Deck the Halls

by Leah Sanders

  “I’m going to go get you some breakfast. Will you be okay here for a few minutes?” He stood and waited for her answer which came in the form of her soft, even breaths. Luca slipped the coffee cup out of her hands, spread the blanket over her, and propped a pillow beside her to keep her from tipping over, then he leaned close and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

  “Everything’s going to be okay,” he whispered, then he left.

  WHEN KATE AWOKE, THE light filtering in from the bathroom seemed to sear her brain, and she shielded her eyes. There were two bottles of water sitting on the coffee table in front of her. A scribbled note on a sheet of the resort letterhead lay beside them.

  Kate, hope you’re feeling better. I left some water for you. Drink it. I’m going to hold Mrs. Hall off as long as possible, but you might want to text her as soon as you’re ready to face the wrath. She’s on the warpath. I’ll be back to check on you around dinner time.

  Luca

  A knock sounded on the door, sounding a little too much like a sledgehammer slamming onto her skull. She covered her ears and stood clumsily to her feet, then stumbled toward the door.

  “Who is it?” she whispered hoarsely. Her mouth was like sand. She glanced back at the water waiting on the table. There was a vague recollection of there being a pile of tiny alcohol bottles there earlier. The pounding on the door rocked her brain, and she dove for the latch, to open it before whoever it was made her head explode.

  It wasn’t latched though. Odd. She opened the door a crack and peered into the hall. It was Luca.

  “Hi,” he whispered. “Can I come in?”

  Kate hesitated a minute. Luca had been here earlier. The memory was foggy, but it was there.

  “Sure.” She opened the door and let him through.

  “How are you feeling?” He still whispered. That was a mercy anyway. “Have you had any water?” He was carrying a tray from the kitchen. The smell made her stomach turn.

  “I…” she began, but when her gravelly voice ricocheted off the insides of her skull, she thought better of it and carefully shook her head.

  Luca set the tray on the coffee table. He opened one of the water bottles and handed it to her. “Trust me.”

  She drank it slowly at first, then finished it off. He handed her the second bottle. Kate took her place on the couch, resting her head against the back. She didn’t remember ever feeling so miserable. That was probably why she rarely drank much.

  “So…” Luca leaned against the kitchen counter and folded his arms over his chest. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “There’s nothing to talk about really. I mean, clearly, I shouldn’t be indulging in Christmas cheer.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “I think the Christmas cheer is alright, but you might want to avoid the rum.” He lifted a hand to gesture at the seat beside her. “May I?”

  “Sure.” Something was familiar about having him beside her on the couch. “Um… did I say anything weird before?”

  “You were really enamored with the word count,” he said, smiling at her.

  “Oh, geez.”

  “To be fair, it is an interesting word. Count. Count. Count Drac-u-la.” Luca snickered.

  Kate swatted at him. “Stop!” Too loud, too soon. “Shh!” More to herself, as she cringed from the stabbing pain in her head. Having her words echoed back at her seemed to strike a chord in her memory, and she closed her eyes in embarrassment, cringing inwardly. Another very good reason to never indulge again.

  She opened an eye to peek at him. He was staring at her oddly.

  She was almost afraid to ask. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

  “You really like my sexy smile.” Luca flashed it again, as if to rub it in. “And my accent makes your—”

  “My knees weak… oh my word.” Kate buried her face in her hands. She couldn’t bear to look at him.

  “Ah, so it’s true,” he whispered, nudging her arm with his. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone how smitten you are with me. However, I do have a confession of my own to make…” Luca reached for her hands and peeled them away from her face, turning her toward him.

  “What’s that?” she asked, cringing at what might be coming. Something told her she had said something even more humiliating, and she wasn’t anxious to be reminded of it.

  His gaze dropped to her mouth.

  “I can’t stop thinking about your lips either.” And before his words registered in her brain, his lips crushed to hers, halting any further thought.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Don We Now Our Gay Apparel

  “I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY, KATE,” MRS. HALL said the moment she opened the door that morning. “When you called in sick yesterday, I had to use one of the resort’s bunglers to get everything done, and he was miserably inadequate.”

