Curtain Calls and Christmas Wishes

By Cynthia Hickey

Do Christmas wishes really come true?

Lacey Cooper dreams of directing plays. When the manager at the local theater company falls ill, she gets her chance to direct the annual Christmas play, A White Christmas. Then, the lead role is injured in an accident and Lacey must ask the man in charge of stage setup to step in.

Dillon Marks is growing tired of his job as probation officer, but volunteers on a regular basis at the local theater company, bringing several of his clients with him. When Lacey begs him to step into the leading role, he initially says no. He can sing, but can't dance at all. She finally convinces him to step into the role.

When Lacey makes it clear that she isn't interested in a man with a dangerous profession, the two try to squelch their growing attraction for each other. Then, they are snowbound in the theater with a mad man and their feelings come to the surface. Can these two find love among the lights and action of a White Christmas?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cynthia Hickey
• Release date: Oct 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215287200

Cynthia Hickey

Multi-published and best-selling author, Cynthia Hickey, has taught writing at many conferences and small writing retreats. She and her husband run the publishing press, Winged Publications, which includes some of the CBA's best well-known authors. They live in Arizona and Arkansas, becoming snowbirds with two dogs and one cat. They have ten grandchildren who them busy and tell everyone they know that "Nana is a writer."   

Book preview

1

Well, Vera has the flu. George Wilson, Manager of the In Time Theater Company, crossed his arms and leaned back in his leather office chair. There’s no one else to take her place.

But. Lacey Cooper opened and closed her mouth several times before she could get her tongue to work. I’m the lead female role. I play Betty.

You’re still going to play Betty. George handed her a thick packet. Here’s everything you need for a successful production. Rehearsals start tomorrow. Have a good evening.

Dismissed and dizzy with all the responsibilities dumped on her, Lacey clutched the thick envelope to her chest and stepped into the hall. When would she have time for her day job? As a junior high English teacher, there wasn’t a lot of spare time for directing a play. Especially one like White Christmas.

Thankfully, she and the leading man, Robert Larson, her favorite friend and cousin, already knew the dances. Three years of lessons would not go to waste. And that wasn’t counting all the times their parents made them go as children.

Lacey stuck the package under her arm and fished her cell phone out of her purse. Robert, you will not believe what just happened.

Make it quick, cuz, because it’s almost my turn to jump.

Jump where? What are you doing? Lacey shifted the package. If you hurt yourself to where you can’t dance, I’ll kill you.

Jumping out of a plane...now! Click.

She stared at the phone. A plane? Yep, she’d be minus a cousin by Christmas.

Following the sound of pounding, Lacey headed to the stage where a man hammered a stand onto a cardboard tree. She couldn’t help sparing the handsome man a second glance as she marched by. It appeared he couldn’t help watching her either. She smiled and stepped through the part between two curtains to backstage.

Good afternoon, Kelly. Lacey’s best friend and the woman playing the part of Judy in the play, riffled through a group of hanging costumes.

Hey, are you still wanting to wear white? Kelly held up a dress with a gauzy shirt and sequined top. I know this isn’t exactly like what’s in the movie, but we’re on a budget and—

It’s beautiful. It’ll be perfect. Lacey plopped onto a tattered sofa. I need an assistant.

For what? She continued searching through the dresses. How about this one for me? She held up a blue dress very similar to the one she’d picked out for Lacey.

Nice. George dumped the entire production in my lap just now. Vera’s sick. Lacey thought she’d be ill, too. In order to pull off a production the size of White Christmas, even locally, required certain skills she didn’t think she possessed. Like the ability to direct people.

She had no problem speaking to a room full of children, but adults were a different matter entirely. Her pulse raced. I’m going to have an anxiety attack.

No, you’re not. Kelly placed a hand on her shoulder. What you’re going to do is direct the best play this town, and the surrounding ones, has ever seen.

The annual Christmas play is a tradition for people around here. What if I mess it up?

You won’t. Kelly hung the dresses back on the rack. I’ll help you as much as a new mother can.

How is your sweet angel? Kelly had given birth to a beautiful daughter six months ago. She and her husband doted on little Caitlyn. It wouldn’t be right of Lacey to ask too much of her friend. Not with all the responsibilities she already carried. I’ll be fine once my moment of panic is over.

Kelly chuckled. Yes, you will, and my angel is wonderful. Speaking of which...I need to get home. See you at school tomorrow. One more week until Thanksgiving break.

This gave Lacey a little less than a month. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. With God’s help, she could do this. This would be the best play Oakdale had ever seen. Bye. See you tomorrow.

Since Lacey had no one to go home to, she settled back and opened the envelope. Thank God, all the parts were assigned. She didn’t think she could handle the stress of auditions and rejecting people.

She flipped through the pages, finding the original copies of the script and sheet music, the performers’ private contact information, and a mock-up of the flier George wanted sent out. Relief flooded through her that so much of the work was already done.

Stretching out on the sofa, she closed her eyes. A little nap, and then she’d check the prop room.

A loud noise propelled her to her feet. The scenery guy she’d spotted earlier leaned over a load of wood, a sheepish grin on his face. His dark hair fell forward over eyes the color of moss. Well, if Lacey had to wake up, she probably wouldn’t find a better view to wake up to.

Sorry. They slipped. He opened a door at the back of the room and started stacking the boards inside. Didn’t realize anyone was still here. After wiping his hands down his pants, he held one out in greeting, Dillon Marks.

Lacey Cooper. She accepted his handshake then yawned. Excuse me. I didn’t realize how tired I was. She gathered the papers from where they’d scattered and slipped them back into the envelope. How’s the scenery coming along?

Good. Should be ready right on schedule. He leaned against the doorjamb, crossing his ankles. There are a couple of men being assigned community service hours that I’ll put to work.

Criminals? Oh, my. Is that wise? I mean...should we be worried?

He shook his head. They’re only misdemeanor-type crimes. Nothing to worry about. In my job as a probation officer, I’d know the dangerous ones.

She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or not. The man in front of her looked like he could handle just about anything, but looks could be deceiving. Her