Cara noted.

  “It’s really unpredictable this time of the year. We don’t count on it staying warm until May.”

  “It’d be great if it stayed warm, though. The theater’s cold as a tomb in the basement.”

  “I don’t even know how long it’s been since there was heat in that building.”

  “What kind of heat did it have, do you know?” she asked.

  “There’s a big furnace in the utility room downstairs. I’m sure it was coal originally, then changed to oil.”

  “The furnace should be checked for efficiency and to make sure it’s running.”

  “There’s one oil company in town,” he told her. “They can bring someone in after the electricity is turned on.”

  “I’m assuming the water was turned off a long time ago.”

  Joe nodded. “After the bills weren’t paid.”

  “So is there a lien?”

  “Your dad paid it after he bought the place back.”

  Cara nodded. Her dad was responsible about money, and would have made sure there weren’t any legal issues for the girls to deal with.

  “So how does it feel to be the owner of a theater?” he asked as they crossed Main Street in front of the theater. Eddie’s station wagon was back, parked exactly where it had been parked earlier.

  “Actually, it feels pretty good.” She looked up at the structure and saw it as it was in the photo in the Good Bye.

  “Intimidated?” he asked.

  “Are you kidding?” Cara laughed. “I’m absolutely up for the challenge.”

  “Oh, it’s going to be a challenge, all right.”

  “We will totally rock it. We’ll have this place looking as good as new by the time we’re done.”

  “I like a woman with confidence.”

  “I’m confident that with the right people, we’ll do just fine.”

  “I promise you, we’ll only have the best working for you.”

  “Barney trusts you; I trust you, too.” Cara stopped in front of her car. “Thanks for lunch.”

  “Anytime.” He said it as if he meant it. “I’ll get those estimates to you as soon as they come in so you can look them over. If you have any questions about anything—the cost of materials, labor, whatever—ask me. That’s what I’m here for.”

  “That would be great, thanks.” She walked to the driver’s side and unlocked the door. “See you.”

  “I sure hope so.”

  Cara was aware that Joe was standing on the sidewalk, aware that his eyes were on her car as she pulled away from the curb. It wasn’t until she began to round the corner that she saw him turn away and disappear into the theater.

  CHAPTER TEN

  It seemed that all hell had broken loose by the time Cara returned to the house. Allie was pacing the kitchen like a caged animal and muttering to herself.

  “What happened?” Cara asked.

  “My daughter . . .” Phone in hand, Allie continued to pace.

  “Oh my God, Allie. Something happened to Nikki?” Cara tossed her bag onto a nearby chair.

  “She’s been dumped at the airport by her idiot father. I’m supposed to pick her up at six and I have no car. . . .”

  “Slow down and start from the beginning. Obviously she called. . . .”

  Allie nodded. “She said she’s on spring break as of Friday, and Clint had to go to London on business, so he made arrangements for her to stay with her friend Courtney. But at the last minute, Courtney’s mother wasn’t available, so Court went out of town, which of course left Nikki with nowhere to go. So he put her on a plane to fly out here for the week.”

  “But that’s fabulous. You’ve been missing her, right? So okay, you got short notice, but the important thing is that she’s going to be with you for a whole week.” Cara sat on the window-seat cushion. “Why are you angry?”

  “Because . . . because . . . he always does stuff like this. He makes plans for himself, and then it’s like, ‘Oh, yeah. Nikki.’ Then he scrambles to find something for her to do.” Allie’s eyes crackled with raw anger. “And this business trip? I think it’s a sham. I think he’s off with his girlfriend.”

  “Clint has a girlfriend?” Des came into the room from the front hall. “Since when?”

  “That’s a very good question.” Allie told them about her suspicions regarding Courtney’s mother and Clint. “I think at the last minute, she decided to go with him.”

  Des put her feet up on the rungs of the chair next to her. “So what brought all this on, anyway?”

  “He put Nikki on a plane early this morning. After several stops, she’ll be landing in Scranton in about two hours.”

  “Nikki’s coming here?” Des all but clapped her hands with glee. “I can’t wait to see her!”

  “Neither can I, but I have to pick her up and I have no car. . . .”

  “You’ll take mine,” Cara told Allie.

  “Thanks, Cara.” Allie grabbed a handful of tissues before dropping into the nearest chair. “What am I going to do with her for a week? I haven’t planned anything.”

  “What do you usually do when you’re together?” Des asked.

  “We go shopping, have lunch, watch movies.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you do?” Cara looked confused.

  “What else is there? What did you do with your mother when you were Nikki’s age?”

  “We baked. We did crafts. We tie-dyed stuff—T-shirts and fabrics that we could make stuff out of. Mom taught me to macramé. Oh, and how to spin yarn from wool. That was cool.” Cara smiled at the memory.

