Page 19 of Wrapped in You

"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.