18
M ayor Evergreen's voice boomed through the hall. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Magic over Mistletoe Ballroom Dance Competition. It warms my heart to see such a fantastic turnout tonight. I know you're all excited to get started, but first, let's have a hand for Eleanor Frost, the woman behind the magic here tonight.”
Eleanor's knees shook so much that she feared she might not reach the small stage. Public speaking had never been her forte because she feared looking foolish. What would the people of Mistletoe think of her in such a fancy dress and how she'd styled her hair into a French twist? Would they laugh? She longed to run.
Vivian squeezed her hand. “Eleanor, go,” she whispered. “You can do this.”
Eleanor nodded and made her way up to the mayor, focusing on one step at a time. The crowd was cheering for her, cranky old Eleanor Frost. Maybe the dome had transported them to another world, after all.
“Good evening, everyone. I think we're all in for a sensational night,” she began with a shaky voice. Then Eleanor spotted Christoper. He winked at her, and somehow that small, innocent gesture filled her with confidence. She corrected her posture as if preparing for a dance, and her voice grew stronger when she spoke. “First of all, I'd like to welcome our esteemed judges...” Eleanor introduced the judges and the professionals and reviewed the rules for the evening. “And remember, everyone is being paired up at random. Looking to my left, you'll find a whiteboard with your name and partner. Vivian Miller and I will head over to hand out your team numbers. Good luck everyone!”
Eleanor joined Vivian, and they made their way over to the table. The lineup was long, but soon, they'd handed out most of the numbers, and the teams were pinning them onto their clothes. Soon, the band played the first song, and the night started with the professional dancers doing a rhumba.
The final contestant to arrive at the table was Christopher.
“Good evening, ladies,” Christopher said.
“Let's see who you're paired with tonight,” Vivian said, turning to the board. “Well, well, it looks like you're paired with Eleanor.” She shrugged. “Huh. What were the chances?”
“Viv, I'm not supposed to compete. I'm here to help run the event.”
“Nonsense. Everything is covered. We're good. And so what if you can't compete, you can still dance. Is that okay with you, Christopher?”
“It's more than okay. Shall we?” Christopher held out his hand to Eleanor.
Vivian nudged her, and Eleanor thought, Oh, why the heck not .
“You look beautiful, Eleanor. Absolutely stunning,” Christopher said, drawing her hand to his mouth and kissing it.
The moment his lips caressed her hand, a flutter of nervous energy danced within her. It was as if a thousand tiny stars burst to life after years of dormancy. “Why thank you. You look very nice yourself,” she managed, her voice huskier than normal. The truth was, Christopher looked better than nice. Much better.
He wore a rich, deep black, perfectly tailored jacket with satin-faced peaked lapels that gleamed softly in the light. Beneath the jacket was a crisp white dress shirt with a pleated front. The wing-tip collar framed his face nicely, making his rosy cheeks and blue eyes stand out even more. His deep crimson silk bow tie added a festive touch. His trousers, perfectly pressed, had a satin stripe running down the outer seam of each leg. They broke just so over his shiny black dress shoes.
He'd neatly trimmed and styled his beard to complement the formal wear rather than overwhelm it. And, his white hair was smoothed back, perhaps with some pomade for extra polish. But it wasn't merely his clothes. It was the way his smile warmed her heart, the way his eyes drew him into his world, the way the smallest touch made her come alive.
"You need to know, that what you did… the dome… it means the world to me and I don't know how to thank you. Tonight's success meant so much, and you saved it. I think that's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I won't forget this ever. But I do have one question. How did you do it? It defies logic.”
Christopher gave her a disarming smile. “I'm so glad tonight worked out, so let's enjoy it and discuss engineering another night. Let's get on that dance floor. I want to dance with the most stunning woman in the room.”
Eleanor blushed, then nodded and slipped her hand into his. Together, they headed towards the dance floor. Christopher was right. Questions could wait. The night was all about dancing in the arms of this wonderful man and nothing else.
As the music changed to a waltz, Christopher turned to her, his eyes playful. “Well, Ms. Frost, shall we show them how it's done?”
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, fighting a smile. “I dare say we must, Mr. Kringle.”
They stepped onto the dance floor. As soon as they began moving, Eleanor relaxed into his embrace, their bodies moving in perfect synchronicity. As they danced, the last remnants of Eleanor's years of loneliness and bitterness melted away. Christopher's steady presence, his humor, and the way he looked at her like she was the only person in the room further stirred emotions she thought long dead. And oh, how she reveled in it.
As they twirled, Eleanor caught glimpses of other couples. Caleb was dancing with Sarah from the bakery, both laughing as they stumbled through the steps. Principal Smythe danced with Rowin, the grocery store manager, and moved with surprising grace. People were smiling, laughing, and having fun.
She'd done it.
When they finally took a break, Christopher went to find them bottles of water, and Eleanor moved through the crowd, complimenting everyone on their efforts. Filled with such a lightness, she was certain she was floating. And when Christopher caught her eye from across the room, Eleanor realized perhaps it wasn't too late for second chances, in dancing and in love.
***
Mayor Evergreen beamed as he announced that Moonlight Over Mistletoe had surpassed its fundraising goal. “And now, with the formalities concluded, here are tonight’s extraordinary couples,” he began. The air in the dome crackled with anticipation as Mayor Evergreen announced the winners.
“Are you sorry we couldn't be included?” Eleanor asked Christopher, over the crowd's applause for the winners.
“Not at all. The fun is in the participation,” he said, putting an arm around her waist and leading her to a quiet corner. “My prize was dancing with you.”
Eleanor didn't know what to say or how to respond, but she needn't worry. There was no time to talk because Christopher leaned down and pressed his lips gently against hers.
Yes, there's something to be said for participation , she thought before wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him closer.