  “I had to ask,” Allie muttered, and got up and started to pace again.

  “This week is going to be a total disaster. I bet she’ll never want to spend time with me again. And she’s so excited about coming! She can’t wait to see the house and the town and the theater and meet her new aunt and Barney. . . .”

  “So that’s good, right? She’s looking forward to being here,” Des pointed out.

  “There’s nothing here, Des. No cute shops, no cute little restaurants. . . .”

  “Did you tell
her there were?” Des raised an eyebrow.

  “I might have intimated it.”

  “I had lunch at the Good Bye Café today,” Cara piped up. “It’s kind of cute.”

  “What were you doing there?” Des paused. “Wait. Let me guess. Joe took you to lunch to talk about the reno plans.”

  “That’s right.”

  “I hope you talked about more than work,” Des said.

  “The restaurant has some great photos of the theater on the walls. Joe’s going to see if the owner will let us make copies.”

  “Oh, speaking of photos of the theater,” Des said excitedly, “wait till you hear this great idea I had today.”

  “That’s nice. Joe has the hots for Cara. Des had a great idea. Now can we get back to my problem? My kid will be here in a couple of hours.”

  “Okay, first ask Barney if it’s okay if she stays here. I’m sure it is, but give her the courtesy. Then see if there are any girls her age in the neighborhood that she might be able to hang out with. I think Barney’s still out back gardening,” Des suggested.

  Allie stopped pacing long enough to hang over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. “Look, I know you mean well, but Nik is not a small-town country girl. She’s L.A. and she’s private school and . . . well, she’s used to a totally different way of life. Different kids.” Allie made a face and whispered, “And I’m afraid I sort of built up Hidden Falls a little to make it sound more exciting than it really is.”

  “Ah, now we’re getting down to it.”

  “Shut up, Des.”

  “What exactly did you tell her?” Cara stood and walked to the sink. “Coffee?”

  “Yes, please.” Des raised a hand.

  Allie sighed. “Guys, could you focus?”

  “Okay, so you told her . . . what?” Cara drained the dregs of the morning’s coffee into the sink and rinsed the pot.

  “That our family home was a mansion, and that—”

  “Wait a minute,” Des interrupted. “It sort of is. I mean for Hidden Falls, this place is almost palatial. It is the biggest house in town.”

  “Yes. But we’re in the sticks. There are garages in sections of L.A. that are bigger than this place.”

  “We’re not in L.A.,” Cara reminded her.

  “That’s exactly my point.” Allie blew out one long, exasperated breath.

  “Why is that necessarily bad? Why does every place have to be the same? This is a great country, Allie. It’s time she saw more of it.”

  “Des is right,” Cara said. “Nikki should know that everyone doesn’t live the same way, that every town doesn’t look alike. Honestly, I think you’re making too big a deal out of this.”

  “I think she’ll hate it here,” Allie blurted. “And she’ll hate me for bringing her here.”

  “I think you’re underestimating your daughter,” Cara said. “And her father sent her here, not you.”

  “All the same, she’ll be here and she’ll have nothing to do and she’ll blame me.”

  “I think you’re being very shortsighted and snobby,” Des declared. “So fine, there are no fancy stores here. No fancy restaurants. Take her to the places that are here, let her see where her family came from. The town is absolutely charming.”

  “I’m sure that’ll impress the hell out of her.”

  Des turned to Allie. “Why are you worried about impressing your daughter? You’re her mother, Al. You shouldn’t have to impress her. And you shouldn’t want to.”

  “You don’t understand.” Allie sighed and started for the back door.

  “Where are you going?” Des asked.

  “To ask Barney how long it takes to get to Scranton, and then I’m going to download one of those GPS apps onto my phone so I can find the damned airport. . . .”

  It was close to nine before Cara heard tires crunching over stones in the driveway. She grabbed a flashlight and headed toward the front door. A storm had blown the power out around seven thirty, and there was no sign it’d be coming back on soon. She met Barney and Des in the hall; Des armed with a flashlight, Barney with a fat white candle.

  Dragging a huge suitcase, Allie threw open the door, and she and her daughter, pushed by the wind, all but fell inside. “You could’ve at least left the porch lights on.”

  Des held up the flashlight. “No power. The electricity has been off for a while. But here’s my beautiful niece and she’s much more important.” Des opened her arms and hugged the girl.

  “I swear, Nikki, you are going to be the tallest woman ever in this family. Not to mention the most beautiful.”

  “I’m as tall as my mom.” Nikki embraced Des. “But you’re still a peanut, Aunt Des.”

  “I haven’t grown since fifth grade.” Des held Nikki at arm’s length. “Now, say hello to your great-aunt Barney—”

  “Bonnie,” Allie corrected her.

