Page 108 of Just Like in the Movies

He crossed the foyer, propelled by the need to rope his arm around Ruby’s waist and anchor her to his side as he turned to his mother and said, ‘Just in case anyone’s interested, I’ll agree to sell to you, Mom.’

He felt an odd wrench in his chest as he took his mom’s hand to shake on the deal. Glancing around the theatre, he took in the moulding he’d spent hours repairing, the new baseboards he’d hammered into place a week ago, the fresh paint and gleaming brasswork on the concession stand, and sighed.

It would actually be kind of hard not to have a part of this place anymore. But as Ruby leaned up to kiss his cheek he could feel the joy vibrating through her, and she murmured, ‘Thank you.’ He had no regrets.

Matty Devlin had given him half of his dream.

And by some miracle, it had morphed into him finding his own dream – to live with Ruby by his side for the rest of his life – and then finally figuring out how to make it come true.

He would buy that place in Chepstow Villas, and set up an office in London to develop his business in Europe. And Ruby could run The Royale.

But he also intended to prise her away from time to time so they could travel, and he could give her the adventures she’d missed out on.

The Royal wasn’t her whole life anymore. And his business wasn’t his whole life anymore either.

They had each other now, and there was nothing they couldn’t do together. He was sure of it. Just as he was now pretty sure Auntie Em and Uncle Henry had managed to rescue Toto from the abattoir for Dorothy after all.

Ignoring his mom’s laugh of encouragement, and the murmur of excited conversation from their eager audience, he gripped Ruby’s cheeks and said, ‘You’re welcome.’

Before sinking into the kiss.

Selling his half of The Royale wasn’t an end, it was a beginning.

For them to get started on the rest of their lives.

THE END