Starbright

by Richland, Alexandra

  Starbright/Alexandra Richland

  Copyright © 2014 by Alexandra Richland

  All rights reserved.

  KINDLE EDITION ISBN: 978-0-9936135-2-4

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.

  Starbright is a work of historical fiction. Apart from the well-known people, events, and locales that figure in the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to current events or locales, or to living persons is entirely coincidental.

  Published by Alexandra Richland

  Edited by Lauren Schmelz of Write Divas

  Front Cover Images:

  Motorcycle and Tree © Aaron Johnson, 2010. Used under license by Dreamstime.com

  Rose © lionceau, 2011. Used under license by depositphotos.com

  Film Strip © dusan964, 2012. Used under license by depositphotos.com

  Back Cover Images:

  Aidan Evans’ Signature © Alexandra Richland, 2013

  Elizabeth Sutton’s Signature © Alexandra Richland, 2014

  Vintage Photo Frame © Tanya Bell, 2012. Used under license by depositphotos.com

  Spine, Front Cover, and Back Cover design by Morwenna Rakestraw

  Rakestraw Book Design http://rakestrawbookdesign.com

  Interior design by Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats

  Other Stories by Alexandra Richland

  Frontline (Frontline Series Book #1)

  Gilded Cage

  Slip Away

  Starlight (Starlight Trilogy book #1)

  Stardust (Starlight Trilogy book #3) – coming in 2015

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  For Mike.

  Elizabeth Sutton wiped her hands on her apron and opened the oven door to check on the Thanksgiving turkey. The squash, green beans, stuffing, and potatoes sat on the stovetop on low heat. Her homemade apple pie was in the icebox.

  Beth and her roommate Olivia Weston had invited their friends, actress Constance Murphy, and her famous crooning beau, Matthew McKenna, over for dinner. They also expected their respective beaux, Aidan Evans and Nathan Taggart.

  It had been over three weeks since Beth saw Aidan and she wanted to welcome him back to Los Angeles with a home-cooked meal and an evening of relaxation and good conversation. Aidan told her how much he loved apple pie on Halloween, so she baked one for dessert tonight. She didn’t expect it to compete with his memory of his mother’s apple pie but hoped he would still enjoy it.

  While Aidan stayed at director Elia Kazan’s Connecticut home to work on the preproduction details for their upcoming boxing drama, Golden Gloves, he called Beth every evening. Aidan was close to Kazan, often referring to him by his nickname, Gadg, and trusted him to keep their relationship a secret.

  During their telephone conversations, they spoke about how their days went, their respective film projects, and how much they missed each other. Beth’s musical, Venus Rising, kept her busy, but her excitement over talking to Aidan when she returned home gave her the energy to make it through each day.

  When prompted, Aidan confessed his nightmares persisted, but less frequently and intensely than they did before he left L.A. Beth’s concern over his well-being didn’t dissipate. She would not feel at ease until she saw him today and could compare his present condition to how he looked on Halloween.

  To occupy his days while Kazan filmed another project in Hoboken, Aidan took walks through the Connecticut countryside, read, and listened to music. Molly Kazan, the director’s wife, also kept him company until the children came home from school. Molly was a brilliant writer and often engaged him in discussions about the latest books or Broadway plays, which he found intellectually stimulating.

  Aidan also enjoyed playing board games with the Kazans’ eldest boy and watching the other three children color or play outside. Although the family’s activities were nothing extraordinary, they provided him with the opportunity to experience what a normal childhood would’ve been like had his mother not been murdered and if he hadn’t grown estranged from his father. He was very grateful for Mr. and Mrs. Kazan’s hospitality and spoke of paying them back, though they continually refused compensation, insisting his enjoyable company was enough.

  Aidan’s greatest joy came from completing his daily Method acting exercises and going over the Golden Gloves script with Kazan in the evenings. The film was about a young man, Joe Oliver, who at eighteen was one of the top middleweight boxers in America. After he accidently killed his opponent in the ring, he felt devastated and quit the sport. The film took place five years later as Joe returned to the profession and endeavored to earn a championship title.

  It was a heartwarming, multi-layered story about redemption and triumph, and Beth was as excited about it as Aidan was. As of yet, no other casting decisions had been made. The only confirmations so far were that Luther Mertz, the founder and head of Starlight Studios, agreed to fund the picture and it would be filmed in Los Angeles on studio grounds starting in mid-January.

  Beth hoped her next project would be filmed on the studio lot, too, so she could see Aidan more often. The only downside was they were forced to keep their relationship a secret from anyone but their close friends. Mr. Mertz disliked Aidan tremendously, despite all the money he made for the studio with his film, Spike Rollins. He would never approve of a relationship between them.

  Beth turned off the oven and removed her apron. “Liv, can you bring the placemats and silverware to the table, please? I’ll put the glasses and china out in a minute.”

