I close my eyes and see her at the easel again. I remember her concentration and deliberation, how special it felt to watch her work, and my throat gets tight. I recall the way she bit her lip, how her hair was swept off her neck, how she shifted her weight on one foot to her toe. Now more than my throat is tight.
I want her all over again.
I never did go down on her and that feels like more than an oversight. It’s a crime.
Meanwhile, Glen makes a note on his clipboard. He pulls out his phone and takes some pictures, documenting the ‘before.’ “I’m going to head down and check out that new door,” he says. “Good to see you, Mike.”
I straighten at the sound of my name. “I’d like to have you look at something else before you drive back to Havelock, Glen, if you have a few minutes.”
“No problem. I’ll send you a text when I’m done here.”
And just like that, I’m alone with Luke for maybe the first time ever.
“What a bite,” he says, sighs, then turns an expectant look on me. “What’s up, Mike?”
I’m amazed that he’s not bitter or resentful and I figure the only decent thing to do is meet him halfway.
“You added more doors?” I ask.
“The emergency exits were single steel doors. They need to be in pairs,” Luke tells me. “I tell you, this place is the original money pit.”
“Then why bother?”
He turns to survey it, that pride in expression again. “I likeit. I always did. You’re right – it’s beautiful. And if there’s going to be a tribute concert with my band, I want it to be here.” He shrugs, as if a whim is good enough reason to do anything.
I guess people don’t change.
On the other hand, I never saw him as such a romantic.
“And then?”
“And then what?”
“And then you’ll own a renovated theatre that is sitting empty. Sounds like it will still be a money pit.”
He smiles at me. “Always thinking of the future, aren’t you?”
“Call it a habit.”
“Not a bad one, that’s for sure.” Luke looks around. “Um. I don’t know. There could be movies again.” He speaks without a lot of conviction and I know he hasn’t really considered this. He hasn’t thought beyond his plan for the concert, and that concert has his undivided attention right now. His attitude is amazing to me, since I have to weigh every variable and consider every possibility before making a choice, but Luke has always seemed to just follow his heart.
I only do surrender to impulse with Sylvia, which is the exception, but I can’t admire how well that’s working out.
“What do you think?” he asks me, looking as if he’s hoping I have an answer.
I might.
“Well, given that the theatre went under showing blockbusters, you’d have to offer something different.”
“I was thinking of bringing backThe Rocky Horror Picture Showon Friday nights.”
“One night a week.”
“Maybe not every week.” He winces. “You’re right. That leaves a pretty empty calendar.”
“There’s a girl who collects old movies,”I find myself saying. “She’s a friend of Madison’s.” I have to think for a minute to remember her name. “Rhoda Gardner. Her mom owned the card store and gift shop, down by Big Red.”
“I remember it.”
