Hollywood Stuff Read Free Page A

City College Flea Market,” said Tim, overenunciating each of the five words. “Not the Rose Bowl, but that’s too big anyway. Time for us to see some West Coast flea, don’t you think? Old film star photos, movie props, posters, good modern furniture, California pottery in its natural habitat…” Tim trailed off and took Jane’s hand in his. “Do you good to get out of the Midwest, honey.” Tim waved his hand around her bedroom, pointing to the pottery vases that lined the top of barrister bookcases under the window. “You’re suffering from too much McCoy. Not enough Bauer.”
    Tim stopped for air and looked deep into Jane’s brown eyes.
    “Charley and Nick are off working and you will be lonely here anyway, so why not give this a whirl? We don’t have to say yes. We don’t have to sign anything, “Tim said. “It’s not like you to turn down new territory for scavenging, honey.”
    Jane took a deep breath and prepared to list all of her fears of traveling and public embarrassment, but none of that came out when she opened her mouth.
    “Jeb Gleason,” she said.
    Tim shook his head.
    “You met him when you came to see me at school. When I lived in that big pink stucco house on the hill? With those two blondes you called the Bobbsey Twins? Jeb was tall, thin, wore the big Panama hat?”
    “Jeb Gleason, “said Tim.” Yeah. Right. A lanky Dennis Quaid type, right? So what’s the big deal? An old boyfriend. You’re a grown-up girl now, all married and motherly. What’s the problem?”
    Jane shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t even know I was going to say that. It just hit me that if we go to L.A. and he’s a friend of this Bix woman, I’ll have to see him and it’s been so many years. He didn’t show up for my wedding. Remember? He called Marty’s during the reception and a waiter called me to the phone?”
    “Sorry, hon, I was drinking tequila and acting out my own little drama with Bill,” said Tim. “I think that might have been our third-to-last breakup. The one before the one that finally took.”
    “He didn’t say anything when I got on the phone. Just held it to the stereo so I could hear what he was listening to….”
    “Which was?”
    “I don’t remember. Really, I don’t. But it made me cry a little.”
    Jane moved over to her dressing table and leaned into the mirror until her nose nearly touched the glass. “I thought it might be nice to stay twenty-one in someone’s eyes.”
    Tim came over to stand behind Jane. Reaching over her shoulder, he placed his finger on the mirror, right beside her left eye. “See those fine lines there, baby? That’s from the smile Nick put on your face when he was born. When you look at him, even now, your whole face just gives in and gives it up for him.” Tim touched her lips reflected in the mirror. “And see, there’s just a hint of softness around the mouth here? That’s from whispering to Charley every night. And kissing. And being kissed. That’ll do it, too. I mean, if you kiss someone like you mean it. And I’ve seen you and Charley, honey. You both mean it.”
    Tim moved his right hand from her reflection and pointed in the mirror to her throat. “Look at that neck. Still long and graceful, yes, but hmm…” He ran a finger down the side of the mirror along her neck. “Yes, maybe the skin here is a touch less taut. And why would that be? Because you’ve lived some of your life and you’ve laughed and cried and been busy singing your story to the world.
    “Janie,” Tim said, straightening up and placing his hands on her shoulders. “You aren’t a pretty little twenty-one-year-old coed. You are a beautiful grown-up woman who has lived life deeply. If Jeb thought you were something back then, he will be blown away by the way you look now.”
    Jane smiled and put her hand over Tim’s.
    “You do have all your own teeth, right?” asked Tim.
    “Okay, okay, I know. It’s silly.”
    “And you wear the same size