Page 1

Chapter 1

Ellie

There is nothing better than getting an extra Christmas.

Even with the intense July sunshine bearing down upon my pale, freckled skin, the scene before me screams winter. Cheerful two-story brick buildings are strung with lights and garland, windows are frosted and white blankets are strategically placed to give the illusion of piles of snow.

I’ve never been to Chilliwack even though it’s only a quick ninety-minute drive from Vancouver, but I’m impressed. The architecture of the new downtown core has been modelled after an old-timey village, but with all the perks of new buildings. Narrow cobblestone alleys with gas lanterns provide access to shops with quaint script signage, and the apartments above the businesses seem like the type to have exposed brick walls, apron sinks, and rooftop patios.

Yep. I could live here.

That’s the dream, isn’t it? To be whisked away from the big city and end up in a cute town like this. Not that Chilliwack is a town; it’s a city for sure, but this adorable little city centre makes it seem otherwise.

The only thing marring its charm are the bright blue temporary fences, crowding film equipment, and the bustle of film crew finalizing the preparations to turn everything into a winter wonderland in the midst of a July heat wave.

Dopamine tingles run down my back and arms as I stare at it all from across the street while waiting for the lights to change. It’s not my first time working on set, not even my first Christmas movie, but I still feel that excited flutter in my belly as if it is. This will never get old.

Finally, the lights change. I clomp forward in my winterboots and readjust my bag on my shoulder, feeling sticky with the sweat prickling at my nape and starting a rivulet down my back. My oversized Rudolph sweater was fine in the comfort of my Subaru’s air conditioning, but now not so much in the blaring sunshine; I have switties. Swoobs? Either way, I’ll need to sop up the girls before trying on my costume so I don’t ruin it. But I’m not going to let thirty-degree heat get in the way of my Christmas spirit, or my method acting. Did Tom Hanks back down after getting a staph infection on the set ofCast Away? Nope. So I can handle a little heat. If it were comfortable then it wouldn’t be worth it.

Waving at the techs crowding the coffee shop where all of my scenes will be filmed, I turn down one of the adorable cobblestone alleys and make my way to a burgundy door next to a craft beer brewery. I show my ID to the security guard, walk through the door and up the flight of stairs to the door on my left with a sign that readsHair & Makeup.

The room is swarming with people talking animatedly and prepping for the first day of filming tomorrow. I can’t help the giant grin on my face as I step into the familiar chaos.

A flash of red hair at the far end of the room alerts me to Marlene Byrne, our producer. The older white woman is looking over the top of her glasses and pointing at her iPad with a long fingernail, while Yueyi Lei, our director, nods emphatically, her black curls bobbing up and down. Yueyi is Chinese Canadian from Richmond with years of experience in the Vancouver theatre scene, and Marlene is originally from California but moved to Canada some years ago, bringing with her a wide knowledge base from her time working on films in Hollywood.

Hollywood.

I dare to dream.

With the two of them on board I know the movie is in great hands and am excited to see the magic they can make with only two weeks of filming. It’s a tight deadline, but it’s not unusual for Christmas movies to be filmed so quickly. Two years ago,we did one in ten days. Yeah, it wasn’t the best quality, but it still brought joy to thousands of people.

Okay, hundreds.

I wave at the pair, but they’re too caught up in their conversation to notice me. Working my way around the side of the room, I keep an eye out for my station, but can’t spot my name tagged on anything. Unsure of where to go, I look for a familiar face but see none, which isn’t uncommon; they tend to hire a lot of locals for movies like this to keep costs down. Regardless, I say hello to everyone I pass, introducing myself as I do, since we’ll be a tight-knit crew over the next two weeks.

Finally, I catch up to Marlene and Yueyi.

“Hello, Ellie.” Marlene greets me with her customary forearm squeeze, long nails digging into my skin.

“Hey, team. Merry Christmas!” I gesture at my sweater and give a little shimmy, which earns a half-hearted chuckle.

“Darling, it’s a heat wave,” Yueyi states, giving me a pursed-lip tut.

“Don’t mind me, just getting in the zone.” I wink. “At least this place has air conditioning.” I clap my hands and bite my bottom lip. “That script—the ending! The writers really did an amazing job with it. I mean, top-notch. Way better than last year’s, and even that was really good. I didn’t see the twist coming at all. It really is a—”

Marlene and Yueyi look past me, both pairs of eyes lighting up.

I twist to look behind me and nearly trip on my own two feet when I see him.TheOscar Fizak. Knowing he would be here did nothing to prepare me for seeing him for the first time in real life. How they got him to star in a Christmas movie, I’ll never know. Maybe they have some dirt on him. Regardless, his presence is taking this whole production to new heights. With his bronze skin, high cheekbones, deep brown eyes, salt-and-pepper hair, and the type of body you only get from a no-carb diet and getting paid to work out, Oscar has all the classic goodlooks of old Hollywood, but with the sizzle of a good modern romance hero. He’s exactly the type of guy you’d hope to meet during your stay in a small town, who’d inevitably convince you to leave the big city behind in favour of white picket fences and cups of tea on your front porch.

Now,hecould show me the true meaning of Christmas.

Oscar greets Marlene and Yueyi, his voice smooth, low, and a little husky, like he’s smoked a cigarette and followed it up with a shot of bourbon. Then he looks at me all nonchalant, his smile practised and easy. “Hey, Allie.”

Oh mygod.He almost knows my name! Allie, Ellie, close enough.

“Are you excited to film your first Christmas movie?” I manage to ask.

He gestures at my sweater. “Looks like you’re excited enough for the both of us.”