A Christmas Carol In Romance (Christmas In Romance Book 5)

by Franky A Brown

  “I’m glad, Cassie.” He turned his eyes back to the field. “Proposing on the radio was stupid, wasn’t it?”

  Cassie nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

  “Is it too late to say I’m sorry?”

  “Yes.” Her smile told him she was joking.

  “Well, I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry too, Andy. I really am.”

  Andy wrapped his arm around her again and they continued their walk under the stars. Around the building, they headed back to the auditorium and weaved their way backstage to retrieve their things.

  Granny was drilling Christmas ghosts on the proper ways to enter and exit the stage. No one paid much attention to them as Andy led Cassie back out the exit door.

  “Why are we going this way again?”

  “We’re trying to sneak out. We can’t walk out the front door.”

  Cassie pointed a finger in his face. “You’re buying the hot chocolate.”

  “Deal. Here, let’s run, it’ll warm us up.”

  “What? In this thing?”

  Andy raced off and Cassie laughed.

  “You’re crazy!” She gathered up her skirt and laid it over her forearm, and ran after him.

  They dashed around the building and reached the parking lot completely out of breath. Andy clicked his key fob to unlock his car and opened the door for Cassie.

  She hopped in, he closed it behind her, then jumped into the driver’s seat. Off they went downtown with the heat on full blast to Della’s Diner.

  Andy walked around the car, opened the door to let her out, and held his hand out to help her up.

  “We’re a little overdressed for this.”

  Cassie took his hand and walked with him into the diner.

  “We’ll order the fanciest chocolate they have.”

  “Oh, okay. Good plan.” Cassie giggled.

  There weren’t many people in the diner that evening, but they did turn a few heads. Maybe it was their costumes, but, more likely, it was Cassie. She was gorgeous wearing anything, even now with her hair frazzled from running around the high school.

  “Do you think Granny Mary will yell at us?”

  “It’ll be fine. She probably won’t miss us at all.”

  The waitress came by to take their order.

  “We’ll take your fanciest hot chocolate, please,” Andy said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “There’s actually only one kind of hot chocolate we serve here. Sorry.”

  Cassie leaned her elbows on the table. “Just give us extra marshmallows, it’ll be fine.”

  “And feel free to toss in some chocolate chips…and a candy cane.”

  The waitress smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

  Cassie watched him and rested her chin atop one fist. “You are still in high school, aren’t you?”

  “What?” Andy spread out his hands. “People don’t grow too old for chocolate chips and candy canes.”

  Cassie’s smile gave Andy’s heart a squeeze. “You’ve got a point there.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Cassie was up early the next morning and off to the historic Esmerelda Theater to help set up for the play.

  She felt as if she could float away, she was so happy. They’d talked last night until the shop closed and it felt so natural. Like the old days.

  The Esmerelda was a large old-fashioned movie palace built in the 1930s. It was largely unchanged with an Art Deco design with red plush seats and a large balcony.

  Cassie loved the design. It was like walking into an old movie.

  Only a few people were there, putting up curtain partitions on the floor on either side of the stage. Those curtains would serve as their backstage area.

  More cast members flowed in, and others who’d come to help set up. A team of men carried in the large background with painted buildings in a row to depict old London.

  Another team carried in a background painted like the inside of Scrooge’s bedroom. They nearly passed her before Cassie realized Andy was the man carrying the other side of it.

  “Hey.” Cassie waved.

  Andy nodded since his hands were full. “Hey.”

  Cassie pointed to the painting. “Are these new?”

  Andy had to keep moving, so Cassie followed. “Yes, Granny had some local artists paint these.”

  “They’re amazing.”

  Cassie stopped at the end of the rows of seats and watched Andy and his partner carry the background behind one of the partitions.

  Props were carried in and the choir arrived. Granny Mary marched in and began directing the flow of those carrying the supplies for the play.

  Andy went back outside and came back in with a team of men carrying speakers and sound equipment.

