Page 105 of The Christmas Fix
Cat brushed it aside, chalking up the uncharacteristic sentimentality to the holidays. She was about to embark on the most important project of her life. She’d been dreaming about starting a school like this since she was the only girl in shop class in junior high.
Henry was still plowing through their combined to do lists when Maria, a newbie production assistant appeared.
“Ready to roll in five,” Maria told Cat.
The Hai reveal was finally here and energy on set was nearing Red Bull danger zones. Cat could hear the rumbles of the crowd just outside the makeup trailer. The post-production team was having aneurysms about turning around an episode in barely enough time to shoot one, but Cat had faith that they’d deliver. They had to. It was the next-to-last show to air before the live Christmas Eve finale in two weeks, which would be an even more complicated production nightmare.
Half the town had turned out on the street and sidewalks to watch the action.
Cat slipped out of the stylist’s cape and pulled on her down vest. Henry slung her parka over his shoulder. They’d be shooting outside first to make the most of the light which meant the front of the house reveal and the treehouse. Between takes, she’d be cuddling with a portable heater until they could get inside where she’d sweat through her layers with the press of dozens of crew squishing themselves into corners to shoot.
“You ready?” Drake asked, meeting her outside the makeup trailer.
Cat nodded. “Let’s knock their socks off.”
April, in a red dress with green and red leggings that Sara had picked out, hopped from one foot to the other in front of her parents who looked damp-eyed already.
“Who’s the first to cry?” Drake asked, nodding at the family.
“Oh, my money’s on you today,” Cat grinned. “I saw those baby blues glistening when Mrs. Pringle was singing your praises.”
Drake gave her a nudge with his shoulder. “Shut up.”
Cat waved to Sara who was standing behind the wooden barricade in the street keeping the crowd at bay. She was holding a sign that saidWelcome Home, Hais. Noah, handsome as always in his black wool coat, gave Cat an anything but innocent smile.
Cat pulled out her phone and stabbed out a text through her thick gloves.
Cat: Have time to get naked tonight?
She arched an eyebrow at him as she hit send and enjoyed watching him fumble through his pockets for his phone. When he managed to free it from his coat pocket, Cat swore she saw steam coming off his head.
Noah: You’re killing me. I’m handing Sara over to Mel at eight.
Cat felt the slow burn of anticipation ignite.
Cat: Maybe I’ll sneak into your bedroom after curfew?
He looked up at her, heat in his gaze, and Cat grinned wickedly. She winked at him and then waved to the rest of the crowd. Usually reveal crowds were full of strangers, but not in Merry. Rubin and Elizabeth Turnbar held up a sign thanking the show for “cleaning up Merry.” It had their dry-cleaning logo on it. Elroy Leakhart, the school principal was trying to keep twenty-five high school seniors in line, nervously mopping at his forehead with a handkerchief. Freddy and Frieda Fawkes made a rare appearance together with Sadie, chief of emergency services, who finally looked as if she was getting regular sleep.
Cat and Drake shuffled over to Paige and the production team. “You all ready to make people happy?” Cat quipped. It was the question she always asked before the reveal on her own show.
Her team put down their energy drinks and coffees and put their hands in.
“One, two, three, Hais!”
The crowd, already primed for excitement, cheered.
Cat and Drake took their places on the Hais’ new front porch.
“Cue the limo,” Paige called into her headset.
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“I still say she cried first,” Drake insisted.
Cat laughed and threw a companionable arm around her co-star. “It’s hard to stay dry-eyed when a twelve-year-old is sobbing over her brand-new treehouse.”
“You did, you heartless monster,” Drake said, accepting the bottle of water Henry handed him.
