Free All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani

non-fade lipstick. She made another stack for inventors who wanted Loretta to represent their products.
    Loretta peeked in the door. “Anything good?”
    â€œI was told to send your photograph, but what they’d really like is a five-dollar bill.”
    â€œIf we sent everybody money, I couldn’t take care of my family.”
    â€œShould I send a picture anyway?”
    â€œJust make a stack, and we’ll figure it out. I’ve given letters to Father McNally, and he contacts the local parish if there’s a real need.”
    â€œIs there anything I can get you?”
    â€œI’m going to lie down during my break with an ice bag. I don’t have any pain, mind you, I want to cool off.” Loretta laughed. “LaWanda will come and get you and take you to the commissary for lunch. It’s fun. You’ll see lots of stars over there.”
    Loretta peeled off costume pieces as she made her way back to her dressing room. The crew was rigging lights for the scene after lunch. She was about to turn to enter her dressing room when she saw hercostar sitting alone on an extra park bench that hadn’t made it into the scenery. Spencer Tracy was reading the newspaper, which he had folded into a square about the size of a page in a book.
    â€œI could use a cold beer, how about you?”
    Spencer looked up at her and smiled. “Only if I could take a bath in it.”
    â€œThat’s not a bad idea.” Loretta sat down next to him on the bench. “Did you have lunch?”
    â€œJell-O.”
    â€œYou must be starving.”
    â€œI had a cup of grapes with it.”
    â€œThat must have been filling,” Loretta said wryly.
    â€œThey tell me that the only other leading man with my waist size is W. C. Fields.”
    â€œThat can’t be right.”
    â€œAccording to wardrobe, it’s right on the money. These are his pants.”
    Loretta laughed. “I was about to pay you a compliment.”
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œI think leading men should look like real men. And you do.”
    â€œYou call that a compliment?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd I was about to tell you that you’re not half bad looking.”
    â€œI can’t take any credit for it. I look like my mother. And she looked like her mother.”
    â€œThat’s usually how it goes.” Tracy rolled his newspaper into a tube. “You’re a fine actress.”
    â€œYou’re only as good as who you act with—”
    â€œHow do you think it went this morning?”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œBorzage knows what he’s doing.”
    â€œWe’ll see.” Loretta stood and smiled. “I’m going to take a rest.”
    â€œWhat about that beer?” Spencer grinned.
    â€œWhat are you doing for dinner?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œWould you like to come to my house?”
    â€œI figured you liked me, but I didn’t expect you to like me this much so soon.”
    â€œI don’t mean to give you the wrong impression.”
    â€œToo late for that.”
    â€œDinner at my house. It’s a loony bin. I have three sisters, Mama, our priest, Father McNally, Alda, my new secretary, two cats, one dog, and a canary that can’t sing.”
    â€œWhat time?”
    â€œSeven.”
    â€œRight after work.”
    â€œDoes that suit you?”
    â€œI live at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and I’m sick and tired of room service.”
    â€œYou theater people. Always in hotels. Movie people? We’re homebodies. Home-cooked all the way. My family is on Sunset. A few blocks from the hotel. You can walk home after dinner.”
    â€œThat close?”
    â€œFive minutes.”
    â€œThank you. It’s a date.”
    â€œIt’s dinner,” she corrected him.
    Spencer Tracy watched Loretta Young walk back to her dressing room. She was slender, but there was nothing small about her. She was a talented actress,