Sitting beside her, hearing her apologize…part of him had wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she never wanted to leave again. But it wasn’t possible. She always would leave, and he wasn’t about to let her back into his life.
He walked toward the double doors and watched a van unloading about eight people, men and women of varying ages.
He sighed as he watched one of the younger women adjusting the bun on her head. How was it that he was twenty-six years old and had never dated anyone except Cassie Winston?
Andy decided it was finally time to move on and branch out, but first he needed to play the young Scrooge for Granny.
He walked inside and headed toward the auditorium, shaking his head. This was not the place to forget about Cassie. They were together all through high school and college. Memories of his time there at Romance Valley High were filled with her.
Inside the auditorium, past the rows of seats, he spotted Granny on the stage with a small group of actors.
The group from the van came in behind him, and they all gathered on the stage.
“Andrew, there you are, lad.” Granny gestured for him to come closer. “Everyone, since Joe quit, my grandson Andrew will be replacing him.”
Andy spied a familiar figure standing on the other side of the stage as her beautiful brown eyes filled with surprise. Granny pulled on Andy’s shoulder and he bent down so she could whisper in his ear. “Cassie is here, by the way.”
“I see that, Granny. You knew that and you still asked me to be in the play?”
Granny gave him a grin and whispered, “She’s only just moved back to town, and she’s brilliant as Belle. Be nice to her, Andrew. Truth is, I adore the both of you. And I’m frankly desperate for actors this go-around. Yer gonna have to get past it all somehow.”
“Granny.” He hadn’t meant for his sharp tone to come out so loudly. Granny’s eyes went wide. Andy worried she might slap him. Every eye was on him now and he straightened and attempted to smile. “Everyone excited about Christmas?”
“Aye, be excited about Christmas and memorize yer lines.” Granny poked him in the elbow. “Watch yer tone, laddie.”
“Brilliant, the choir is here.” Granny waved at the group from the van, all huddling together uncertainly. “I’ll need you all in the back of the stage for the opening. You’re going to open the play with a song and be Christmas carolers.”
The group shuffled to the back of the stage and lined up. “Should we warm up?” an older woman said.
“Go ahead. We want to open with ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.’” Granny consulted the script in her hands. “About halfway through the song is when you’ll come out, Wally, and walk by the choir with a scowl.”
Old Mr. Wally Schwartz nodded and turned a page in his own script.
Cassie had backed behind one of the curtains and Andy suddenly felt like a rat. She was playing Scrooge’s old girlfriend, and he was playing the young Scrooge who loved money more than he loved her.
He wanted to fuss at Granny for what he was certain was a matchmaking setup, despite her explanations of losing actors. He even wanted to ask her why Cassie wasn’t playing the Ghost of Christmas Past. He sighed. He could never yell at his sweet granny. She had a heart of gold. He certainly couldn’t quit like her previous young Scrooge had.
Instead, he started to laugh. Granny adjusted her glasses and cut her eyes in his direction. “What’s so funny, me boy?”
Andy wiped a tear from his eye. “This is a laugh or cry situation,” he spoke softly so no one but Granny would hear.
Granny lifted her eyes to the ceiling, then returned to reading her script. “Why don’t ya have a seat? We’re going to run through the opening act, and you can watch.”
He walked toward the backstage curtain and peeked around, not seeing Cassie. Gazing out at the chairs on the floor, he saw her making her way to a seat beside some other actors waiting their turn.
The choir started singing and Andy backed up against a wall.
Truthfully, as hard as it was for him to see her again, she’d come to apologize for hurting him. Could they be friends? Well, that might be too much too soon. For the time being, since he would not disappoint his granny, they were castmates. They could do that.
He watched her from backstage, contemplating going over and taking the seat beside her.
“Where is my Ghost of Christmas Past?” Granny asked, surveying the group seated in the first row. A young woman popped up and headed toward the stage.
Andy shook his head and watched Cassie as she fussed with her beautiful hair. She was his girlfriend of romance past.
***
“It matters little.” Cassie knew she was sweating under the stage lights. Standing so near Andy made concentrating difficult. After rehearsing for the last few weeks, she knew her lines pretty well, but she clung to the script in her hands for comfort and read the words. “To you, very little. Another idol has displaced me.”
Andy watched her for a moment before glancing down at his line. “What idol has displaced you?”
“A golden one.”
“No, no,” Granny interrupted. “Andrew, yer lover is telling you that yer more fond of riches than of her. Look surprised and dismayed, and all that.”
Andy raised his eyebrows at Cassie and attempted a dismayed expression that really appeared more goofy than angry.
Cassie laughed.
“Andrew James McKay…”
“Sorry, Granny.” He gave Cassie a more serious look. “What idol has displaced you?”
“A golden one.” Cassie tried to eye him sternly but it only made him smile.
“Heaven help us, be off with you both. Go rehearse this scene down on the floor.” She waved them away, turned around, and shouted, “Where’s the Ghost of Christmas Present?”
Cassie followed Andy off the stage and giggled. It didn’t seem real, being there laughing with Andy again. Seeing his smile again made her heart flutter. “Did we get sent to time-out?”
