Backstage Romance: An Austen-Inspired Romantic Comedy Box Set by Gigi Blume (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📕

“Yup.” I shoveled the last bite into my mouth and tossed the plate in the trash. “Where’s Georgia?”

“Last time I checked Joy was helping her get ready. I think they’re in places by now.”

Joy was home from college for winter break and had been a big help to Georgia and me.

I thanked Teresa and hurried over to the makeshift dressing rooms. Once I slipped on my robes I went to take my place in the manger scene. Georgia was there already and when I saw her my heart sputtered to a stop. She always stirred little explosions in my chest, but tonight she was exceptionally radiant. Maybe it was the way the warm lights shone on her, casting soft shadows in the folds of her garments. Maybe it was the cream-colored robes with hints of blue stitched in. Maybe it was seeing her with our newborn son in her arms, cradling him gently and lovingly.

Joy was dressed as a shepherd’s wife and it was her duty to keep our two-year old toddler, Noel, from getting into things. So far she was only somewhat successful. Noel already had her sticky candy cane full of hay.

“Look at that,” I said with exaggerated interest. “What is it?”

“Nudding.”

“Nothing? Can Daddy have it?” I glanced over at Georgia and winked. She watched with amusement.

Noel vehemently shook her head. “No.”

“Not even if we trade?” I fished a small plush sheep from the deep pockets of my robes. Noel’s eyes lit up and she happily made the trade.

I held the offending candy cane up for Georgia to examine. “Mary, did you know?”

She rolled her eyes. “I have no idea where she got that.”

“My fault,” Joy admitted. “I didn’t think she actually knew how to open the plastic wrap.”

Georgia and I both laughed. Noel could get into anything if she set her mind to it. We hardly ever gave her sweets but her birthday was Christmas Eve so we let it slide.

I squatted next to Georgia, first kissing little Wolfgang on the head and then my wife on her sweet lips.

“This is a good look on you,” I said between kisses. “And you say you’re not an actress.”

“One night only,” she joked. “Special engagement.”

I raised one brow and clicked my tongue. “Hmmm. I don’t think so. You need to beat Suzy McCormick’s record.”

She choked on a laugh. “Ten kids? Dream on.”

“Six, then.”

We’d talked about having a big family when we were first married. But even then she didn’t think I was serious about it. Oh but I was so, so serious.

She snorted and shook her head. I’d have to use my persuasive techniques later on.

A moment later, Reeses came bounding up into the manger scene dressed as a sheep. One of the ladies in the knitting ministry made him a little costume so he could join us. I had a feeling he’d steal the show. A.J. followed behind with the leash, rolling it up to hide it behind a rock. This year he was promoted to shepherd boy. His grandmother couldn’t be prouder. Lois came along with a camera, clicking away before we were all in our positions.

“Just taking behind-the-scenes candids,” she said.

A.J. scooped Reeses in his arms and posed. He didn’t get the whole candid shot idea. They were quite a pair.

We were roused from the photo shoot to the sound of the megaphone announcement coming down the path.

“Five minutes,” Pastor Kevin repeated at every group until he reached us. He climbed up to clap me on the back. “You ready, Joseph?”

“I was born for this role,” I replied with a wink.

He grinned. “Oh, and thanks for donating the heat packs. I always wondered how they filmed those snow scenes in the movies without freezing their tails off.”

I’d acquired the heat pads from the studio that picked up my latest spec script. I’d sold a couple of screenplays over the last few years, but my main gig was writing for a sit-com. One of these days, once I had more clout in the biz, I wanted to write an epic Sci-Fi flick for my brother-in-law.

Sisters Edna and Patty stopped by to tell us break-a-leg, and before Kevin ushered them inside for the start of the show, he led us all in a prayer.

My heart swelled. I knew Georgia and I would have our large family someday, no matter how many children we were blessed with. These people in the little town of Bethlehem were, in many ways, family to us. It was our second home for several months of the year. A few weeks in summer, some time in the spring, but always at Christmas.

I watched Georgia with her angelic glow, smiling into the distance.

“You just had a happy thought,” I observed.

She hitched one shoulder. “I have an idea for your next screenplay,” she said. “It should involve a grounded plane, an unplanned road trip, and a dog.”

“Oh? Is it a romance?”

She beamed. “Most definitely.”

“Yeah. I think you’re onto something. It could have some adventure, too. The hero’s got to be a real stud muffin.” I stroked my scruffy whiskers. “I’m thinking Henry Cavill or The Rock.”

She gave me a saucy look. “Or...and I’m just brainstorming here...he could be nerdy and klutzy and endearing.”

I tapped my chin, pretending to really think about it. “Hmmm. Do you think our heroine would fall for a guy like that?”

“She’d fall, alright. Right over his dog. Then she’d keep falling until she was completely, perfectly, and incandescently in love.”

A sweet warmth filled my chest. “And how does the movie end?”

Wolfgang squirmed in her arms on the verge of waking and Georgia rocked him softly back into dreamland. She swaddled him in his blankets a little more snugly and kissed his head.

“The ending is easy,” she said with a lovely smile. “They live happily ever after.”

“Yes,” I agreed, glancing at Noel who was occupied with her stuffed animal, then back to my beautiful wife. “It’s perfect. They all live happily ever after.”