A Wright Christmas - K.A. Linde Page 0,50

premises.”

“You can’t kick us out,” Bart snapped. “We have a right to air our grievances.”

“I’m sure that you do. However, threatening legal action will only get you dismissed from the building.” I gestured to the door. “Have a nice day.”

“You—” Angelica said, taking a step forward.

“Stop!” Katelyn yelled. She silenced everyone, but her gaze was on me. “Everyone, just stop. This has gotten completely out of hand.”

“Katelyn…” her father said gently.

“No, Daddy. You two need to stop. I want to stay in the company. I want to go to Joffrey this summer.”

“We know, baby. We’re making sure that happens,” her mother said.

“No, you’re making it worse,” she ground out. “You don’t have to sue everyone who disagrees with you. Just…go watch the show.”

“But you deserve better than this treatment,” her father said.

Katelyn met my gaze and nodded. “Then, I’ll earn it. Maybe next year, I’ll be Clara.”

Her parents looked flabbergasted by her outburst, but Katelyn just masterfully shuffled them toward the door and shut it behind them. Her shoulders heaved, and everyone was still watching.

“All right, show’s over,” I said, clapping my hands. “Let’s get back to work.”

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and went back to what they had been doing. I walked over to Katelyn and put a hand on her shoulder.

“You too,” I said gently.

She looked up at me, and something like understanding passed between us. Katelyn wasn’t going to completely change anytime soon. I could see that in her stubborn expression and the way she couldn’t quite say anything about what had happened. But as she headed back to the dressing room, I had hope that she’d get there.

Even though we still had one more show on Christmas Eve, everyone was celebrating the end of the official run. Kathy had even shown up with her teeny-tiny baby for the performance.

She pulled me into a huge hug. “Thank you so much for taking over. I’ve heard having you here for a month has been transformative. You make a spectacular artistic director, just like I knew you would.”

“Thank you, Kathy. I just worked with what you had already established.”

“I heard about what had happened with Katelyn, too.” Kathy winced. “Sorry about leaving you with that land mine.”

I laughed. “It’s fine. We worked it out. Or at least, I think so.”

“Well, good. I should have known they’d take advantage of a transitional period. It’s like they were trying to destabilize a government.” Kathy dramatically rolled her eyes. “Anyway, here. Hold Lily.”

I took the little dumpling in my arms and cooed over her as Kathy went to have five whole minutes alone.

“You’re holding a baby,” Isaac said, appearing before me.

“Oh my God, you scared me.” I rocked the baby, hoping to slow my racing heart.

“Sorry about that.” He put his finger out, and Lily wrapped her little hand around him like a vise grip. “She’s so cute and squishy. God, I forgot how little they are.”

“Do you want to hold her?”

He nodded, and I passed Lily off to him. He held her like she was the most precious thing in the universe. And he was much better at it than me. It was clear that he’d held a baby many a times before. My heart melted all over as I imagined him with Aly like this.

“You’re a natural,” I said, running my finger over the baby’s chubby cheek.

“Lots and lots of practice,” he said with a laugh. “Are you still planning to meet me at the game tonight?”

“Yep. I’ll be there.”

“Aly is coming.”

“Oh, really? I thought you normally had someone watch her.”

“Normally…I do. But Sutton and Jennifer said they could manage. So, I thought you could all hang out.”

“I’d like that,” I admitted.

I wanted to be more involved with his life. Figure out where this was going. If it was possible for this to even work.

Kathy appeared back again. “Oh, look at you!” she gasped when she saw Isaac. “God, I am such mush when I see a man holding a baby.”

Isaac chuckled and offered Lily back to her mom. “She’s cute.”

“I sure think so,” Kathy said. “Are you two going to the after-party tonight? Nick is hosting it at his mansion at, like, eight o’clock.”

“I’ll be there after Isaac’s soccer game,” I told Kathy.

“Aw, it’s just like high school,” Kathy said with a wink. “Isaac, you are more than welcome to join her.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it since that’s Aly’s bedtime, but I’ll see if I can.”

“Good seeing you two.” She hugged me one