Page 30

Tommy speaks in a bored drone. He’s clearly delivered this spiel many times before.

“The highest peak on the island is Mount Orizaba, at over two thousand feet in elevation. The island is also known for its wildlife and dive sites. It was first settled over seven thousand years ago and was originally inhabited by various Southern California tribes, including the Tongva. The Spanish were the first Europeans to claim it. It was then turned over to Mexico, and eventually the United States.”31

We’re driving at maximum golf cart speed along the two-lane main road. To the left are small shops painted in bright yellow and stark white. To the right, dozens of boats are moored inside the breakwater. Up ahead of us is a massive round structure that’s painted white with a terra-cotta roof—the Casino, which sits on a point overlooking the Pacific. It’s ten times bigger than any other building.

Whatever Tommy says, gambling is clearly the island’s most important commodity.

“Where is everyone?” I ask, pointing to the nearly empty high street.

“Most people left because of the storm.” His tone says that we shouldn’t be here either.

“Sorry you had to stay,” Harper says.

“That’s fine, miss. Catalina Island has long been a stop for smugglers, gold diggers, and pirates. There have also been hunters and missionaries, and it became a resort a hundred twenty-five years ago.”

“Do you think he’s talking about us?” I whisper to Harper.

“Smugglers, gold diggers, and pirates, oh my!”

We laugh as our cart moves through a small roundabout ontoSt. Catherine Way, which will take us to a second, more secluded bay where the Descanso Beach Club is located.

“In 1915, a fire burned down half the buildings in town, which led to the island being sold to William Wrigley Jr. of chewing gum fame. In 1921, Wrigley even had the Chicago Cubs do their spring training here. They trained here until 1951. And Wrigley invested a lot of money into the island, building the Casino.” Tommy points to it as we pass.

Oliver looks back at me. “I assume that’s where Connor will be spending the rest of his time?”

I smile at him. “No doubt.”

We drive past the Casino, and the golf cart takes a left and starts going up the hill. The engine sounds like it’s working overtime, but that doesn’t detract from the beauty. We’re surrounded by palm trees and flowering bushes, and the air smells floral and sweet.

“Catalina Island has always been a popular destination for Hollywood, especially during the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. More than five hundred films, documentaries, and commercials have been shot here over the years.”

We crest a turn and arrive at a complex of forty white villas with red-tile roofs and balconies overlooking the bay. We’re in a two-bedroom. Emma’s staying in one of the villas near us. She and Fred came over on a private boat early this morning because arriving by ferry didn’t quite fit with her ideas for her wedding.

We’d laughed about that when she told me, because our lives have ended up so differently from what we’d imagined when we made Barbie and Ken get married on a floating barge in the canal near our houses in Venice Beach. Back then, she wanted to be an astronaut andIwanted to be an actress.

You never know where life is going to take you.

That’s not a clue, just an observation.

The golf cart lurches to a stop.

“The Beach Club is down that path,” Tommy says, pointing to a paved path that winds through the terracotta-tiled villas. “The tennis court is up there. There’s a map of the property inside, and here are your keys.”

He hands us three sets of keys, and Oliver tips him as we grab our bags.

“Say,” Tommy says, suddenly shy. “Can I have your autograph?”

“Oh, you’ve read my books?”

“I...You’re not Emma Wood?”

Harper starts to laugh. “No, she’s not.”

“Sorry, miss.”

“It’s fine.”

“I’ll be getting back to the marina to meet the next ferry.” He blushes as he ducks into the golf cart and puts it in reverse. It starts to beep like a truck backing up.