Page 82 of Christmas off Script
‘How’s Zach doing?’
Willow pulled a face. ‘The ambulance left a few minutes ago. Mammy followed them to the hospital to keep Zach company until his folks can get there.’
Leo glanced over to where Connor, who was a nurse, was sitting, his expression grim. ‘What did Connor say about Zach’s leg?’ he asked Willow in a low voice.
‘He’ll be in plaster for weeks,’ she whispered back. ‘He said it’s a really bad break.’
‘Fuck.’
Willow nodded. ‘Come on, let’s sit down and try to work out what to do.’
As they sat with the rest of the group, Libby gave them a small smile. ‘Thank you for coming back. Ella, are you hurt at all?’
She shook her head. ‘I’m fine. It was more of a shock than anything else.’
‘My dear, please accept my sincere apology,’ Arthur said to her, his eyes damp with unshed tears.
‘Of course,’ she replied. ‘It did look very pretty at the beginning.’
Arthur perked up. ‘My thoughts exactly! Maybe, if I just keep it on a low—’
‘No,’ chorused Henry and Connor loudly.
‘Okay, okay,’ he mumbled.
‘Right then,’ Libby said, her tone artificially perky. ‘I never want to assume the worst, but I trust Connor’s professional judgement, and therefore we need to accept that Zach will not be able to perform in the pantomime.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Which opens in two and a half weeks.’
‘Who else could play Prince Charming at such short notice?’ Steve asked.
Libby puffed out her cheeks, then sighed. ‘No idea. It would have to be someone who knew the words, songs, and dance moves, or at least could learn them in record time.’ Her head swivelled slowly to face Henry.
Henry swallowed, his expression rigid with terror, then turned to gaze at Finn. ‘How about Finn?’
‘What?’ Finn replied, his jaw hanging loose. ‘Sorry, but no way. I’m about as charming as dry rot. Henry should do it.’
‘Connor?’ Henry continued desperately. ‘He can sing. Willow can do his job of the music.’
Willow’s head was a blur as she shook it. ‘I can’t. I’m nowhere near good enough.’
Leo felt Ella, tight with tension beside him. She’d never signed up to play Cinderella in the first place, and now she had no idea who her next leading man was going to be. And the others were right. Finn and Henry would be awful, and Connor was in charge of the music.
‘Okay,’ Libby said. ‘Why don’t I put a call out on social media? Explain the situation and see if we can find someone—anyoneto step in.’
‘No,’ Leo said. He hadn’t thought of an alternative, but he knew he couldn’t stand by and see Ella go through more stress and be expected to kiss a random stranger.
Libby turned to him. ‘Do you have another idea?’
‘Yes.’ His mouth moved five steps ahead of his brain. ‘I’ll do it.’
‘You?’
‘Yes. I know all the words already.’
‘But you’re Buttons,’ Libby continued.
‘You can be Buttons,’ he replied, feeling more confident with every word. ‘The part is often played by a woman, so the audience will buy it. You’re a brilliant actor and know the lines as well as I do. The costume is loose-fitting so you’ll just need the trousers and sleeves taking up a bit. You were going to be in the wings for every performance anyway, so you might as well be on stage.’
Silence.
