Chapter 6
Chapter Six
I t was Sophie's idea to host the party at the convention center in downtown Willow Creek. Cara agreed it was a good idea and even said she'd move around some film funds to pay for it. It meant Culinary Tastings would finally make a profit during an otherwise lackluster year.
It meant rent, groceries, and Christmas presents for Sophie's niece, nephew, mother, father, sister, and brother-in-law wouldn't be a problem this year.
Maybe it meant she could buy more Christmas decorations, too!
"But how will we convince Mr. Director a party's a good idea?" Sophie asked.
It was the end of another long day, a Wednesday in early December, and she scrubbed the catering tables with a sponge as a sharp breeze blasted through downtown Willow Creek.
Cara grimaced, adjusting her scarf around her long neck. "Let me handle that."
"You don't sound optimistic," Sophie said.
"Derek usually does what I tell him to," Cara said. "But I have to be careful about that. I can't push it too far, or he'll start rejecting every suggestion I make."
Sophie tried to laugh. "You're the true power behind the throne!"
"We'll see," Cara said.
A half hour later, as Sophie loaded the last of the big metal vats of leftover food into the van, she overheard Derek. "Two weeks of filming isn't enough to celebrate anything. Forget the party. We should really film over the entire weekend instead."
"Derek, you have to think about the crew," Cara reminded him in soft, easy tones. "We're out here twelve hours a day, five days a week. We're frozen solid. We miss California. We miss our friends and family. We need to build a familial environment out East. And the caterer says—"
"That caterer!" Derek blared. "I've had enough of her. I told you early on—I wanted that guy we used to hire out in California. Smith? Scott? The one who made the tofu burgers?"
"We made a deal with the mayor of Willow Creek to hire Willow Creek residents when we could," Cara reminded him. "And I think Sophie is great. Her food has been sensational and soul-warming. Everyone on the crew likes her."
"But this whole obsession with Christmas she has? You have to admit, it's silly."
Sophie paused before she got into the van to drive herself, Fiona, and Tommy back to headquarters. She wanted to hear what Cara said.
"You do remember you're directing a Christmas movie, right?" Cara offered.
"We're both here for the money, Cara," Derek said. But his tone had softened.
"You're going to have a mutiny on your hands if you don't ease up on them," Cara pointed out.
Derek grumbled. There was a shift in tension. Sophie knew she'd won.
Sophie's family agreed to help set up for the film party that Saturday afternoon. Together, they hauled Christmas trees, spare decorations, wreaths, and twinkling lights in from Joe's truck and arranged everything based on Sophie's instructions. From the kitchen came the sounds of her entire catering staff, hurrying to finish the hors d'oeuvres and a hearty festive meal for the approaching party. She'd decided on turkey, brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, buttery rolls, salads, and soups.
"Smells delicious," Joe joked as he finished tugging a Christmas tree inside. "When can we eat it?"
"Don't worry," Sophie assured him. "You can stay for the party if you want."
Joe clapped his hands. "That's what I like to hear! Guess what, Mary? We're invited to a real Hollywood party! Right here at the convention center!"
Mary laughed and rolled her eyes.
"I want to see this director for myself," Cindy declared, standing on a chair to put a star on top of a Christmas tree.
"I doubt he'll come," Sophie said. "His assistant had to twist his arm so he'd agree to the party in the first place."
"Does he know there's food and alcohol?" Joe joked.
"He's resistant to every form of celebration," Sophie said.
She considered telling her family about Derek's past—that he'd once been a great up-and-coming director, that his wife had been his screenwriter and died a few days before Christmas, leaving him in a state of duress and darkness.
But she didn't want to gossip about Derek's past.
Sophie had a past, too. Jeremy had dumped her unceremoniously after years of planning their wedding. She wouldn't have liked Derek to gossip about that, either.
We all had things we were trying to forget.
It was no surprise that the sound guys arrived at the party before everyone else. Beck, Mike, and Isaac strode in wearing matching ugly Christmas sweaters, their arms around each other's shoulders.
"Uh-oh," Sophie called. "Here comes trouble."
"Look at this place, Soph!" Mike called.
