back to his usual, goofy self. “Absolutely, mon frère . I just need some celluloid to test the old Whisper Reel and we’re good to go. I think there’s some footage in the locker back there. Why don’t you see if there’s something we can use to put this baby through her paces.”
Thomas walked to the cabinet and Mike nodded at Toni, indicating that she should follow. She stood at his side while Thomas opened the metal doors and tilted his head to read the labels on the film canisters inside. “‘A Sailor on Holiday’, ‘Jessica’s Great Adventure’, ‘Rolf the Talking Dog’, and…” Thomas paused and swept his fingers over the yellowed paper label. “I can’t believe it.” He backed up and Mike slid the stool behind him. Thomas sat down hard, shook his head and stared into the cabinet. “I just can’t believe it.”
Thomas bent his head and his handsome face contorted as the sobs overtook him. Toni looked to Mike for guidance. Her guardian just nodded then inclined his head towards the cabinet. Toni read the label that had so shaken Thomas, “‘The Gentleman’s Wish?’”
With his head still bowed, Thomas held out his hand and Toni went to him. He drew her close and buried his face into her breast. Toni glanced up at Mike and wrinkled her forehead, silently asking him what she should do. Mike winked and walked quietly from the room.
Chapter Five
Telling Toni the truth about Claudette was a life-changing moment for Thomas. He felt as if a millstone had been lifted from his chest. When he’d told her that his late grandmother had been speaking to him since the day she’d died, Toni had accepted the admission without judgement. And when she’d confessed that her encounter with the ghost of Kip Monroe had been intimate, Thomas had willingly shown her the same grace. He loved this woman—this curvy little Italian-American fireball of a psychic woman. He felt certain that every choice he had made in his life up to this point had led him to her.
Now as he sat next to her in the renovated theatre, he wondered how he’d been so lucky to find her and what he would have to do to spend the rest of his days at her side. The house lights dimmed and the art on the walls glowed under hidden black lights. Thomas’ mouth dropped open as he scanned the restored murals. Dreamlike scenes of couples enjoying moonlit picnics seemed to come alive. Toni squeezed his hand and he knew she was looking too.
The speakers crackled and Mike said, “Okay folks, take a deep breath and look up.”
Thomas craned his neck and looked up at the coved ceiling. The illusion of a starry night appeared overhead. Thomas felt at once small and limitless at the sight of it. The notion of a boundless universe was not lost on him and he was filled with awe. In a guileless moment he turned and pressed his mouth against Toni’s. Her soft, warm lips opened to him and he allowed himself to get lost in the kiss.
Mike’s voice interrupted them. He’d made his way down from the projection booth and stood on the stage, with Bridget at his side, speaking without the benefit of a microphone. “Does everybody have champagne?”
Thomas and Toni raised their glasses. Toni shouted, “Woo hoo!” and Thomas whistled through his teeth.
Bridget kissed Mike on the cheek and he tugged her close. “I am so grateful to have all of you in my life. We’ve done good things here. Together we’ve restored a piece of history. Your hard work has brought this movie palace back from the dead. This is the realisation of a dream for me. That it was accomplished with the love and devotion of good friends is nothing short of heaven. I love you. I thank you. I share this moment with you.”
Thomas raised his glass and couldn’t help but notice that Mike gave an extra moment of attention to Toni. He didn’t feel threatened or jealous. He was somehow proud that the woman he loved had been the catalyst for so much positive change. He gulped
Thomas walked to the cabinet and Mike nodded at Toni, indicating that she should follow. She stood at his side while Thomas opened the metal doors and tilted his head to read the labels on the film canisters inside. “‘A Sailor on Holiday’, ‘Jessica’s Great Adventure’, ‘Rolf the Talking Dog’, and…” Thomas paused and swept his fingers over the yellowed paper label. “I can’t believe it.” He backed up and Mike slid the stool behind him. Thomas sat down hard, shook his head and stared into the cabinet. “I just can’t believe it.”
Thomas bent his head and his handsome face contorted as the sobs overtook him. Toni looked to Mike for guidance. Her guardian just nodded then inclined his head towards the cabinet. Toni read the label that had so shaken Thomas, “‘The Gentleman’s Wish?’”
With his head still bowed, Thomas held out his hand and Toni went to him. He drew her close and buried his face into her breast. Toni glanced up at Mike and wrinkled her forehead, silently asking him what she should do. Mike winked and walked quietly from the room.
Chapter Five
Telling Toni the truth about Claudette was a life-changing moment for Thomas. He felt as if a millstone had been lifted from his chest. When he’d told her that his late grandmother had been speaking to him since the day she’d died, Toni had accepted the admission without judgement. And when she’d confessed that her encounter with the ghost of Kip Monroe had been intimate, Thomas had willingly shown her the same grace. He loved this woman—this curvy little Italian-American fireball of a psychic woman. He felt certain that every choice he had made in his life up to this point had led him to her.
Now as he sat next to her in the renovated theatre, he wondered how he’d been so lucky to find her and what he would have to do to spend the rest of his days at her side. The house lights dimmed and the art on the walls glowed under hidden black lights. Thomas’ mouth dropped open as he scanned the restored murals. Dreamlike scenes of couples enjoying moonlit picnics seemed to come alive. Toni squeezed his hand and he knew she was looking too.
The speakers crackled and Mike said, “Okay folks, take a deep breath and look up.”
Thomas craned his neck and looked up at the coved ceiling. The illusion of a starry night appeared overhead. Thomas felt at once small and limitless at the sight of it. The notion of a boundless universe was not lost on him and he was filled with awe. In a guileless moment he turned and pressed his mouth against Toni’s. Her soft, warm lips opened to him and he allowed himself to get lost in the kiss.
Mike’s voice interrupted them. He’d made his way down from the projection booth and stood on the stage, with Bridget at his side, speaking without the benefit of a microphone. “Does everybody have champagne?”
Thomas and Toni raised their glasses. Toni shouted, “Woo hoo!” and Thomas whistled through his teeth.
Bridget kissed Mike on the cheek and he tugged her close. “I am so grateful to have all of you in my life. We’ve done good things here. Together we’ve restored a piece of history. Your hard work has brought this movie palace back from the dead. This is the realisation of a dream for me. That it was accomplished with the love and devotion of good friends is nothing short of heaven. I love you. I thank you. I share this moment with you.”
Thomas raised his glass and couldn’t help but notice that Mike gave an extra moment of attention to Toni. He didn’t feel threatened or jealous. He was somehow proud that the woman he loved had been the catalyst for so much positive change. He gulped
Similar Books
