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“Wait, you can’t leave me. When can we see each other again?” Annie asked, not wanting to sound so manic but completely unraveling into unhinged. Even if this version of Marsha was not the one she wanted right now, Annie needed her best friend.

“Perhaps we’ll cross paths again at one of tomorrow’s holiday offerings?” Eve asked with a hopeful smile that couldn’t quite hide her need to retreat from Annie’s fervent energy. “Ta-ta!”

“All okay, Annie?” Chris asked, skating closer as Eve exited. “Looks like you could use a hot chocolate.”

Annie’s heart sank as Eve offered a finger wave, turned her back, and made her way off the ice with Ferguson. When Annie turned back to Chris, it hit her that she had also missed a chance to almost kiss him. This entire event had left her feeling even more defeated and deflated. How did Marsha now fit into this whole thing? Why was she here in disguise? And why couldn’t Annie have gotten the princess storyline?

“We should probably get changed if we’re going to make it to rehearsal on time,” Nick said, sensing that Annie was about to burst—whether into tears or flames, neither of them was sure.

“Yes, of course.” Chris nodded his head enthusiastically. “Thank you both again for volunteering your time for such an important production. Holly and I will see you at the theater,” Chris grinned, putting on a voice to emphasize “theater.”

“We don’t want to be late for our first rehearsal,” Nick said without a hint of sarcasm.

“Oh, I absolutely want to be late, very late in fact,” Annie countered.

“I don’t think time works like that here,” Nick said. “How’re you doing, really?” Nick asked her gently.

“Aside from my best friend not recognizing me and me becoming a clumsy, falling mess?” Annie asked, crossing her arms to her chest.

“Now you listen to me, young lady! Even if we’re horribly mangled, there’ll be no sad faces on Christmas,” Nick said in his best Jim Carrey as the Grinch impression.

“That’s not bad,” Annie admitted.

“I spent a lot of time perfecting various Jim Carrey character impressions,” Nick said proudly.

“That tracks,” Annie said dryly, immediately recalling Nick’s childhood obsession with Ace Ventura.

“Let’s de-Santa ourselves and then I can jump into another character,” Nick offered.

“What can you show me from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?” Annie asked as Nick led their way off the ice.

When Annie and Nick approached the elementary school’s cafeteria a few minutes (and impressions) later, they noticed Perry was outside and eagerly waiting for them.

“Hope it’s alright I came, I thought I’d take you up on the offer to volunteer,” Perry said.

“I’m sure they’ll be happy for the help,” Nick nodded, holding the door open.

“Grant kick you out?” Annie asked.

“What?” Perry asked, shocked and hurt. “No, I, um, didn’t want to be in the way of his decorating. Thought I could be more useful here,” Perry said, not quite meeting Annie’s prying eyes.

When they entered the large cafeteria/gymnasium, everyone was already gathered in chairs in front of the wooden stage. Despite the emotional roller coaster that had been her morning, the sense of soothing nostalgia unexpectedly blanketed Annie, so cozy and comfortable. It wasn’t the smell of what she remembered from school cafeterias, no rectangle pizza mixing with the aroma of kids fresh from gym class here, thank goodness.

“You look … happy,” Nick said, looking her over. “That scares me.”

“Shh,” Annie murmured, trying to conjure the scent again.

“Welcome!” Chris boomed from the corner of the room, interrupting her smelling attempts. “We’re so grateful that Miss Annie and Mr. Nick are here.”

“We brought Perry,” Annie called over to him. She hoped maybe Perry could take on some of the volunteer assignments intended for her.

“Let’s welcome them, shall we?” Chris asked the group of children.

“Good morning, Miss Annie. Good morning, Mr. Nick. Good morning, Mr. Perry” the group of children sang out in perfect unison.

“Creepy,” Annie whispered.

“I’m going to introduce myself to the director,” Perry said, already an air of professionalism escorting him through the room.