  Olivia entered the kitchen with a broad smile on her face. “Sure thing!”

  She picked up the items from the counter and whisked them into the living room.

  Beth was glad Olivia’s mood had improved since Connie’s Halloween Party. Whatever had bothered Nathan seemed to have passed, and their relationship was finally back to normal. Olivia even spent the night at his L.A. home a few times after Beth insisted she didn’t mind staying alone overnight in their apartment.

  Beth and Olivia had never entertained in their apartment before and both looked forward to tonight’s dinner party. They bought an oak table, matching chairs, silver cutlery, crystal, and expensive china to create a dining area in their living room—to make up for their lack of a formal dining space.

  There was no hope in trying to
impress Matthew and Connie because their homes were much more elegant, but the least Beth and Olivia could do was make the apartment neat and tidy and provide their guests with a proper dinner table.

  With their guests arriving soon, Beth placed her apron under the sink and set the new china and glassware on the dining table. Her next stop was her bedroom to change into her evening attire. She’d been working on dinner since early that morning and had a lot of work to do to look her best for Aidan tonight.

  After touching up her makeup and brushing her curled hair, she assessed her navy blue textured cotton sundress in the mirror. It had a fitted bodice, wrapped bust, tie shoulders, a full skirt—thanks to the crinoline underneath—and fell to mid-calf. She completed her look with a pearl necklace and earrings. She usually didn’t wear low-cut styles, but this dress, although more daring than her usual attire, still respectably concealed her bust without looking too prudish. As a woman with a beau now, it was time to dress more maturely.

  Beth dabbed vanilla perfume on her wrists and behind her ears, swapped her slippers for navy blue pumps, and then ventured into Olivia’s bedroom. Her friend sat at the vanity applying lipstick. Her black hair was styled in its usual pixie cut, and she wore a dark red, keyhole halter sundress that accentuated her petite figure and complemented her creamy complexion and round gray eyes. The ruby bracelet Nathan recently bought her sparkled on her right wrist.

  Olivia turned away from the mirror. “Gosh, Beth, you look incredible! Aidan’s not going to be able to keep his eyes off of you tonight.”

  “Thank you.” A blush crept into her cheeks as she adjusted her dress self-consciously. “I’m so nervous. It feels like ages since I last saw him.”

  Olivia smiled. “Everything is going to be fine.”

  A knock at the front door sent them racing from the bedroom. Olivia got to the door first and opened it. Beth ensured her smile didn’t falter when Connie and Matthew were revealed as their first guests, not Aidan. Simultaneously, she felt relieved she still had a few more minutes to prepare for their reunion.

  “Welcome!” Olivia ushered the couple inside.

  Connie embraced Olivia. “Thank you again for inviting us.” She moved on to Beth. “We’ve been looking forward to this dinner all week.”

  “Good evening, ladies.” Matthew kissed their cheeks. “The two of you look ravishing.”

  Beth and Olivia accepted his compliment and thanked them both for coming.

  Connie unfastened her hat from her curled blond hair and removed what Beth assumed was a mink coat. It was an interesting choice for a quaint November dinner party in Los Angeles, but she wasn’t surprised. Connie always dressed elegantly. In fact, Beth couldn’t help but notice the contrast between Connie’s pink silk taffeta evening gown, white gloves, and high heels, and the apartment’s dowdy decor. As Connie surveyed her surroundings, however, Beth didn’t catch any indication she was unimpressed or disappointed.

  Olivia hung Connie’s items in the closet while Beth took Matthew’s coat and fedora. As usual, he was impeccably dressed in a black suit and tie. His brown hair was styled with what she distinctly identified as lemon-scented hair tonic, and his grin looked gregarious as ever.

  “So these are your digs, huh?” He peered into the kitchen. “Very nice.”

  Beth smiled. He was just being polite, but she appreciated his effort.

  “Thank you.” She gestured to the sofas in the living room. “Please, have a seat. Would you like a beer? Soda? Some wine, perhaps?”

  She was grateful Olivia suggested they have a variety of drinks on hand to cater to everyone’s preferences. It helped that the legal drinking age didn’t seem to apply to famous studio employees and she was able to purchase alcohol without difficulty.

  “A beer would be great. Thanks.” With his grin intact, Matthew made his way into the living room and sat down.

  As Olivia shut the door, Beth went into the kitchen to fetch his beverage. If it hadn’t been for Aidan drinking beer straight out of the bottle at Art’s Bar in New York back in October, she would’ve poured it into a glass before she gave it to him. It was just as well because she had forgotten to buy beer mugs while out shopping.

  Upon her entry into the living room, Matthew grinned at her from his spot on the sofa. “Thanks, Beth.” He took the bottle off her hands and raised it to his lips.

  “Would you like me to turn on the television?” she asked. “We just bought it last week.”

