Sadie
Nashville, Tennessee
December 24
TheStarmaker All I Want for Christmas Holiday Extravaganzahad been broadcast live-to-air the night before, so the atmosphere on set was less intense than usual. Everyone was tired, and ready for Christmas. The day was spent shooting B-roll and short interviews with the contestants where they were asked to share their favorite holiday traditions, and what they were going to miss most about not being home for the holidays.
Sadie couldn’t wait to get back to her apartment and enjoy the care package her gran had left before heading to the airport to return to Wisconsin that morning. Sadie knew it was filled with familiar holiday goodies from home like seven-layer bars and stollen, a fruitcake-like bread she liked to spread thickly with cream cheese. It always took her right back to herchildhood when Lynn, Elsie, and Sadie would cover their kitchen counters at home with candied citrus peel, marzipan, spices, and powdered sugar.
She was packing up to leave when her cell phone rang. It was Amalia.
“We need to have a meeting. Now.”
Sadie’s heart sank. “Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong. But it’s urgent. I’m outside the studio waiting to pick you up.”
Once outside, Sadie made her way across the parking lot to where her manager waited, ushering Sadie to her car.
“No questions now,” Amalia said. “We need to meet in a neutral location and sort this out. And then you and Max can decide what you think.”
“Where is this neutral location?”
“Love Point.”
“Doesn’t sound veryneutralto me.”
As Amalia piloted her gleaming white Audi through Nashville’s streets, all the storefronts and buildings glimmered with holiday lights. They left the city behind and kept going, eventually pulling into the circular parking lot that surrounded the hill they were about to climb. There weren’t many cars left at the popular tourist spot. Everyone was home for Christmas Eve.
“I feel like I’m being kidnapped,” Sadie admitted as they sat, waiting—for what, Sadie wasn’t sure, but she presumed it had to do with Bobbi and Max.
“Don’t be silly!” Amalia laughed her crow-caw of a laugh, then darted a glance out the slightly open window. “Ah. Here they come. Okay, let’s go. Here.” She handed Sadie a flashlight and turned on a small lantern she held.
“Amalia, this is just—”
“Trust me, okay? Have I ever steered you wrong before?” Amalia led her toward the base of the hill, where Max and Bobbi waited, holding flashlights, too. Max seemed equally mystified—and mildly alarmed. “Hey,” he said to Sadie, nodding his head. Things hadn’t exactly been great with them lately. The only time they got along was when they were singing together. But still, she widened her eyes at him, as if to say,What the hell is this?Max shrugged in response. At least they could agree on one thing: this was odd.
“Come on, you two,” Bobbi called out. Rather than one of her customary sleek pantsuits, she had on an expensive-looking jogging suit and running shoes. “It’s a steep climb, but short.”
Sadie was glad she’d sworn off high heels for good as she climbed the dark embankment. She was acutely aware of Max right behind her. At the top of the point, she surveyed the scene.“Wow.”
The entirety of Nashville was spread out before them, holiday lights glittering like rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. She felt a pang of nostalgia for home, which would be blanketed in a cozy and festive layer of snow on Christmas Eve. But she also understood, seeing Nashville from this height, why astronauts who went to space said it changed them forever: because it gave you a new perspective. As she looked down at the city she had been trying to conquer for such a long time, Sadie realized it wasn’t that big after all. She could see it from end to end. It had less power over her, from this viewpoint. She also felt a wave of affection for it, and wondered if that was why the spot they were at was called Love Point. How could younotlove Nashville, seeing it like this?
“Over here!” Bobbi called. She’d found a picnic table close by and was waving them over. Bobbi and Max set their flashlights on the table, then Amalia pulled a bottle of champagne from her bag.
Max frowned. “What are we celebrating?”
“The two of you. That gorgeous duet you sang last night—you’re at the height of your popularity with viewers right now.” Amalia popped the cork while Bobbi produced paper cups and passed them around.
“We have a proposal,” Amalia began. At this, Bobbi chuckled—and Sadie frowned. What was going on here?
“Yes,” Bobbi chimed in. “Exactly. Aproposal.I think we can all agree that ‘hashtag’ Saxie, this incredible persona you’ve created, has immense potential.”
“But,” Amalia interjected, as Sadie found herself wondering if they’d practiced this little routine in advance. “You are only as good as the last news cycle. Right now, you are shiny, you are new, you areriveting.But that is all going to change, because in this industry change is constant. In order to launch you two into the stratosphere, we think that once this little charade is over—” At the wordcharadeshe waved her hand around as if shooing away a bug, and Bobbi took over. They haddefinitelypracticed.
“—we need to make your breakup spectacular. Which means raising the stakes.”
Sadie could feel Max’s body growing tense beside her. They had spent so much time together she understood the nuances of his body language. She felt nervous, too.
