Christmas At Prescott Inn

She nodded. “Okay.”

“And put it in the contract that they’re definitely to bring their own music, props, costumes, equipment and stage curtains. They have to be prepared to use our facilities as is. We’re not responsible for any big improvements or outlays of investment. I mean it, Nell.”

“Of course! Oh, yes! I’m sure they’ll agree to all that!”

He nodded, thinking grimly of Emilie. If this project went forward, he would have to face her again.

He didn’t relish that confrontation.

Then again, Emilie might not want to deal with him, either. They hadn’t parted ways on the best of terms. It had been abrupt, really.

“You would be the point person in dealing with this project,” he said.

“Great! Thank you for the opportunity, Uncle.”

The inn was a big place. He and Emilie might not even cross paths with one another. They could each pretend that the other didn’t exist, as they had been doing for the past two years.

Yes, Nell was capable of doing her job, and so was Emilie. The two of them could handle the shows without his input or interference.

And maybe Emilie wouldn’t want to come to Prescott Inn. She was the one who’d rejected him, after all. He would just have to see...

“So will you sign it, Uncle?” Nell said eagerly.

He gazed into his niece’s anxious brown eyes.

“Please, Uncle?”

EMILIE PAUSED AT the end of the hallway, phone glued to her ear, on hold with her boss, Lynn Bladewell.

Three days had passed since the Empress Caribbean had sunk. The production company had finally moved them off the island and into a hotel in Miami. It was still early in the day. The other skaters were in their rooms, exhausted from the ordeal.

After two days of living on cots in the school gym and assisting the cruise line with evacuating the last of the passengers from the tiny island and back to the mainland, they were now officially in limbo. Below Emilie, the Florida sun shone brightly on the Atlantic Ocean. Blue skies spread across the horizon as far as the eye could see. Gentle, perfect waves rolled in along the sparkling water.

Home. Or at least where her family lived. But Emilie hadn’t truly called Florida home since she started working for the cruise line.

Emilie’s mom, older sister and niece had met her at the hotel yesterday, when she’d first arrived with her troupe. They’d all cried and hugged each other. The ship’s sinking had scared everyone, but it was okay, Emilie had told them; they were all safe. She kept reassuring them of that over and over.

“Stay with us for Christmas, honey?” her mom had asked.

“I have to stay with my team, Mom.” And she did. That’s where her heart and her purpose was. The team needed her, and she felt responsible for them. Besides, she liked helping them. “Sergei and Katya are from Russia, and we have Gary and Rosie from Canada. Then there’s Lars from Norway. I can’t just abandon my people, who are so far from home, and at Christmastime.”

“Well...they can certainly spend Christmas with us,” her mom offered.

Emilie had smiled sadly at them. “Thanks for offering. I really do appreciate it.” But the thought of ten more people crammed into Mom’s tiny Fort Myers condo just didn’t make sense.

“So, what are you going to do, honey?”

“Well, the production company told me they’re working on a deal to get us into a land-based resort for the holiday season at least. If the deal goes through, the cruise ship has promised to honor our salary arrangement at least through Christmas, even though they don’t have to.” Emilie had been well aware that the media coverage she’d received had given her leverage with her bosses.

“So, where will you be working?” her sister had asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll find out tomorrow.”

And now here she was, waiting on the phone with Lynn. Still on hold. Nervous, she paced the hotel corridor. She was just so hoping that whatever Lynn arranged would enable them to stay together for Christmas. And keep their paychecks coming in. Frankly, she was still worried about Katya. She was rooming with Julie in the hotel, and Julie had confided to Emilie that she’d heard Katya tossing and turning in her sleep last night.

“Emilie?”

She jumped to attention. “Yes!” she said to Lynn. “I’m here!” She turned away from the window with the sand and the sun and the beach outside. After two days on a hot, sandy island she was just a little bit sick of the heat. “Do you have something for us?” she asked, praying with all her heart that they did.

“Yes, actually. The contract is being processed.”

“For all of us? We can all stay together? Because that’s really important to me.”

“Well...I’m not sure we can do that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Emilie, I’m not sure all of the skaters have visas to work in the States,” Lynn said gently.

That would mean Katya. And Sergei. Possibly half Emilie’s team, if she counted all her international skaters.

“Well, can you check, please?” Emilie said firmly. “I don’t want to leave anyone behind.”

“Emilie, we may have to.”

“In all my interviews, I talked about how the troupe sticks together. How would it look if that only meant the skaters with paperwork?”

Lynn sighed. Emilie knew Lynn was worried about bad publicity.

“Let me call you back,” Lynn said. “I need to speak with Donnie.”

Donnie. The president of their production company.

“Thank you.” Emilie hung up the phone and sat down to wait at the end of the quiet corridor, arms curled around her knees. She didn’t have to wait long—just ten minutes until her phone buzzed.

“Yes, Lynn?”

“Emilie. Congratulations. We’re fortunate that all your skaters are covered. Your team has a contract.”

“That’s fantastic!” Emilie leaped to her feet.

“Don’t celebrate quite yet. Because here’s the thing—this job is going to be a lot more responsibility for you personally. We don’t have any support teams to send you. You might have to reconfigure the show choreography somewhat depending upon the size of the local facilities.”

“But that’s perfect for me! You know that I want to be a choreographer with the company someday!”

“Yes, we know. But you’re aware we don’t often have openings. That said, if you can make a really great show that a lot of people are excited to come see, then I’ll keep you in mind for further opportunities. Donnie would prefer two separate shows, if you can swing it. It could be a big deal for us if you’re successful. Donnie’s eyes are on this project.”

Emilie swallowed. The phone was actually shaking in her hand, Lynn’s promise was so exciting to her. She would get to keep her team’s jobs for Christmas and have the opportunity to audition for her own dream job.