Starbright (10 page)

On the morning of Aidan’s race, Beth, Olivia, Connie, Matthew, and Nathan drove to Santa Barbara in Matthew’s Bentley. The women checked into one suite at the Fisco Gardens Hotel and the men checked into another, all on the same floor as Aidan. Upon their return from the race tonight, they would couple off discreetly.

Aidan left Los Angeles early yesterday morning to sign in, have an inspection completed on his car, and prepare for the race. He also wanted to speak with some of the other drivers to get a feel for the competition. His mechanic, Ralph, drove up with him, following him in a station wagon.

Aidan had telephoned Beth last night and explained the modifications he made to his Porsche, such as the addition of a driver’s side seatbelt, rebuilding of the carburetor, and changes to the body like removing the windshield to reduce drag. He also had the number twenty-four painted in black on the doors and rear engine deck lid.

Beth wasn’t familiar with many of the technical terms he used or the reasons behind many of the modifications, but the enthusiasm in his voice was enough to keep her interest throughout the conversation. She had to admit that the image of him working on his Porsche in a garage, shirtless and covered in grease, was very appealing.

Over the last two weeks, Aidan spent his days practicing at a local track to make up for the time he lost during his stay in Connecticut, while Beth put in long hours at the studio, filming two other dance routines for
Venus Rising
. As predicted by her friends, her contract had been extended to the full seven years and was even amended to include a generous raise negotiated by Mr. Stern on her behalf, according to her position and length of service at the studio.

The contract renewal made it easier for her to feel excited about moving into the new house with Olivia. With
Venus Rising
wrapping soon, Mr. Mertz was sifting through available scripts that suited her image in search of her next motion picture assignment. He would inform her of his selection in January. Until then, she could enjoy the remaining weeks of 1953 knowing her career was secure.

The First Annual Santa Barbara Road Races were held at the city’s municipal airport with the
runways and aircraft service roads serving as the course. A
idan entered the 1500 cc
Production D Class event, which meant he had a sports car with normal highway trim, engine, and headlights. He
would compete with thirty-nine other drivers in one of the last races of the afternoon on a track that was two-point-two miles long with nine turns. The entire race would last thirty-five laps.

The first things Beth noticed upon her arrival at the airport with her friends were the potent sounds and smells: octane fuel, burnt rubber, low rumbling engines, dust clouds kicked up by spinning car wheels.

The grounds were packed with a boisterous standing crowd of racing and sports car enthusiasts, reporters, friends, and families. They lined the course under a blazing
sun that loomed high in a clear desert sky
. Nathan said when word got out that Aidan was racing today, the press descended on the area in droves, although they wrote off his participation as a mere publicity stunt to coincide with his rebel image.

Last night on the telephone, Aidan shared with Beth that his goals were not merely to place in the top three today, but to win, and to prove he was not just some silly Hollywood performer who decided on a whim to enter a race for kicks. Beth was surprised. Normally, he didn’t care what others thought about him. This time, he sounded frustrated.

Aidan had practiced long and hard and didn’t desire special treatment or to be singled out because he was a famous actor. As far as he was concerned, he was just another dedicated competitor. He desired respect as a driver and was determined to give the race his all using everything he’d learned over the last few months.

Born in rural Fairfield, Indiana, Aidan’s seeds of talent in both acting and racing grew from ordinary soil. He insisted to Beth that he’d felt comfortable around cars and motorbikes since he was a child and she had nothing to worry about today.

Although he seemed like a very competent driver and would wear the required protective gear, she was still concerned for his safety. While waiting for his race to start, she’d overheard chatter about cars in earlier races blowing pistons, tires, and even crashing. Her most unsettling thoughts accompanied the news that drivers doused their racing suits in starch to reduce heat and the risk of catching fire should an accident occur.

The notion of Aidan in such a perilous situation made her stomach churn. Bales of hay sat along the course to protect a car should it swerve off the road, and ambulances remained on standby. Thankfully, no one had been seriously hurt, but the threat of danger was never far from Beth’s mind.