  They all worked hard getting everything set up the way Granny Mary wished it, then the extra helpers were dismissed and only the cast was left.

  “Have a seat, everyone.” Granny waved them toward the seats in the front row.

  After all that work, the heater seemed like it was up too high. Cassie took a seat and Andy sat beside her, causing her heart to skip a few beats. She pulled a tissue from her purse to dab her forehead.

  “I have someone helping me with the lighting tonight. These floor lights on the stage here”—she turned around and tapped one of them on the stage behind her—“will turn off for each scene change. Exit the stage as quietly as possible, and be sure to remember which direction yer to go.”

  Granny raised her finger in the air. “Remember what I said about the show going on?”

  The members all around Cassie answered affirmatively. She’d certainly reminded them all numerous times.

  Andy pulled out his phone and tapped around a minute, then the sounds of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” blared out. Cassie and their castmates erupted in laughter.

  Granny glared at Andy and placed her hands on her tiny hips.

  Andy switched it off, then shoved the phone in his pocket, giving Granny Mary his full attention.

  Granny kept her stern expression a few more seconds, then shook her head and waved her arms to the side. “All right then, whatever helps you lot remember. If you skip a line, lose yer lunch, fall on yer face, whatever. I don’t care what happens to you up there, the show goes on.”

  Cassie was afraid to turn away while Granny Mary was reciting her speech, so she turned her eyes to the side to see Andy stifling a laugh with a hand over his mouth.

  “Granny, you forgot about what to do if our costume flies off.”

  “I am serious about that, Andrew. If yer costume flies off we’ll take care of it during scene breaks…or intermission. Whatever makes the most sense at the time. But there is no excuse I’ll accept for interrupting the show.”

  Cassie chuckled thinking of the possibilities, then clamped her mouth shut. She watched Andy pressing his lips together to keep from laughing. His eyes were twinkling.

  “Thank you all, everyone has worked so hard on this production and I’m so excited. I need every one of ya back here in full costume and makeup at half past five. See ya then!”

  “Hope she only meant makeup for the ladies.” Andy stood as Granny and the others in the theater made their way out.

  “From what I understand, the ghosts will have some Halloween makeup to make them look white and pasty.”

  “Glad that’s not me.”

  “You ready for tonight?” Cassie asked, slipping her hands in her jean pockets.

  “Of course.” He lifted his wrist and checked his watch. “I’d do another run-through of my lines for the ten-thousandth time, but I’m afraid I’ll lose my sanity completely.”

  “You’ll do great. I’m going to see if Aunt Sue needs any help. She had some last-minute adjustments for one of the costumes.”

  “Okay.” Andy paused a moment and they merely stared at each other, neither one turning away to go.

  Cassie was mesmerized. Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she realized how she must look just standing there. Sh
e ran a hand through her hair. Her eyes flitted to the floor, then back to his face. “Okay, I’ll see you later then.”

  “Say hello to Sue.”

  “Oh…sure, see you tonight.” She picked up her coat and headed out.

  Andy had her feeling light on her feet. If only she knew if he felt the same way.

  ***

  Andy didn’t want to wait until that evening to see her again. He almost went over to her aunt’s house to ask if they needed any help, but stopped himself.

  He arrived at the theater in full costume at exactly 5:30 as instructed. Children were running around the town square across the street, laughing and playing. School was out for the holidays, and Andy smiled as he remembered how exciting it had been as a child to have Christmas coming so soon.

  His teeth began chattering and he rushed to the entrance. He wished he’d worn his larger coat over the costume jacket. Andy chuckled to himself. There he was shivering after giving Cassie a hard time for not wearing a better coat before going out. With Cassie on his mind, it was difficult to focus. But he was in costume and on time.

  He strolled through the theater and saw most everyone was already there, with more arriving behind him. Soon they had a full cast of Dickens characters in the Esmerelda.

  Granny called out names from a clipboard in her hands, making sure everyone was there.

