Page 42 of Wynns of Change
Brunch ended and Harlow thanked him for inviting her to hang out.
“You’re welcome. Breakfast with you is like a breath of fresh air. You’re about as un-Hollywood/Hollywood as they come.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she laughed.
“Because it is. You have the spark, the sparkle to make movies magic. I hope the industry never turns you jaded and you lose what makes you stand out from the others, what sets you apart.”
“I’ll try to stay true to myself. Your words mean a lot, coming from one of the best directors in the biz.”
During the drive back to Malibu, Harlow thought about the conversation. Despite Steven’s comment, shehadbecome jaded in some ways. The accident had forced Harlow to take a long hard look at herself and it made her realize she was heading in the wrong direction. She hoped never to lose sight of who she was ever again.
By the time she arrived home, Aunt Birdie was packed and ready for her ride to the airport. “You gonna be okay?” she asked, as soon as they were on the road.
“I’m fine. The filming is ‘in the can,’ at least my part is.” Harlow told her aunt about brunch with Steven and their discussion about an upcoming mega movie role. “I hope I get it. He’s one of the best in the business. We work well together.”
“Did he say anything about Jillian?” Her aunt made a slicing motion across her neck. “About her getting cut?”
“Yeah. Hollywood is a tight-knit group. He already knew she was working with Zenwith.” Harlow pulled alongside the airport’s unloading zone and hopped out. She hurried around and helped her aunt with her bag. “Have fun in Phoenix.”
“I will.”
“When are you returning to Mackinac?”
“Before the holidays. The exact date is still up in the air,” Birdie said. “If you need me, you know how to reach me.”
“You betcha.” Harlow gave her a thumbs up. “Don’t worry about Dad and me. We’ll be fine.”
“I know you will. It’s Robert who concerns me.”
“If my plan works out as well as I hope it does, Robert will be on board to wrap things up ASAP.” Harlow gave her a warm hug. “We Wynns are a tough bunch.”
“Among the toughest.” Birdie thanked her for the ride before grabbing the handle of her bag and strolling inside the terminal.
Instead of heading back to the house, Harlow embarked on a sightseeing tour, not the kind tourists took, driving by celebrities’ homes to gawk or take pictures, but a tour of the places she’d lived in before hitting it big.
The dumpy little studio apartment she rented when she first arrived in California. Her second rental, a townhome on the outskirts of LA. The third, the first home she and Robert bought together.
Harlow parked across the street and studied the front. It was a charming California rambler. A simple single-story ranch home. They had purchased it, paying cash, after her debut mega movie project wrapped up. During the first year, the couple made a pact not to go into debt. If they couldn’t pay cash, they didn’t want it.
The pact only lasted until Robert saw the big checks, the big money rolling in. He started comparing their lives to the other stars. It was the beginning of him always wanting bigger and better.
The first few purchases had been fun. Never in her wildest dreams did Harlow think she could afford such high-end homes, expensive furnishings, and luxury vehicles. After a while, the fun faded, and the purchases turned into drudgery.
Not for Robert. He loved it. Loved having money at his fingertips. The memory was another reminder she and herhusband weren’t on the same page. Their life’s goals, even though they had only been married for a few short years, were not aligned…not by a longshot.
A small sigh escaped her lips. Although the couple started out with a modest home and vehicles, they were happy together. The mottomoney can’t buy happinesswas incredibly accurate. She knew tons of wealthy colleagues who were downright miserable.
Marriages and divorces within the industry were rampant. Marrying and staying married was like a needle in a haystack. Impossible to find. Yes, there were some stars who were still married after decades together, but they were few and far between.
Harlow drove aimlessly through the neighborhood she once called home. It dawned on her she was saying goodbye, goodbye to the life she had led. Her career would continue if she had anything to say about it. Buying a small place in California to use when she needed to be in LA was part of her plan.
On her way back to the house, she stopped by a fast-food restaurant to grab a bite to eat, ordering the healthiest thing she could find on the menu. Which wasn’t particularly difficult. California was filled with decent dining options.
Harlow pulled into an empty parking spot to people-watch while she ate. Looking back, she was glad Aunt Birdie had tagged along. She kept her distracted from the somber task of saying goodbye to a big part of her life.
It was over now, packing up the things that held sentimental value. Tomorrow morning, she would return the rental car to the airport, hop on a plane and head home to Mackinac Island.
Harlow briefly wondered how Robert would react when he found out she’d already been there, intentionally avoiding him.Little did her husband know he was in for an even bigger surprise.