Sophie laughed and hurried toward them. "Do you think it's okay?"
"Okay?" Isaac cried. "It's more than okay! It's a dream come true."
"Don't flatter me," Sophie said.
Cindy came out of the kitchen wearing a sleek burgundy dress and her hair in a messy bun. Vic had agreed to take care of the kids all day and give her a night to herself at the party. Her eyes were electric. She was ready to have a good time.
"Is this your twin?" Beck asked.
Sophie and Cindy whooped with laughter.
"Nobody has asked us that in twenty years," Sophie said.
"I missed it!" Cindy agreed.
Cindy disappeared to turn on Christmas music. She started with "Silent Night" but quickly switched to "Jingle Bell Rock" to get the party atmosphere going.
Randy operated the bar and poured the sound guys’ beers from the tap. Sophie opted for a white wine and clinked her glass with theirs.
"I'm nervous," she confessed.
"Don't tell me you're scared of Derek Brownlee!" Beck cried.
Sophie wrinkled her nose. "I'll admit it. I'm a little scared of Derek Brownlee."
"Me too," Mike said.
"Sophie doesn't even think he's going to come," Cindy offered.
"Maybe he's holed up in his little cabin, writing and rewriting scenes for Silver Bells ," Isaac suggested.
"Did he write the script himself?" Sophie asked.
"Don't think so," Mike said. "He hates Christmas, remember?"
Sophie wondered if his wife had written it. Was that why it was so difficult for him to film?
Just then, the front door opened to bring in Jeremy. Sophie's stomach dropped. Jeremy breezed inside, nodding at several crew members, before striding to the bar to grab a drink. Sophie was still in a circle with Cindy and the sound guys.
Cindy made a strange sound in her throat, one that meant she wanted Jeremy to leave. Sophie squeezed Cindy's elbow and made a face she hoped translated: don't be weird.
"Hey, Soph. Hey, Cindy," Jeremy said, taking his beer and raising it. "Mike, Isaac, Beck."
The sound guys gave Jeremy uncomfortable and brief smiles.
"Good idea to have a party," Jeremy said. He was undeterred. "It's been crazy on set. We needed to cool off."
Sophie hated how much she wanted to be nice to him. She wanted to sidle up to him, ask him how he was, and remind him of a few Christmassy memories.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Jeremy asked Sophie under his breath.
"Hey, Soph." Cindy interrupted. "You're needed in the kitchen."
Sophie hesitated and looked Jeremy in the eye. "I'm working," she said as kindly as she could. "Maybe later?"
Sophie hurried after her sister to the kitchen. They disappeared behind the door. Cindy glowered in the midst of the chaotic staff, hands on her hips. Everything smelled of grilled onions and spices and buttery bread.
"He can't be serious," Cindy said.
Sophie sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Maybe I should just let him say what he wants to say?"
"No! Don't give him the time of day!" Cindy ordered.
"Give who the time of day?" Joe popped out of the back office and smiled.
"Jeremy thinks he can get Sophie back," Cindy shot.
Joe raised his eyebrows and peered out the window that looked out from the kitchen to the main room. "Jeremy's here? I better go say hi."
Joe disappeared, leaving Sophie and Cindy.
Cindy guffawed. But before she had a chance to pester Sophie again, Fiona burst forward with a potential kitchen disaster. "I think I burnt the mushrooms! Please help?" Her face was blotchy, and tears drained from her eyes.
"Can we talk about this later?" Sophie demanded.
Cindy rolled her eyes and retreated to the party. As the kitchen door opened, out came the sound of another Christmas song.
Not long after that, the convention center was full of cast and crew members eager to celebrate their two "difficult and bone-chilling" weeks of filming. Sophie's catering staff meandered with hors d'oeuvres, and Randy recruited Tommy to bartend since he couldn't keep up with the cast and crew's demands.
"I didn't know I'd make so many hot toddies today," Randy cried. "My fingers hurt from all the lemon!"
Sophie milled around, checking on cast and crew and staff and saying hello. She was pleased that so many people wore Christmassy outfits—Santa hats, sweaters, and sparkly dresses. The assistant costumer had even decorated her high heels with tinsel.
