Dad’s face fell. A direct hit leaving shock and fear. A moment later, his features tightened, and his nostrils flared. “Don’t play games with me.”
“I’m not.” But if Dad thought this was a game of chicken, he would lose. “Anything else you need?”
Dad turned on his heel and stomped away, heavy footsteps echoing through the hallway.
Elias should care more than he did. All he wanted to do was be the best attorney he could be, as he’d told Tasha, but not under these circumstances.
Still, he had a job, unlike her. He couldn’t imagine losing two jobs. Dad and Gramps wouldn’t fire Elias unless he messed up big-time, but he hated the control he’d given up in exchange for that stability.
Not worth it.
He let those three words sink in.
Elias only hoped he didn’t grow too impatient waiting for January to arrive. But he didn’t have to wait that long for Tasha. He knew where she’d be on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and he would be there for at least one of them.
* * *
Wednesday night, Tasha sat between Jenny O’Rourke and Juliet soon-to-be-Jones-not-Monroe, which is how Juliet introduced herself, watching auditions at the rink. Both women, in their thirties, had volunteered, and Tasha couldn’t have asked for nicer helpers. Jenny brought cupcakes from the Berry Lake Cupcake Shop, and Juliet, who worked for Charlene, had tea bags and cocoa packets and two thermoses full of hot water.
The warm drinks came in handy with the cold temperature. Charlene had dropped off an outdoor heater, but it was still chilly.
“We have one more audition tonight.” Jenny sipped from an insulated paper cup. “Tomorrow’s list of kids looks as long.”
Juliet pulled her wool cap lower over her ears. “It’ll go fast.”
Wait a minute. Tasha glanced at both women. “You’ll be here tomorrow?”
“Of course.” Juliet’s voice reminded her of a cartoon princess. She looked like royalty with her beautiful face. “Once upon a time, I dreamed of making it big in Hollywood. There’s not much of that in a small town. I’m having fun tonight.”
“So much fun,” Jenny agreed. “My husband took our daughter to Portland for a father-daughter trip. They’ll Christmas shop in between visits to the zoo and the Children’s Museum. This gets me out of a quiet house. I have our cat and a foster cat to keep me company, but neither say much unless they want food or a treat.”
Juliet laughed. “Same for my dog, Lucy. Though I don’t have that problem at work. Charlene has never met silence.”
Tasha could see that. “Well, I appreciate the help.”
A skater came out onto the ice and stopped. She took a deep breath. Her exhale hung in the air. “I’m Katie Byrne. I’m twelve and an intermediate skater. I also sing.”
“Excellent.” Tasha glanced at Katie’s form. “Skate first. If you know any spins or jumps, show us, but if not, no worries. Everyone who tries out gets a part.”
Katie’s expression relaxed. “Want me to go now?”
“Please.”
With a smile, Katie was off. She glided with long smooth strokes into a waltz jump. Next came a one-foot spin. She circled the ice again and did a Salchow and finished up with a scratch spin.
Tasha made notes on Katie’s page. “That’s wonderful, Katie. Now, please sing for us.”
Katie sang the song “I’ll Have a Blue Christmas Without You.”
Juliet sucked in a breath. Her pen dropped.
Katie’s voice was clear and not pitchy.
For a small town, the level of talent surprised Tasha. Several did basic jumps and spins. One teenager, a young woman named Belle, who’d been at the rink on Saturday afternoon, had mastered double jumps and would make the perfect angel for the final nativity number.
Katie finished the song and bowed.
The three judges, as the kids had called them, clapped. Tasha wanted each child or teen to leave thinking it’d been a positive experience.