A racing official met the group and brought them to the designated VIP section. It was an open area cordoned off by rope, with a concession stand that supplied free water and exorbitantly priced alcoholic beverages.

Occupants included ticketholders who had spent more than the general admission fee to watch the races in as much comfort as possible, industry notables, celebrities, employees of the sponsoring companies, and race organizers.

Conveniently, the VIP area was located next to an airplane hangar that served as the press tent, where reporters and photographers retired between races to relax or take advantage of their close proximity to their prominent neighbors and seek out interviews.

Beth took in her surroundings from under the wide brim of her hat. Her vantage point from the front of the VIP section gave her a clear view of many drivers and cars, and a good chunk of the course as well. She hadn’t seen Aidan since her arrival in Santa Barbara, but he’d warned her they probably wouldn’t meet up until after the race, given the preparations he had to undertake beforehand.

“What time is Aidan’s race supposed to start?” Connie fanned her frowning face with Matthew’s racing program. “No wonder some race events prohibit women in attendance. Only men would get excited about a bunch of cars driving around in circles. I’m bored, this heat is unbearable, and if I have to dodge one more autograph request, reporter, or photographer, I’m going to scream.”

“Come on, honey, aren’t you the least bit excited?” Matthew motioned to a race car that blew by them on the way to the pit road. “I mean, it doesn’t get any closer than this. We’ve got the best spot in the place.”

A crinkle of her nose was her only reply.

Olivia giggled. “If you had followed my advice and wore a light cotton dress like me and Beth, perhaps you’d feel more comfortable.”

Connie’s frowned deepened. “I don’t see what’s wrong with my outfit.”

Olivia looked her over with raised eyebrows.

Connie dressed in a form fitting pink blouse, navy blue pencil skirt, and matching stiletto heels. Her white gloves, dark sunglasses, and wide scarf, which she wore like a headband, made her look glamorous and pretentious, not desert or race-appropriate.

“Just be glad you aren’t in a suit,” Matthew said, referring to the attire he and Nathan wore. He placed a kiss on Connie’s cheek and her sour puss transformed into a gleaming smile.

“They should be calling up the drivers shortly.” Nathan put his arm around Olivia. “They’re just restoring the track after the last race.”

“I’m so excited!” Olivia looked to Beth. “Aren’t you?”

Beth pushed aside her concerns about Aidan racing. No one else seemed to share her reservations, and she didn’t want to dampen the mood.

“I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen so far,” she replied, putting on her best smile. “With Aidan competing, I think my excitement will rise to a whole new level.”

Matthew grinned at Connie. “See, darling. Women can enjoy racing, too.”

Connie sighed and looked away, fanning her face faster with the racing program.

Extra conscientious of the high press turnout at the race, as not to make any wrong moves and draw suspicion about the true reason for her attendance today, Beth spotted a reporter heading toward the group before any of her friends did. He wore a press pass around his neck, a pencil sat tucked behind his ear, and he carried a small, spiral-bound notepad.

His grin widened upon his approach. “Clark Huston, entertainment writer for the
Los Angeles Times
. Do y’all mind if I ask you some questions?”

“That’s fine. But please make it quick.” Nathan’s reply was all business. “We don’t want to miss the next race.”

Mr. Huston nodded. “Sure thing, Mr. Taggart.”

Beth wasn’t surprised the reporter knew Nathan’s name. Though not a public figure, he was well known to everyone connected to the movie industry.

Connie lowered her sunglasses and flashed Matthew a look that said,
not again
, but she didn’t make a fuss. Most likely, she knew, as Beth did, that it was impossible to avoid the press altogether.

Connie was the reporter’s first target.

“Miss Murphy, what brings you to the races today?”

The smile she presented Mr. Huston was nothing short of red carpet-worthy, indicating her movie star persona was turned on in full force.

“Matthew has long held an interest in sports cars,” she said in an extra sultry voice. “As his girlfriend, I’m happy to be here and support his love of racing.”

The reporter wrote down her reply. “Mr. McKenna, have you ever considered racing yourself?”

