Page 33 of Christmas off Script
The air seemed to crackle, and Leo’s pulse accelerated as everyone’s gazes, including his own, settled on the person sitting next to him.
‘Yes!’ Libby cried. ‘Ella’s perfect!’
‘Me?’ she gasped.
‘Hear, hear!’ Arthur said. ‘You’re always standing in for people who’ve missed rehearsals in the past. You play any role thrown your way with perfection!’
‘Yes!’ Dervla agreed. ‘And you’ve got the voice of an angel.’
‘Remember this summer when you and Leo sang the whole Ubergraft concert for us when we were guarding the fence at the festival?’ Scott said. ‘You were as good as the band.’
Finn nodded his agreement.
‘And you’re really pretty,’ Willow added. ‘And practically the same size as Summer, so I won’t need to alter any of the costumes I’ve already made.’
‘Oh, thank goodness,’ Libby said. ‘This solves everything! I can’t believe the perfect person has been right under our noses all along, but we just didn’t see it!’
‘Wait a minute,’ Leo started. ‘Don’t you—’
‘Oh Leo,’ his father interrupted crossly. ‘Youmay be immune to Ella’s charms, but the rest of us aren’t. You don’t think she’s pretty enough? Good enough?’
‘No, that’s not—’
‘Open your eyes! And I’m sure if we all helped, she’ll easily manage the set painting as well as the lead role.’
‘Yes, definitely,’ Willow said. ‘We’ll all help.’
Leo crossed his arms and fumed at his family. He didn’t doubt Ella could play the part with her eyes shut, but that wasn’t why he was raising objections. His father, in particular, tended to make up his mind about something without consulting anyone affected. Leo knew Ella was a people pleaser, and he didn’t want her to be bullied into saying ‘yes’, when she’d much rather be saying ‘no’.
‘I think what Leo is trying to say,’ Henry said calmly, ‘is that nobody has actuallyaskedElla if she wants the part.’
Leo raised his hands. ‘Exactly.’
‘Oh, Ella, I’m so sorry,’ Libby said. ‘I got carried away and didn’t think. Would you like to play Cinderella?’
The look on Libby’s face was so full of expectant hope that Leo’s heart sank. Saying no to her request was the equivalent of kicking a puppy.
‘You’d be really helping us out of a tight spot,’ Arthur added.
‘Dad!’ Leo shouted.
‘What?’ his father replied, his mouth hanging open in confusion.
Leo wanted to yell at them that Ella already felt obligated enough staying at the manor indefinitely and also free of charge. His father saying that to her was unintentional emotional blackmail.
‘Just—don’t, okay. This has to be Ella’s decision.’
‘I know! I was just saying—’
‘I’ll do it,’ Ella interrupted. ‘I’ll play Cinderella.’
Everyone except for Leo, Connor, and Henry whooped, clapped, or cheered.
‘Are you sure?’ Henry, Connor and Leo asked at the same time over the din.
Ella nodded, her cheeks pink and her expression determined, as if accepting her fate.
Libby leapt out of her seat and hugged her. ‘Thank you! You’ll be brilliant!’ Her phone rang, and she pulled it out. ‘Ella, your Prince Charming has arrived! Let me get him from the main entrance!’ She dashed off.
