Page 58 of The Summer of Christmas

“We see what she’s trying to do,” she said.

“Who?” Ivy asked.

“Shhh. Don’t move your mouth while I’m applying these lashes,” Ella chided.

“You know who. Amari. She’s trying to steal your man. She told me. Well, not in so many words, but she did tell me that she wanted him all for herself. That girl does not like to share. She said she always likes to have a fling during production. Makes her feel alive.”

Ivy stiffened. She felt furious. Her suspicions were no longer unfounded.

“All done,” Ella said.

Ivy blinked her eyes open and looked into the handheld mirror that Ella held out. And in that moment, Ivy forgot all about her annoyance with Amari because she had the most beautiful long and curvy eyelashes. They opened up her pretty blue eyes. Her hair looked lush and sexy. Ivy hated to admit it, but looking good made her feel good.

“Wow. Amazing.”

“I know. I gave you the starlet lashes. Like the ones I use on Amari.”

“I love them,” Ivy said with more excitement than she’d mustered in some time.

Dede, the costume designer, walked over to look. “Nice work, gals.” She nodded approvingly.

“Thanks. Are you busy right now, Dede?” Olivia asked.

“No. Not for another hour.”

“Good. Because I think our girl here needs to complete this makeover with a new outfit.”

Dede looked at Ivy’s sundress and winced. “No offense, honey, but that dress is so 2010.” Which it was. Ivy used to wear the sundress in high school.

“Okay. Sure. That would be great. If you’re not too busy,” she agreed with a big smile and followed Dede over to the wardrobe rack on wheels.

Dede handed Ivy a sexy red Christmas dress. Ivy slipped into the lacy fabric and smiled. It was short and showed off her tanned legs. “Perfect fit,” Dede said. Ivy looked at herself in the mirror leaning against the wall, and she had to admit that she didn’t look half bad. “Now try on these sandals.” But they weren’t just any sandals, they were Gucci sandals. Ivy had yearned for them at the Beverly Center’s Gucci store. But at seven hundred fifty dollars, they were out of her price range. Ivy sat down on the locker room bench and buckled the sandals. She stood up and wobbled for a second before she adjusted to the height of the heels. Ivy was never one to wear heels, but this was different. She twirled in the mirror. Her smile grew even larger.

“I love it!” Ivy announced.

“My work is done,” Dede said.

Olivia looked at Ivy approvingly. “You do good work, Dede.”

“So do you.”

“Hey, what about me?” Ella protested jokingly.

Ivy watched as Olivia elbow-bumped Ella and Dede in approval. Ever since Covid, high-fiving and handshaking had gone by the wayside.

“Just don’t wear those shoes off the set,” Dede reminded her. “You can wear the dress home. Amari’s not going to wear it after all.”

Ivy tried not to frown when she heard the nameAmari, but Olivia and Ella noticed.

“She’s not going to wear it because it doesn’t fit her. Her boobs are too small. We have to put a padded bra on her, and even that doesn’t work for this dress,” Dede said. Ivy relaxed. “Now go show off your beautiful self,” Dede urged her.

Ivy walked out of the girls’ locker room. She was tentative. Hoping not to call too much attention to herself. And praying she wouldn’t trip in the Gucci heels. She went down the hall and onto the hot set. Griffin was sitting in his canvas chair while he was waiting for his scene to be lit. He was reading the real estate section in the local newspaper. He’d circled various homes that interested him. He was secretly thinking about buying a home in Geneva. A house on the lake. Maybe take some college classes at Hobart and William Smith. When Ivy approached him, he looked up. Surprised.

“Hey, beautiful,” Griffin said.

Ivy blushed. “Thanks.”

“Look at you, girl. Hot enough to melt an ice cube.”