Page 18 of Forbidden Professor
"That's the whole point of Sophie," Randy quipped. "She always sees the best in people. She doesn't quit on them. No matter how many times they disappoint her. No matter how much they hate the spirit of Christmas."
Natalie laughed. "In Hollywood, we call that the definition of insanity. Trying and trying and trying again, despite the outcomes."
Sophie wanted to say,In Willow Creek, we call that compassion.
But she was suddenly too tired and sorrowful to do anything else but spoon more pasta into bowls and smile hello at the rest of the cast and crew.
There were another seven hours to the workday. She had to find the energy to get through.
Maybe Derek will never talk to me again.
Isn't that what I want?
Chapter Eleven
Just as Sophie had feared, Derek avoided the catering stand over the next several days. Sophie kept her head down, working diligently and pretending, even to herself, that she was just fine. But anxiety ate at her heart.
Despite that, Silver Bells had found its footing, and filming was fluid, so much so that Mike, Beck, and Isaac had begun to talk of it like "the easiest job they'd had all year." During breaks, Sophie pestered them for more information about the difficult jobs they'd had, and Isaac described a time he'd been stuck inside a cave for more than twelve hours when a director had sent him down there to try to "assess the sound" for a future scene.
"Needless to say, we didn't film down there," Isaac said. "Mike was throwing snacks down at me and promising he'd take care of my girlfriend when he got back to LA." Isaac jabbed Mike in the side with his elbow, and Mike doubled over with laughter.
"What's this I hear about spelunking?" A familiar voice rang out through the set.
Sophie turned as her father, Joe, meandered toward the catering table, wearing a funny smile.
Mike, Beck, and Isaac perked up. "There he is! The man of the hour!" Mike threw his arm around Joe and led him the rest of the way to the catering stand.
Sophie was surprised. She knew they'd met her father at the Christmas party, but their friendship seemed even stronger now.
"We ran into Joe last night at The Thirsty Bucket and told him to come by this afternoon," Mike explained to Sophie.
"We told him his daughter has been causing a lot of trouble on set," Beck said, winking.
"I already knew the director hated you," Joe said, "but I didn't realize you were such a menace!"
Sophie giggled and hurried around the table to hug her father. She hadn't seen him since last weekend.
"Now that you're retired, you think you can just bother everyone else at work?" Sophie asked.
"Put me to work if you have to," Joe said.
"Never," Sophie said.
Joe chatted with the sound guys as Sophie, Fiona, and Randy prepped for the midafternoon snack service—nachos with cheese, chicken, and beans.
"Don't go too light on the cheese," Joe hollered, watching Sophie.
"That's the first rule of nachos, Dad," Sophie said, pretending to be annoyed and rolling her eyes.
"Joe says he's coming to The Thirsty Bucket with us tonight!" Mike announced proudly. "We told him you haven't been there with us for weeks!"
"Weren't we just there together like a week and a half ago?" Sophie scratched her head.
"That was a lifetime ago," Beck said. "Say you'll come with us tonight?"
Sophie sighed and glanced back at Randy. That morning, he'd shown her the presentation he'd made for tomorrow'sChristmas Festival meeting, and she'd called town hall to secure their alcohol permit for the wine stalls. They'd said, "We already did that for you, Sophie. We know you're in over your head with the film."
It meant Sophie had a little more time than she'd planned for. "I guess I can swing by for one glass of wine," Sophie offered. "But just one! I have a Christmas Festival meeting tomorrow."