Page 25 of Christmas off Script
‘Darth Vader isn’t a woman.’
‘He thought we could make her outfit pink. Or he could be a Wookie in a bikini. But like I said, his ideas are silly. Mine are much more on point.’
‘Ithought we’d decided to recycle costumes from previous years,’ Willow said. ‘Those ideas sound insanely complicated.’
Arthur looked at Ella hopefully, as if she held his happiness in her hands.
‘Would you be happy if I could find them online? Otherwise we’d be constructing from scratch and I’m not sure how long it would take.’
Arthur’s face fell.
‘But we could always embellish any we bought,’ she continued in a hurry. ‘And make them unique.’
He perked up again. ‘Jolly good! We need to make sure I’m a spectacle! And Steve, of course.’
Gram-Gram sniffed. ‘You’re always a spectacle.’
‘Thank you, Mater! That’s a compliment indeed!’
Ella swallowed her grin and continued eating. Hopefully Arthur would be mollified if she could find sufficiently outrageous costumes online and then add some bling.
‘Do you know if Libby has found anyone to play Prince Charming yet?’ Ella asked Connor. He was the Musical Director for the show, and Libby was directing now that Vivienne was delayed on a film set in LA.
‘She sent me a message saying she’d found him and wanted it to be a surprise for us all tomorrow.’
Leo groaned. ‘She hasn’t persuaded Henry to take the role, has she?’
Connor shook his head. ‘He’d never do it. And anyway, Summer’s playing Cinders, so that won’t work.’
‘She could have asked me,’ Leo said. ‘I’d be a brilliant Prince Charming.’
‘But you’re Buttons, the comic relief, and Cinderella’s best friend. I can’t imagine you playing any other part.’
‘And you are perfect for that role,’ Willow added.
Leo rolled his eyes and turned to Ella. ‘Couldyousee me as Prince Charming?’
‘Er…’ Her mind blanked. Once, many years ago, she’d thought he was her perfect man. But Leo wasn’t interested, instead encouraging her to go out with Zach, then falling for Lila as soon as she’d arrived in the sixth form. Ella hadn’t thought about Leo as anything more than a friend for twelve years, but as she gazed at his handsome face, lit by the soft glow of the candles, a tiny flame flickered inside her, heating her cheeks with unfamiliar feelings.
‘Leave the poor girl alone,’ Arthur scolded. ‘Not every female in Foxbrooke wants to drop their knickers for you.’
Leo’s face burned with embarrassment, his gaze going to his father. ‘Dad!’
‘What? You’re always telling us how successful you are with the ladies!’
Ella sank a little lower in her chair. She’d heard the rumours about Leo’s personal attributes and prowess.
‘That’s not—it’s not—’ Leo swept a hand through his thick hair. ‘Look—’
‘Darling,’ Dervla interrupted. ‘You’re perfect, just as God made you. And it doesn’t matter how many women enjoy your talents.’
‘Mammy!’ Leo cried.
‘He takes after me in that department!’ Arthur said happily. ‘Foxbrookes are the best fu—’
‘Will you bequiet!’ Gram-Gram banged her knife on the table. ‘I came here for a meal with my family, not a ticket to the zoo.’
Arthur chuckled. ‘Fair enough. I promise to behave. At least till the coffee’s poured.’