Matthew straightened his tie, a proud aura accompanying his poise. “I own quite a few fine automobiles, and as Connie said, I do love the sport. For now, though, I think I’ll stick to being a winner on the music charts instead of the racetrack.”

The reporter chuckled and wrote down his response.

“And Miss Sutton, what brings you to the race today?” Mr. Huston looked to Beth in anticipation of her answer.

Beth took the question in stride. Nathan had coached her beforehand on what to say. “I’m here with my roommate and Starlight Studios stylist, Olivia Weston. Nathan Taggart is her beau and a good friend of Mr. Aidan Evans. I’ve come to offer additional support.”

After a few more questions, the reporter tipped his hat and left. It was just as well, because what transpired next would’ve been hard for Beth not to react to.

There was a grand shift in the atmosphere as a buzz of excitement stirred the crowd around her. Then Aidan appeared, strutting along the sidelines with Ralph, his mussed artist hair glinting copper in the late afternoon sun. He walked on the opposite side of the road, but Beth could still make him out perfectly in all of his racing glory. He wore a dark blue racing suit zipped to mid-chest, revealing a white T-shirt underneath, and black boots. A cigarette dangled from his lips. His eyebrows were drawn over dark sunglasses as he listened to his mechanic.

Beth had never seen Aidan in full racing attire before and couldn’t decide whether he looked sexier like this or in his usual garb. The female spectators seemed as captivated by him as she was. Even other drivers, who stood nearby, stopped what they were doing to stare at him.

Beth wanted to call out to him, but there was no way she could do so without raising questions. Nathan and Matthew announced a collective decision not to disturb him because he was deep in discussion. All she could do was wait and hope he would notice her.

Only one reporter had the gall to scramble after him. The rest instructed their photographers to snap pictures at a distance.

Aidan’s irritation was written all over his face as the reporter approached. Without breaking his stride, he tossed what looked like a terse remark over his shoulder and took an intense drag on his cigarette. As he exhaled, he popped the collar of his racing suit, accompanied by a cocky shrug, and resumed his conversation with Ralph.

The reporter fell back and returned to his post.

That was when Aidan spotted Beth. She knew the moment it happened, even though he wore sunglasses, because her favorite smile of his appeared—the one he faithfully shared only with her. It lit his face brighter than the desert sun.

Beth’s heart pounded like it was trying to break through her ribcage as she lifted her lips in her own secret smile. Then, as quickly as he arrived, he was gone, ushered in the direction of the pit road by a racing official. The crowd settled, and Beth returned her attention to her friends, but her exchange with him remained at the forefront of her thoughts.

Soon, revving car engines could be heard in the distance, sending shockwaves through the ground and jolting the crowd back to life.

Beth grasped Olivia’s hand and squeezed.

Cars emerged from the pit road in pairs and drove onto the course. Beth knew what Aidan’s Porsche looked like, but the easiest way for her to identify him in the group was from the number twenty-four he’d painted on it. He wore an open-faced white helmet, dark goggles, and his gloved hands gripped the steering wheel.

“Go Aidan!” Matthew bellowed.

Connie darted her eyes at her beau. “Be quiet. You’re causing a scene.”

Matthew laughed. “Come on, darling. Our boy needs some encouragement.”

Olivia cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, “Go Aidan!”

Some of the women in the vicinity shot her stern looks. Olivia merely giggled.

If Beth wasn’t so worried about her beau’s safety or causing suspicion about the true nature of their relationship, she would’ve called out her support as well, regardless of what others considered unacceptable behavior for a lady.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” a man said over the loudspeakers. “Welcome to the 1500 cc
Production D Class event
of the First Annual Santa Barbara Road Races!”

The crowd clapped, and some men whistled their enthusiasm.

Beth squinted against the sun, anticipating the race as the drivers came back around the course and waited for the go-ahead.

A racing official waved a green flag.

“And they’re off!”

At the starting announcement, a streak of cars roared past her along the straight portion of the track and entered into the first turn, their screeching tires stirring up dust as the drivers fought for position. Left behind was the eye-watering stench of gasoline fumes. Beth was so surprised by the speeds at which they traveled she lost sight of Aidan’s car in the group.