  “Sorry about that, Mrs. Hall.”

  Mrs. Hall examined her closely. “I don’t think you are, but never mind. I just don’t want it to happen again. What was wrong with you anyway? The fools downstairs just kept saying you were ordered to rest by the on-staff doctor.”

  “She was probably sleeping off a bender,” Jake said. “You know how all these working-class people cover for each other.” He was sitting across the room, eating a scone, and looking rather glassy-eyed himself.

  Kate studied him. What did he know about it?

  “Stop talking through your hat, Jake,” his mother said, rolling her eyes. “Our Kate is not one of them.” She turned back to Kate. “Never mind. Let’s just get our day organized. The Christmas ball is this evening in the village.” She pointed at the window. “Naturally, it’s snowing, so there’s nothing else to do but prepare for the ball.

  “My gown is hanging in the other room. I’ll need you to make sure it is in pristine condition. I had Paige send one over for you as well, Kate, so do what you need to do in order to be ready. What time does the ball start? We’ll need to reserve a car.”

  Kate pulled up the schedule on her phone. “It says here they will have a caravan of luxury SUVs to transport the guests. Caravan leaves at six o’clock sharp. I can put you on the reservation list if you’d like.”

  “Yes, do that right away.”

  “I’ll grab the gowns and take care of the reservation and the dresses at the same time.”

  “Ah!” Mrs. Hall sighed in mock relief. “Efficiency at last.”

  Jake started to laugh but was immediately silenced by Mrs. Hall’s death glare.

  Kate retrieved the two gowns and left.

  Once in the lobby, Kate looked for Luca.

  “So how did it go?” Luca asked, coming up behind her. His closeness sent a thrill through her, reviving the memory of the evening before.

  Kate turned to look at him. “Well, I didn’t kill her.”

  “That’s a relief,” Luca said. “Cleaning up after a murder is my second least favorite part of this job.”

  “That’s exactly why I refrained. I knew you already had enough to do, and I wanted to save you the trouble.”

  “So thoughtful,” he said. “I like that about you.”

  “I do what I can.”

  “What do you have here?” He tapped on the garment bags.

  “Mrs. Hall’s dress for the ball.” She cast a sidelong glance at him as they walked together. “And one for me. Are you—are you planning to attend tonight?”

  “Of course,” he said, offering her a wide smile. “The resort is a sponsor of the event, so I’ll be there in an official capacity. I’m in charge of delivering the crown for the pageant. Very important stuff, yes?”

  A hint of disappointment washed through her, like it was the high school prom and the boy she’d wanted to ask her couldn’t go. It was ridiculous. She was working too. It’s not like they could go together.

  “Will you save me a dance?” he asked, seeming to read her thoughts.

  Kate felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “I’d be honored.”

  “C'est magnifique. I loo
k forward to it,” he said, as he backed away from her toward his post, with his hands in his pockets.

  THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS teeming with people there for the ball and to see the culmination of the village royalty pageant. Kate located the table reserved for Mrs. Hall’s party and made her way back to where Mrs. Hall and Jake waited.

  “Cynthia!” An attractive blonde woman approached out of the sea of people and air-kissed Mrs. Hall’s cheeks in greeting. “Is this where you’ve been keeping yourself the last few days. Such a quaint little village. I love it!”

  As Kate got closer, she recognized Tori Van Nuys, one of Mrs. Hall’s perceived rivals in the fashion industry.

  “Tori, so glad you could get away for a holiday this year, I know how busy you are. I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

  From vantage point of the average observer, it would seem the two women were old friends, but Kate knew how much Mrs. Hall despised Tori Van Nuys. They had been rivals since their modeling days, and the competition between the two design moguls was often fierce.

  “Is this one of your latest creations?” Tori Van Nuys asked, appraising the gown Mrs. Hall wore.

  It was a beautiful gown with an ivory sheer over a cranberry A-line cut silk. Kate had admired that design when it first came across Mrs. Hall’s desk six months ago. It wasn’t a Cynthia Skye-Adams personal design, but it was done by one of her contracted designers.