  “Cassie?”

  Andy surveyed the group, then caught sight of her coming down the center aisle. He gulped. She was in the green dress again, this time with her hair twisted up. Brown curls spilled out from the back. She was stunning. It left him wondering if he were still breathing.

  He hoped his eyes weren’t popping out.

  Cassie lifted an eyebrow. “Do I look all right?”

  He opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

  Fortunately, Granny did. “Beautiful, lassie. That color really brings out yer eyes. Isn’t she lovely, Andrew?”

  “Perfect,” he managed.

  “Okay, now that yer all here…” Granny gave them a final speech about what they should and shouldn’t do if anything went wrong with the performance and even insisted everyone practice going up and down the stairs on each side of the stage.

  The background with the city buildings was set up and the choir was warming up.

  The time grew closer, and the cast settled behind the partitions as patrons began to gradually fill the theater.

  Andy leaned against the wall, his stomach twisting.

  Cassie came up beside him and nudged him with her elbow. “You nervous?”

  Andy shook his head. “Nope.”

  “You sure? Most of the town is coming to this thing.”

  Andy nudged her back.

  “Hey, guys.” Mark approached them and tipped his ridiculous top hat. “Didn’t you get one of these?” He indicated his hat.

  Andy’s lip twisted. “It turns out it blew away.”

  Cassie sent him a curious look. “What?”

  “Costume malfunction.” Andy shrugged. “Show goes on anyway, right?”

  “You never had a hat, did you?” Cassie whispered in his ear.

  Andy winked at her, his heart thudding in his ears with the feel of her warm breath against his ear.

  “You look beautiful this evening, Cassie.” Mark reached out a hand to her. “You could have stepped right out of Dickens’s story.”

  “Thank you.” Cassie blushed.

  Andy clenched his fists and shoved them in his coat pockets.

  “I would ask if you’d like to warm up for our dance, but there really isn’t enough room back here.”

  The show choir teens and two of the Christmas ghosts were with them behind this curtain, along with the cot and mattress for Scrooge’s bed.

  “You don’t think you’re ready, Mark?” Andy asked, wanting to poke a hole in his stupid top hat.

  “Oh, I’m ready.” Mark eyed him without blinking and Andy got the idea he was annoyed. “How about you?”

  Everything about Mark bugged him. “I am absolutely ready for this, Mark.”

  Granny ran from the other curtain across the stage and down the steps to their side, waving a paper in her hand. “There’s been a horrible mistake with the program.” Granny held it out for Andy and he took it. “It’s horrible.”

  Andy read as Cassie leaned in to look over his shoulder.

  A CHRISTMAS CAROL

  Based on the novel by Chorles Dickens

  Adapted and Directed by

  Mary McKay

  Music by the

  Romance Christian Church Choir

  Ebenezer Scrooge – Wally Schwartz

  Jacob Marley – Tony Schwartz

  Nephew Fred – Silas Tobin

  Bob Cratchit – Max Collins

  Mrs. Cratchit – Mallory McKay

  Ghost of Christmas Past – Bree Sampson

  Ghost of Christmas Present – Toby Pendleton

  Ghost of Christmas Future – Carl Grover

  Tiny Tim – Randy Spooner

  Fezziwig – Jonathan Benson

  Belle – Cassie Winston

  Young Scrooge – Andrew McKay

  Fezziwig Party Guests: Mark Howell, Annie Sampson, Tyler Bowers, Carl Grover, Keri Matthews

  Many Thanks to Our Sponsors:

  Esmerelda Theater, Sweet Retreat, Interlude Inn, Desiree’s Dresses, 96.1 the Beaver Jam, Sweet Hearts Pastry & Treats

  “It’s not so bad, Granny.” Andy held the program back and showed his teeth while wrinkling his nose. “Maybe no one will notice.”