“It’ll be like detention with homework from the drama teacher.”
“We never did join the drama club.”
“Might have helped us now, huh?” Andy shrugged. “Did you know Dr. Wesley is still principal here?”
“You’re kidding. He was ancient when we were here.”
“Yeah, he’s probably nearing two hundred years old.”
They sat down with one seat in between them, and Cassie faced him with her script.
“Okay, there is one brief scene at Fezziwig’s party. Granny Mary said we have a brief dance and I think the choir will be doing the music for it. Last week I was rehearsing with her.”
“You call her Granny Mary?”
Cassie nodded, hoping it wasn’t awkward for him. “She insisted. But if you prefer, I’ll―”
“Oh, no. If Granny told you to call her that, you better. I…I’m surprised you’re here. Didn’t think you’d ever come back to Romance.”
“Well, I’m here to stay,” Cassie said with a nod. “My aunt Sue needs help, and I want to do some more writing here.”
“Hey, I’m sorry I was kind of a jerk when you were trying to apologize.”
Cassie’s eyes locked with his, her stomach twisting. “I know it’s all still raw, and it’s my fault.”
Andy leaned his elbow on the back of the chair. “Proposing on the radio was pretty stupid, huh?”
“Well…telling you we couldn’t be together and taking off was stupid too.”
He held out a hand. “Should we call it even?”
She took his hand and he shook it. The zing of his warm hand in hers was brief but strong. She got the message. A handshake meant “let’s move on from our turbulent relationship and be friends.”
Cassie forced a smile. She couldn’t deny she’d apologized to him hoping he would forgive her and want her back. But perhaps there was too much in their past, too many emotions. Maybe all they would be was friends. At least they were no longer enemies.
“What kind of dancing does Granny think I’m going to do? She knows I don’t do that.”
Cassie chuckled at Andy’s adorable grimace. “You used to.”
Andy glanced at her, then turned away. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned it. In this very building he’d held her in his arms so tenderly, swaying to the beat of an old Madonna song.
“Should we start from the beginning of this scene?” Andy’s tone was all business and Cassie snapped to attention and focused on the script.
She needed to face reality. Andy didn’t want her back in his life. Things couldn’t be the way they were before. But they had this play to put on, and Granny Mary deserved their best performance.
***
Andy clicked on the link Granny had emailed him and sat back in dismay. It was a ballroom dance video. “She’s got to be kidding.” Wasn’t this a little fancy for a small-town community play?
“Hey, Andy, is that a waltz I hear?” Mallory McKay, his cousin, leaned in his office doorway.
“Hey. Did you know Granny could text links to YouTube videos?”
“Yeah, I taught her that.”
“I admit I didn’t think she knew what YouTube was. I’m a little freaked out.”
Mallory walked over and stood behind him, watching the couple on his computer screen waltzing.
“I get the idea this is the dance she wants me to do in the play.”
Mallory patted his shoulder. “So about the play…I heard Cassie is back.”
“How fast did that get around town?”
“Granny told me. Are you okay?”
Andy grumbled. “I’m fine. Just have to get through this play with my ex-girlfriend. But we’ve called a truce.”
“What does that mean for the two of you?”
“It means she and I are in a play together, orchestrated by sweet Granny, and we aren’t going to fight about her rejecting my proposals anymore. I think.”
Mallory wrinkled her forehead. “Sounds like you have it under control then. Granny wants me and Max to play Bob and Mrs. Cratchit this year.”
“Isn’t it a little last minute to get the cast together with it being a week after Thanksgiving?” Andy meant to be sarcastic, but the truth was, Granny normally had her cast ready by October.
“Some of the actors from last year didn’t give her a lot of notice that they weren’t doing it again. Max and I started rehearsing together on our own, just haven’t made it to the official rehearsals yet.”
“And how did you get out of that?”
“We get more leniency because we’re working on plans for the wedding.”
“Ah, come on. You aren’t getting married until Valentine’s Day; you can come and be tortured with the rest of us. I have to work on expressing dismay in a way that doesn’t make Cassie laugh or Granny scowl at me.”
“We’ll absolutely be there for the next rehearsal to see that.”
“Thanks, cuz. Granny says we’re rehearsing every Monday and Wednesday until the play.”
“Yes, she texted me. Are you going to the tree lighting on Saturday?”
“Yeah,” Andy grumbled. “Mom and Dad hounded me until I agreed to go with them.”
Mallory laughed and patted his shoulder. “Great, Scrooge, I’ll see you there.”
“So you agree with Granny that I’m bitter this season? How does that surprise anyone? Now I feel like I have to prove I don’t hate Christmas.”
“We do understand, Andy, but we want you to be happy. Is it okay if Max and I talk to Cassie?”
“Of course. As long as it’s not about me.” Andy shrugged. “You were always free to talk to her.”
“Well, not after she broke your heart. It seemed a little too disloyal to be her friend after that.”
“She’s back in Romance again; you’re going to run into her. By all means, be you and welcome her.”
“Okay. Her aunt is making the costumes. You need to go by there this week to get fitted. I’ll go with you if you want.”
“I don’t need you to hold my hand, Mal.”