  “Yes. It will be released in my holiday line for next year. Don’t you love it?”

  To be honest, Tori Van Nuys did look a tad envious from where Kate stood. And with good reason.

  “And who are you wearing tonight?” Mrs. Hall asked. The sarcastic tilt of her smile wasn’t lost on Tori Van Nuys, who responded with well-veiled disdain.

  “Don’t you recognize it, darling? This is the design that was on the cover of Being Beautiful just this month.” It was a dart to the target. Kate knew the coveted holiday cover was a sore spot for Mrs. Hall, and Tori Van Nuys had won that one three years in a row.

  Mrs. Hall shifted uncomfortably on her feet and a spark of anger flashed in her eyes, but she held her composure well.

  “It’s lovely. And I applaud your confidence in wearing it.”

  Ouch.

  Kate stepped into place beside Mrs. Hall, distracting Tori Van Nuys from her next verbal assault, while Mrs. Hall smirked like one who’d just drawn first blood.

  “Ms. Van Nuys, it’s lovely to see you. Your gown is gorgeous as usual.”

  “Kate, you are always so sweet. And your gown is divine. Another Skye-Adams original?”

  Kate nodded. The gown Paige had sent over was one of Kate’s favorites. A stunning strapless forest green mermaid cut with perfectly fitted bodice covered in mother of pearl beads. Like it had been made just for her.

  “Well, I love it anyway,” Tori Van Nuys said, patting Kate on the arm. Sweet, but patronizing.

  Mrs. Hall and Kate laughed, the proper response for what was supposed to sound like it was meant as a joke but clearly wasn’t.

  Turning to Mrs. Hall, Kate announced, “Your table is ready, Mrs. Hall.”

  “Thank you, Kate. It’s good to see you, Tori. Let’s catch up soon, shall we?”

  “I’ll have my assistant call Kate.”

  “You do that.”

  As they wound through the maze of tables to their seats near the stage area, Mrs. Hall whispered through gritted teeth, “I can’t stand that woman and her Being Beautiful cover. She’s been absolutely unbearable ever since they did that first feature.”

  Kate just nodded. No use drawing attention to pesky facts, like how Mrs. Hall would probably be willing to kill for that honor.

  When they got to the table, Mrs. Hall stood by her seat waiting for Jake. “My chair, Jake,” she said when he sauntered to his place, standing with his hands in his pockets like he didn’t know what she expected.

  “Sorry, Mother,” he said. He held the chair for his mother and then slid into his own seat.

  Kate rolled her eyes and took her seat.

  The dinner was served in stately affair. Kate recognized several of the waitstaff from the resort. She searched the room for Luca. He had to be around somewhere. He was in charge of the crown, after all.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Hall,” Luca said, suddenly appearing beside Kate’s chair. He nodded to her, and his eyes sparkled with mischief. “Ms. Curtis. How is your dinner tonight?”

  “Everything is exquisite, Luca,” Mrs. Hall said. “I believe your chef has outdone himself tonight.”

  “Ah, thank you, madame, I’ll bring him your compliments.” He glanced briefly over his shoulder at the stage, then said, “Will you excuse me? The festivities are about to begin.” He flashed another grin at Kate and her heart skipped a beat. “Ms. Curtis.”

  She watched him walk away.

  “I think our Kate is infatuated with the bellboy, Mother,” Jake said, eyeing her suspiciously.

  “Here, here, Kate!” Mrs. Hall lifted her champagne flute in salute. “I can’t blame you one bit. I know I wouldn’t kick him out of the bed.” She sipped her champagne.

  Kate winced at the pain of that thought.

  “Mother, please,” Jake whined.

  “Oh, don’t be a prude, Jake. Being on a diet doesn’t mean you can’t look at the menu, am I right, Kate?” Mrs. Hall’s tongue was getting looser by the minute. How much champagne had she had?

  “Mesdames et Messieurs, welcome to the Huckleberry Falls community Christmas Eve pageant.” Luca stood on the stage, at the microphone. He looked amazing in his tuxedo. “It is my pleasure to introduce our esteemed mayor for the pronouncement of this year’s Christmas royalty. Please join me in welcoming the beautiful Mayor Chapman.” He held out his arm to the left of the stage where she stood waiting.