  “Thanks, I’d like that.” Matthew leaned back in his seat, looking very relaxed, which made Beth feel more at ease, too. She walked over to the television and switched it on. As she adjusted the antenna and turned the dial, she was unsure on which of the three channels to settle.

  “How about this one?” she said, stopping on a new comedic program. The credits scrolled across the screen, indicating it was just beginning.

  Matthew crossed his legs, knee to ankle. “Sure, keep it here. Danny Durant is a riot!”

  With his eyes fixed on the television, he brought the bottle to his lips again and chuckled as he took another sip. Relieved that the program was to his liking, Beth joined Olivia and Connie in the kitchen. It was only a galley kitchen, but there was space for the three of them to stand comfortably near the icebox.

  “It’s been such a long time since I’ve done anything like this for the holidays,” Connie said. “Thank you both for your efforts. I know a lot of planning went into tonight’s party.”

  Beth was about to reply when there was a knock at the door. She froze.

  Olivia placed a hand on her forearm and smiled. “Would you like me to get it?”

  Beth swallowed hard and offered a matching smile. “I’ll go with you.”

  This time it was Nathan at the door. He entered the foyer with his fedora in hand, his blue eyes brightening when they landed on Olivia. As the executive assistant to Mr. Mertz, Nathan was the only one who had to work today. Though, dressed in a charcoal gray suit with his blond hair freshly coiffed, he looked polished and well rested.

  Beth took his hat and placed it in the closet.

  “Sorry I’m late.” Nathan shut the door and kissed Olivia on the lips. “Work was busy.”

  Olivia gazed at him adoringly. “All that matters is you’re here now.”

  Nathan gave Beth a kiss on the cheek, followed by Connie, who had emerged from the kitchen to welcome him. Always a gentleman, he also complimented all three women on their appearances.

  Now everyone was accounted for except Aidan. Beth hadn’t heard from him all day, but he’d told her over the telephone yesterday that he had an appointment scheduled immediately upon his arrival in L.A. That could account for his delay, or perhaps his flight had landed later than expected.

  Matthew stood and greeted Nathan with a vigorous handshake.

  “Hey, Nate, have you seen this show?” He gestured to the television. “It’s hilarious.”

  “No, I haven’t. I’ve been meaning to catch an episode, though.”

  Olivia left for the kitchen, citing she already knew what Nathan would like to drink. He and Matthew continued their conversation.

  “So I guess we’re just waiting on one more,” Olivia said upon her return.

  Beth blushed as all eyes focused on her.

  The day after the Halloween party, Connie invited her and Olivia out to lunch at the Chateau Marmont, and she was questioned relentlessly about Aidan. She didn’t go into detail regarding what happened on Mulholland Drive, but she shared that their relationship had progressed beyond friendship.

  Beth believed Nathan had a hand in keeping her departure from the party with Aidan from entering the gossip mill, and most importantly, from Mr. Mertz. It also helped that Aidan wasn’t around in the weeks following Halloween, and she’d been seen out socially on numerous occasions without him.

  With the men settled in front of the television with their drinks, the women returned to the kitchen.

  Connie leaned against the counter. “So, Aid
an is running late, I see.”

  Beth came to his defense immediately. “He had an appointment this afternoon. It probably lasted longer than he anticipated.”

  Olivia rolled her eyes. “Come on, Connie. Give the fella a break.”

  Connie flashed an amused smile. “I was just making a statement, ladies. There’s no need to get testy.”

  Matthew and Nathan burst into laughter in the next room, but they weren’t loud enough to drown out the three solid knocks on the front door. With the confirmation that she would finally be reunited with Aidan, Beth’s heart launched into an anxious beat that undermined her confidence. Suddenly, everything she did in preparation for today seemed insufficient.

  Olivia gave her a slight push from behind. “Go on, silly. Greet your beau.”

  Beth shook so badly she didn’t know how she made it to the foyer without tripping. She took a deep breath before opening the door, not knowing what to expect but hoping for the best.

  The Aidan that greeted her on the other side, holding a large bouquet of red roses and wearing an ivory cable knit sweater with a shawl collar and dark gray dress pants, looked like a new person. He was back to an acceptable weight for a man his height and stature, and the extra pounds seemed attributable to the additional lean muscle that filled out his chest and shoulders.

  His face still looked chiseled like the male models Beth often saw in magazine advertisements and billboards, and he had shaved for the occasion. His emerald eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, entranced her as when they first met, and his brown hair, rich with caramel hues, sat atop his head in its typical sleep-tossed style.

  Judging from the faded dark circles under his eyes, it looked like he had actually gotten some rest over the previous three weeks. Most captivating was the smoldering flash in his eyes as he perused her unhurriedly from top to bottom.

  At the realization she had yet to say a word to him, Beth stopped gawking and managed a sheepish smile.

  “Hello and welcome.” She cringed inwardly at her address, which was better suited for a restaurant hostess than a woman greeting her beau.