Page 14 of Wrapped in You
Even then, she couldn't "cut loose."
That was a depressing thought.
"We have to be back on set by four tomorrow morning," Sophie said with a wince.
"That's why we have to go out early," Beck explained. "Pack up the rest of your van, and let's go!"
Sophie knew she couldn't get out of it. But as she hauled the final metal container of leftovers to the van, she realized she didn't want to.
New stories had come to Willow Creek to find her. Finally, her life was changing.
Chapter Five
It wasn't hard to convince more cast and crew members to come to The Thirsty Bucket. They were exhausted from filming for twelve hours but wired from the continued sunlight and sugar cookies. A makeup artist from the trailer two over from catering cried out, "Silver Bellsis going out on the town!"
Randy agreed to take the van back to the head kitchen, then return with the key and hang out for a while. The twinkle in Randy's eye told Sophie that he was surprised. A minute later, he explained to Beck why. "Sophie never goes out with us. What makes you guys so special?"
What had gotten into Sophie? She wasn't sure.
Maybe it was just a little bit of excitement.
That, and the fact that she was standing up to the mean-spirited director. It was up to her to maintain Christmas cheer. It was supposed to be a Christmas film, for crying out loud!
Sophie led fifteen of the cast and crew like the Pied Piper through the snowy, cobblestone streets of downtown Willow Creek. Jeremy staggered after them for a while, removing his traffic vest, but soon after, he cut around a corner anddisappeared. Sophie wasn't sure what to make of that. Had she wanted him to join?
"Isaac gave that weird traffic guy the stink eye," Mike explained, sidling up to Sophie as they entered the warm pub. "We don't want him around."
"Yeah! We want you all to ourselves," Isaac affirmed.
Sophie laughed. She felt delirious from lack of sleep and overwhelmed by constant socializing.
Isaac pushed open the door of The Thirsty Bucket, and they were enveloped in a warm pub of dark wood benches and bar counters, Christmas decorations, ten golden beer taps, and Christmas music twinkling from the speakers. Everything smelled of old beer and nuts and whatever they were frying up in the kitchen.
The bartender was one of her father's great friends, Alan. He'd owned and operated The Thirsty Bucket since the mid-eighties and therefore knew every member of Willow Creek intimately. He threw a red bar towel over his shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Look what the cat dragged in!" he called out. "Sophie Masters, I haven't seen you in The Thirsty Bucket in years."
Sophie's cheeks were hot. "Good to see you, Alan."
"Are these your new friends?" Alan asked of the crew.
"We're the cast and crew ofSilver Bells!" Beck announced proudly.
"And we just love your Sophie!" Natalie wrapped her arm around Sophie's shoulders and tilted her head.
"Who doesn't love our Soph?" Alan clapped his hands. "Let's get started. Who wants a beer?"
There was a raise of hands. Alan worked diligently, pouring pint after pint and setting them on coasters across the bar. Sophie watched him work and felt a smile creep across herface. Around her, the cast and crew bubbled with laughter and conversation.
"Year after year, we have film crews here in town," Alan said to her as quietly as he could. "And year after year, they never support the town's businesses. They never once came into The Thirsty Bucket. Not until now." He smiled. "Thanks for bringing them in here, Soph. Maybe your dad told you? It's been a hard year for sales here at the bar."
Sophie's heart felt bruised. Quietly, she said, "I'm sorry to hear that. It's been difficult for my catering business, too."
"People are tightening their wallets," Alan agreed. "Well, people around here are, at least. I never imagined Hollywood would swoop in and save us!"
Alan interrupted his flow of pouring beer to grab a glass of wine for her.
"You remembered!" she said.