The Impossible Dream

By Christiane France

Theo Keen has always dreamed of strutting his stuff from behind the footlights, either as a high fashion model or an actor. He’s taken modeling courses and acting lessons, but a case of seemingly incurable stage fright has prevented Theo from realizing his dream. Until one cold, snowy February afternoon Theo is helping his brother, Lance, with the annual Mardi Gras Ball and Fashion Show and an emergency arises--both volunteer male models have cancelled at the last minute and this year’s designer is an up and coming celebrity. With show time only an hour or two away, it’s too late to find replacements, and Lance is in a panic. Theo is the only person who can save the night, so Lance tells him to forget the feeble excuses and just do it.

Yet Theo can’t just do it. He’s spent years of counseling and therapy trying to overcome his problem, but that hasn’t happened and he doubts it ever will. But then the designer, Stefano Spadifora, comes into the dressing room where Theo is working and suddenly Theo’s life does a complete one eighty. Suddenly the impossible becomes possible and Theo has a feeling that after tonight nothing about his life will ever be the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christiane France
• Release date: Feb 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386755401

Book preview

The Impossible Dream

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Theo! Where are you? This whole freakin’ thing is falling apart, and I desperately need your help. You’re the one and only person in this whole world who can save me from total disaster.

What’s the problem now? And, please, quit acting like a diva. It really doesn’t suit you. Theo Keen calmly continued with what he was doing as his brother, Lance, red-faced and upset, burst into the dressing room at the convention center where Theo was working on the hair and makeup of the volunteer models.

It was the same every year with the annual Mardi Gras charity ball and fashion show. Last minute emergencies, temper tantrums, cancellations, and no-shows, and this year’s event was proving to be no different. Somehow, though, in his position as the event organizer, Lance always managed to pull it all together and make sure the doors opened on time and everything proceeded just as advertised.

My problem is that I have no male models, Lance said, a thread of something approaching panic sounding in his voice. Not even one. What the hell am I going to do?

I thought you said you had two.

I did. One cancelled late last night—some life and death family crisis. And now I’ve lost the other one as well.

He’s cancelled, too?

Not exactly. The brainless jerk fell down that flight of concrete steps at the ballpark. Anyone with a single brain cell ought to figure those damn steps would be covered with ice at this time of year, but apparently he didn’t notice.

What he was doing there anyway? Theo wondered aloud. Isn’t it all closed up for the winter?

It’s February. I’m sure it’s locked up tight. As to what he was doing there... Lance threw up his hands in a gesture of disgust. He was supposed to be here, getting ready for tonight’s show. All I know is what his mom said when she called from the hospital a few minutes ago—the doctors say he has a concussion and a couple of broken ribs, so there’s absolutely no way he can make it here for tonight’s show.

Theo picked up a hairpiece and searched for the pins to hold it in place. That’s really too bad. I’m sorry, bro, but there’s nothing I can do.

Come on, Theo. Of course there’s something you can do. I’m desperate, and you’re my last hope. Just do it for me, please.

Theo tried for a laugh that came out as a groan. Do what? Make a total idiot of myself? Not a chance. Not even for you.

It’s always been your dream to be a model. And I know you could do it if you’d just get a grip and quit making all those feeble excuses, Lance pleaded. You took that professional modeling course, and you’ve also taken acting lessons, so you know how to be a crowd pleaser. I’m begging, Theo. I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t desperate. The first guests will be here before we know it, and if you don’t come through for me, the whole thing will be ruined. You have to do it. You’re my only option.

No, Lance! If I could, I would. You know that. Fact is, I can’t, and you know that, too. And before you give yourself a nervous breakdown, check the time. The first guests won’t be here for at least a couple of hours. You have lots of time to find someone else.

But...

Turning his back on his brother, Theo Keen continued securing the hairpiece in place on the head of one of the female models. When he was done, he removed the protective plastic cape from the woman’s shoulders, and, as she left, he waved the next model into his chair and picked up a curling iron. Why Lance refused to believe his stage fright was a genuine and, as far as Theo was concerned, completely incurable phobia rather than a bunch of attention-getting excuses, Theo had no idea. Then again, how could he expect Lance to understand something he didn’t altogether understand himself? However, as they both knew, what Lance was asking Theo to do was impossible. Theo physically could not do it—not even if the lives of himself and everyone he loved were on the line.

Why not call the woman who owns that modeling school? With all her contacts, surely she can dig around and come up with a replacement or two.

I already did, and there is no one else. They only have the two male students at the moment, and now they’ve both gone MIA, I’m really screwed.

That’s what happens when you rely on volunteers. You should’ve hired at least one or two professional models.

"I asked Mary at the school if she knew of anyone who might be willing to step in if we paid, but she said not at the last minute like this. Even if she could find anyone willing to help, he’d never get here in time. Anyway, we always use volunteers. That’s why the event makes so much money year