  “Thank you, Luca,” the mayor said after the applause died down. “Isn’t he charming?” Several people clapped again, Luca bowed slightly, and moved a couple steps behind the mayor. She turned stage left and said, “And now for your Christmas royal court—”

  Kate had been looking forward to this moment.

  Phase One in the plan to force Mrs. Hall to recognize her talent as a designer. She knew that Mrs. Hall would be verbally assessing each gown just under her breath as the ladies walked across the stage, the same way she assessed the catwalk during a showcase. She angled her chair closer to Mrs. Hall’s, hoping to hear the private dialogue.

  One by one, the mayor announced the candidates and their escorts, and one by one, each Christmas princess glided across the stage on the arm of her prince.

  Kate listened intently to Mrs. Hall’s muttering. Nice lines. Alluring neckline—perhaps a longer skirt. What was that designer thinking? At that one, Mrs. Hall shuddered in horror. Probably a Tori Van Nuys.

  Then the mayor announced, “Princess Cleo Klausse escorted by Mr. Kayne Frost, our reigning Christmas king,” and Cleo stepped onto the stage wearing the strapless ice blue gown Kate had designed. Its fitted bodice was made of satin and had beading along the trim and down the folds in the front. At the hips, it flared out in mock coattails, overlaying the tulle that billowed out over a full satin skirt. Kate’s crowning glory. It had stolen her breath every time she’d seen it, but tonight, as Cleo drifted carefully along the stage like an elegant angelic cloud, she made the gown appear even more exquisite than Kate remembered. A tear slipped down her cheek.

  Gasps ran through the audience, and Kate suddenly realized Mrs. Hall wasn’t muttering anymore. She turned to look at her. Mrs. Hall was frowning. A deep furrow creased her perfect brow line, and Kate’s heart clamored in her chest in a rhythm not her own.

  Mrs. Hall never frowned.

  “Is everything alright, Mrs. Hall?” Kate asked. Her blood felt frozen in her veins.

  Mrs. Hall suddenly leaned toward Kate and said, “So help me, Kate, if that’s one of Tori Van Nuys’s gowns, I’m going to slit my own throat. Where is that witch?” She craned her neck to find where Tori Van Nuys
was sitting, but Tori Van Nuys was frowning too, and craning her neck to look for Mrs. Hall’s reaction.

  Mrs. Hall settled back into her seat to pretend she was completely at ease. She nodded at the other woman with a satisfied smirk on her face.

  “Kate,” Mrs. Hall whispered through the gritted teeth of her forced grin. “I want to meet that girl immediately after this silly crowning business. Before Tori can think of it.”

  From the way Tori Van Nuys was squirming in her chair, it was too late for that.

  Kate closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath, then released it slowly, allowing the rhythm of her heart to syncopate. When she opened her eyes, she searched for Luca on stage and found him gazing back at her, eyes gleaming with pride. He nodded, and a broad smile broke over his face.

  The rest of the crowning ceremony was a blur. Kate didn’t even notice when they announced the king and queen. Her heart was soaring, and the only person she wanted to share this moment with was standing on stage twenty feet away.

  The royal court moved to the dance floor to take their first dance and officially start the ball portion of the evening. Mrs. Hall rose beside Kate and nudged her with her elbow, prodding her roughly back to the present.

  “I see Tori is angling toward her already, the vulture. Go, Kate!”

  Kate cast a last glance toward Luca and pointed to the dancefloor. He nodded. He would meet her there.

  As the first dance ended, Kate waved to catch Cleo’s eye. Cleo nodded and moved toward her.

  “Kate, hi, I’m so glad you could make it,” Cleo said a little out of breath. Her eyes were still wide, like she wasn’t sure what had happened.

  “Cleo, you were so beautiful up there.”

  The girl dropped her gaze to the floor. “Thank you,” she said, then lifted her head again. “I owe you a huge debt, Kate. This dress… I don’t even know what to say.”

  “You made it beautiful, Cleo. Thank you for being willing to wear it.”