  “It says Chorles Dickens. Chorles! Fiona told me she proofed it before printing. Now the whole theater has programs maligning the legend of the eminent Charles Dickens, and here we are about to perform one of his finest works.”

  Andy put his arm around her shoulder. “Here, Granny, why don’t I make an announcement before it starts and apologize for the error?”

  He didn’t think the glaring typo would ruin the night, but he knew how much Granny loved the play and how much work she’d put into making everything perfect. He would do anything for his granny.

  Granny sniffled and patted his cheek. “Thank you, Andrew. Yer a good lad. But yer aunt Fiona should explain it to the audience. I taught her better than this.”

  Andy smiled. His aunt Fiona was Granny’s youngest daughter, and she was sure to get an earful. “Will you go find her, please?”

  “Of course, Granny.” Though leaving Cassie and Mark behind the curtain without him didn’t sit well with him, he plunged on his mission to find Aunt Fiona.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Cassie took one of the extra scripts Granny Mary left in a stack and read through her lines again. Fortunately, Mark’s attention was claimed by a conversation with the Christmas ghosts.

  She wished she’d never flirted with Mark; now she was trying her best not to send him any welcoming signals.

  It was almost seven o’clock and the choir took their places in front of the city background.

  A few minutes before the hour, Andy slipped back behind the curtain with his aunt and they whispered back and forth while he led her up the stage. Granny walked up and the stage lights blinked on.

  “Thank you all for coming to this year’s performance of A Christmas Carol. I hope this helps bring you plenty of Christmas spirit. Dickens’s story inspires giving to the less fortunate, and we are happy to have raised so much to help the homeless in our community. I’d like to extend a special thank-you to Marianne Carter for opening the Esmerelda Theater to our play. Thank you also to all the volunteers and sponsors for helping this show come together. We have a wonderful cast this year that has worked hard to bring you this tonight. So we shall proceed…after one brief announcement from my daughter Fiona.”

  Granny handed the microphone to Fiona and stood to her right side, glowering at her.

  “Everyone, I’d like to apologize for the typo in the program. A Christmas Carol was of course written by Charles Dickens and we do apologize.” Fio
na smiled at Granny, who nodded in approval. “Enjoy the show.”

  Cassie hoped that settled Granny Mary’s nerves. Next Granny waved her hand in the air on the other side of the stage and someone turned the music on over the theater’s speakers.

  The choir sang “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” then Wally Schwartz, wearing a fake beard, stepped up to the stage from the other side and the play began with Scrooge grumbling about Christmas carolers.

  Granny Mary had tables in each backstage area with boxes of tissues and water bottles, and extra copies of the script. A small battery-powered lantern sat at the bottom of each stairway leading up to the stage. Granny Mary didn’t want anyone tripping going up or down when the stage lights were off.

  Andy reached out in the dim light and gave Cassie’s hand a squeeze. She kept hold of his hand while hers tingled.

  So far, the show had gone smoothly without any mishaps. However, once Scrooge had been visited by Marley’s ghost and lay down in his bed, Bree made her way up the steps to the stage, wearing a long sparkly silver robe as the Ghost of Christmas Past. As soon as she stepped toward Scrooge’s bed, she tripped on her hem and fell flat on her face.

  Cassie and the others backstage gasped.

  Wally stood up from the cot that was his bed. He obviously wanted to help from the concern in his eyes, but Granny walked out from the curtain and waved around a script.

  Wally got the message. The show had to go on. “Are you the Spirit whose coming was foretold to me?”

  Bree pushed herself up, wincing, and when she stood, she lifted one foot. “I am!”

  “Is she okay?” Cassie whispered to Andy beside her.

  “She’s making it.”

  “Well, at least everyone still has their costumes on.” Cassie sent Andy a half smile and he grinned.

  Mark stood on Cassie’s other side, leaning in farther than she would like. She resisted the urge to elbow him in the stomach.

  “Who, and what, are you?” Scrooge asked the ghost.

  Bree raised her hand and limped forward. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.”