"I took this film for the cash—and to get out of LA," the assistant costumer explained. "I never thought I'd actually have a good time!"
Not long into the night, Sophie caught her father, Joe, taking a shot with the sound guys, who called Joe "the coolest guy in the room!" Joe beamed and said, "See, honey? Retirement is the best time of your life!"
Sophie cackled and refused the shot they poured for her, so Isaac drank it instead. "I'll regret that tomorrow," he said.
"But we have tomorrow off!" Mike cried, reaching for another shot. "Now is the time to unleash!"
Soon after, dinner was ready. Just like on set, the cast and crew were always starving and eager to eat. The bar and the dance floor were empty, and the room was semi-quiet as everyone focused on their food. Sophie sat at a table with Cindy and their mother and father, all of whom were eager to tell everyone else that Sophie was a member of their family. Jeremy was three tables away, seated with the sound guys, who seemed entirely displeased he was there.
Suddenly, the front door burst open. A freezing draft came in.
Everyone turned to see a familiar face.
Derek Brownlee strode into the convention center with the air of someone having the worst day of his life. He wore a black peacoat, and his hair was styled with gel, highlighting his black curls. Behind him was Cara. Cara locked eyes with Sophie and gave a soft nod. She seemed to say, Thank you .
Fiona hurried toward Derek and Cara, guiding them to free chairs near the kitchen. Piper came out of the kitchen with two plates, and Tommy approached to take their drink orders. Derek looked uncomfortable in his own skin. He took off his coat and sat down, glancing from side to side, seemingly annoyed. But when he began to eat, Sophie noticed how his shoulders loosened and his face transformed.
Inexplicably, Sophie thought, Food is the way to a man's heart .
But she shook that thought out. She had no interest in reaching Derek's heart. She just wanted him to be nicer to the crew—and maybe, just maybe, forget the sorrows of his past. For a few hours.
After dinner, Fiona passed out sheet music. Sophie hurried to the center of the dance floor to announce they'd be singing four carols together. "On set, you have to work together as a team," she said. "Singing carols isn't so different. And look." Sophie gestured toward the large window that looked out onto Main Street, not far from where they usually filmed every day. "It just started to snow."
All the Californians turned to gaze outside at a sparkling white snow that shivered through a dark night. Derek Brownlee seemed especially captivated with it. As everyone began to sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," Derek didn't even pick up the sheet music. The words came to him, but his eyes remained on the snow outside.
He was thinking about Georgia.
Sophie knew it.
Sophie led the cast and crew through all four carols. Their voices got louder and louder. All the while, Sophie couldn't help but glance at Derek, whose eyes glinted. Was he crying? Beside him, Cara was focused on reading the words on her sheet, but Derek still didn't need them.
He knew the songs by heart.
When the final song finished, Sophie's voice wavered as she said, "Thank you for humoring me. Singing together is one of the most magical parts of Christmastime."
"We love you, Sophie!" Mike cried.
"Hear, hear!" Isaac called.
Sophie laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She couldn't help but feel Jeremy's eyes on her. Derek's eyes were on her, too.
"Randy and Tommy have plenty of drinks at the bar," Sophie said. "Remember, we have shuttles every half hour to take you back to the hotel. If you're staying in the cabins near the forest..." She glanced at Derek and Cara, whom she knew had their own cabins away from the hotel. "We've arranged for the shuttle drivers to take you whenever you please."
Cara raised her glass of white wine and smiled. Derek continued to look at Sophie with a strange glint in his eyes.
Sophie assumed he'd get up and storm out of the convention center soon after that. But instead, Derek remained for another two hours. She caught him in conversation with Mike and Isaac, talking about sound equipment. She spotted him with Natalie and even overheard him saying, "I really think you're the perfect actress for this job." Natalie's cheeks were flushed.
But every once in a while throughout the evening, Sophie caught Derek's eyes upon her. They were filled with curiosity.
They seemed to ask, Who is this woman? Why won't she do what I tell her to?
But he seemed grateful that she'd disobeyed. He'd needed this party more than any of them. He just didn't know how to create space for anything but his grief.