  “No one ever calls me that.” Barney handed her candle to Des and stepped forward to bear-hug the girl.

  “What do I call you?” Nikki pulled off her hat, and her blond hair spilled over her shoulders.

  “Aunt Barney will do just fine.”

  “Thanks for letting me stay in your house this week, Aunt Barney.” Nikki’s eyes flitted around the darkened hall. “Wow. Mom said this was a great Victorian house, but this is even cooler than I thought it’d be. And it’s just a little creepy. Like one of those old movies? The ones where someone is hiding behind these hidden panels so they can creep around the house at night and spy on everyone?”

  “There’s a visual I’ll take with me tonight,” Cara said. “Nikki, I’m Cara. I’m your mother’s—”

  “The secret sister.” Nikki’s eyes were wide in the dim light. “My mom told me all about you and your mother and how my grandpa had two families. It’s so cool, don’t you think? Don’t you want to know that story? Of course, with my gramma and grampa dead, we’ll never know everything, right? I told Mom I’d love to have a secret sister, but she said no chance of that happening.”

  “Well, she would know. And I’m not sure how cool it is, but it’s certainly been interesting. And look—besides two sisters and an aunt, I got a niece out of it.” Cara offered Nikki a hug. “Win, win, win.”

  The lights played off the portraits hanging on the walls and bounced off the stained glass windows in the front doors.

  “Was your plane late?” Barney asked. “We thought you’d be back hours ago.”

  “A little late, and we stopped in Scranton for dinner.” Allie rolled Nikki’s suitcase to the bottom of the stairs, where she left it.

  “I can’t wait to see the rest of your house, Aunt Barney.” Nikki still appeared slightly starstruck.

  “As soon as the lights are back on. And it isn’t just my house, you know. It belongs to all of us. And I can’t tell you what it means to me to have you all here.” In the odd light, Barney looked as if she were almost about to cry.

  Cara dismissed the thought. Barney was made of solid steel.

  “So how about we take you upstairs and get you settled.” Allie struggled to get the suitcase up the first step.

  “Here, let me help,” Des said.

  “I’ve put Nikki in my old room.” Barney turned to lock the front door.

  “Which room is that?” Allie and Des had gotten as far as the third step.

  “The room next to your dad’s old room,” Barney said. “The turret room.”

  “That’s all the way in the front of the house.” Allie stopped mid-step.

  “That’s right. It’s the nicest room for a young girl,” Barney replied. “It has such a pretty view out the side windows and a cushy chair where you can sit and enjoy the scenery.”

  “But it’s so far from my room . . .” Allie began.

  “Mom, I’m not a baby. I don’t have to sleep next door to you,” Nikki reminded her.

  “You don’t have to sleep alone in another part of the house, either,” Allie protested.

  “I’m right across the hall, so
she’s not alone,” Barney assured her.

  “Let’s go see.” Nikki took Cara’s hand so that they could climb the steps together, led by Cara’s flashlight. “I can’t wait to see everything here. Mom told me that you all were having such a fun adventure. I think it’s so cool that I got to come. I read all about Art Deco theaters online, and I can’t believe how lucky we are to own one. I can’t wait to see it and be part of it. I want to help. I’ll show you what I found online. . . .”

  Nikki continued to chatter as they made their way up the stairs. They had just arrived at the second-floor landing when the lights began to flicker on and off.

  “OMG, does this place have ghosts?” a breathless Nikki asked. “Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing ever? Maybe we could communicate with our ancestors’ spirits.”

  “No ghosts, honey, sorry. But apparently we do have electricity once again,” Barney said as all the lights came back on.

  “Wow, for a minute there, it was like that TV show—actually it may have been a made-for-TV movie. Anyway, there were these kids in this old house and there was no electricity at all, so everyone was in the dark? And one of the boys was an ax murderer but nobody knew, and . . .”

  Nikki’s voice faded into the bedroom Barney had prepared for her.

  “What do you think?” Des whispered to Cara.

  “OMG, I think this is going to go better than, like, you know, Allie thought it would?”

  Des laughed.

  “Seriously, Nikki is adorable,” Cara said. “She’s not at all what I expected after listening to Allie earlier. I thought she’d be a spoiled little brat who’d be put off by the lack of glitter and flash.”

  “I think Nik is more levelheaded than her mother is sometimes. She’s certainly more open to the experience here than Allie was.”

  “Let’s hope the enthusiasm lasts, or it could be a very long week.” Des pushed open the bedroom door. “Come on, let’s help Nikki search the walls for hidden panels and then we can take her on a tour. . . .”

  Cara and Barney were already in the kitchen when Nikki came downstairs the next morning. She was dressed in leggings, hot-pink sneakers, and a long sweater knitted in shades of purple and green.

 

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