“All right then. Call me before you get into another one of your ‘Romance Is Dead’ moods on the radio.”
“You and Granny have no sense of humor.”
“Sure we do, that just wasn’t funny for Valentine’s Day. You nearly had me convinced to give up on love.”
Andy gave her a half smile. “You’ve got a great guy, Mallory.”
She returned his grin. “Thanks. Granny also asked me to ask you why you’re not playing Christmas songs yet.”
“I’m going to play Christmas music this week.”
“Good for you, Andy.”
“Granny also texted me a playlist. I’ll forward it.” Mallory laughed.
“Thanks, cuz.” Andy sighed.
“Let me know if you change your mind about going to Sue’s house on your own.”
“Will do.”
Mallory adjusted her purse strap. “I’ll see you later, Andy. I have to get back to work.”
“Okay, see you Saturday.”
The thought of going to Cassie’s aunt’s house should have been more annoying than it was. He liked Cassie’s aunt Sue; maybe Cassie wouldn’t be home.
With Mallory gone, Andy opened his desk drawer and pulled out the book Cassie had written. He flipped through the pages, contemplating whether to read it out of curiosity. He did wonder what she’d been doing all this time. What if she’d found love with some irresistible European man with an accent?
Yikes.
He dropped the book on the desk. If she had found a relationship and written about it in the book, perhaps there was also a breakup story.
She said she’d missed him…but, no, he couldn’t read it. Pulling open the drawer, he shoved the book back in and closed it again.
Chapter Four
Andy pulled his coat tighter around him as he walked beside his parents toward the square.
“Did you hear, Andy? Chase Lockhart is performing this year.”
“Yes, we announced that on the air.”
“Andy keeps track of all the musicians, Lila,” his dad said.
“Not all of them,” Andy said. “But I’ve met Chase once. I interviewed him last year on my show. Now he’s marrying Izzy Sutton, who runs the Interlude Inn.”
“Chase Lockhart is marrying someone from our little town? How wonderful! Hopefully they’ll stay so he can perform for us more often.”
Mom licked her finger and rubbed something off Andy’s cheek. “You’ve got something on your face, sweetie.”
“Mom…” Andy rubbed his face and kept walking. Andy was the youngest of their four children, and he didn’t know how old he needed to be before his mother would realize he was an adult.
Romance’s town square was filled with thousands of white lights, plenty of greenery, and enough red Christmas bows to fill all of downtown. The brown grass of winter was barely visible in the crowd. Most of the town came out for the annual tree lighting. From the ringing sound in the air, someone was selling jingle bells.
A stage was set up on one side of the square where Chase Lockhart was performing. Fans swarmed around it. The town’s traditional noble fir tree was situated near the gazebo in the center of the square. The thirty-foot tree was wrapped in Christmas ribbon and more white lights and red bows.
Vendors were set up around the square selling hot chocolate, cider, and Christmas treats. Andy smelled German sausages and his stomach growled.
“Let’s get something to eat.” Dad pulled Mom closer beside him and they stopped at a table for doughnuts. Andy walked a little farther along the line of vendors and bought a hot apple cider to warm him up.
His parents joined him. “Hurry, let’s go see the band.” His mom pulled on Andy’s arm and hurried him along. She was a huge Chase Lockhart fan. Once they neared the stage, as close as they could get with the crowd, Mom started swaying to the music and singing every word.
Andy exchanged a glance with his dad and had
to laugh.
“Your mother loves him.”
Andy patted Dad on the back. “Sorry, Dad. You’ve been replaced.”
The song ended, and his mother cheered at the top of her lungs. Andy played Lockhart’s songs on the radio all the time, but had never once been that enthusiastic.
“Hamish, Andrew, there you are.” Granny surprised them from behind. “Isn’t Lockhart brilliant?”
“You’re a fan too, Mom?” Dad asked Granny.
“Aye, lad. Who isn’t?” Granny tapped Andy on the shoulder. “Andrew, you could stand to play more songs from his Christmas album. Oh, and Cassie is over there by the jingle bells if you’d like to be neighborly and say hello.”
“Cassie Winston?” Mom’s eyes lit up. “She’s back in town? Are you okay, Andy?”
Andy sighed. “I’m fine, Mom. We talked. It’s all good.”
“Really? You’re really okay?”
Andy nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. I’m glad you can move past things and be friends. Let’s go say hello then, Hamish.” Mom took Dad’s hand and headed toward Cassie, leaving Andy with a dry mouth and a sudden pain in his stomach.
“Are you gonna go see what they have to say to each other?”
Granny nudged him and Andy handed her his cider. “Here, Granny. It’s nice and hot.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” She took a sip and he jogged over to where Cassie stood chatting with his parents, wearing a light-up jingle bell necklace.
***
Cassie had just purchased the cutest Christmas necklace when she heard her name being called.
Hamish and Lila McKay had been so welcoming to her when she was dating Andy. She’d spent so much time at their house hanging out with him. Even when she and Andy had gone to college together, the University of Oregon was only an hour away from Romance, and his parents had seen plenty of Cassie on weekends in those days as well.
A Christmas Carol In Romance (Christmas In Romance Book 5) Page 2