Dancing to the Altar Page 3

“At the time, no. But I was the only one on the stage that could step in.”

  “Hmmm,” he replied thoughtfully.

  “It was kind of a joke.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was on my way to a holiday party, so I wasn’t exactly dressed the part of a weather girl.”

  “What were you dressed like?”

  Elle gave another little laugh. “I was dressed as an elf.”

  Dan’s ears perked up. “An elf?”

  “You know. One of those little creatures that sits on things and terrorizes kids everywhere?” She tried to make a scary face.

  Dan laughed. “I am familiar with them.”

  “Well I was on my way to the Children’s hospital for the annual holiday party. I had just changed from my street clothes into the costume when I had to go on the air.”

  “I bet you were a darling elf,” he chuckled.

  “I got the nickname Elle on a Shelf and it kinda became a tradition for me to dress up for major events.”

  Dan pointed to her leg that had escaped from the coat when she shifted positions. “Is that a costume?”

  Elle nodded. “I was supposed to be a tree. But the costume was …” Dan could see her bite her lip. “Well, let’s just say it was less than I was expecting.”

  “May I see it?”

  “What? The costume?”

  Dan nodded.

  “I don’t think that would appropriate.”

  “Why?”

  “I hardly know you.”

  “After that kiss, I’d say you know me quite well.”

  “Promise me you won’t laugh?”

  “I promise.” He even crossed his heart as he did when he and his brothers were younger.

  Elle scrambled to her feet and opened her trench coat just a bit. She shook her hair, so the soft waves fell to her waist.

  Dan’s eyes went wide and then he felt a burst of anger in him that she was prepared to go live wearing nothing but a flesh colored outfit and a few strategically placed leaves. She looked like a mythical creature, and he felt he stepped into a fairytale.

  He quickly stood and grabbed the lapels of her coat, closing them together. “There is no reason whatsoever that you would need to be wearing something like that.” She moved away from him and tied the belt back around her. “Was this your idea?”

  Elle shook her head. “Mitts always picked my costume. I guess they thought it would bring better ratings since we were tanking before I started doing the weather.”

  “When did you start exactly?”

  “December 5. So not quite a year.”

  Dan groaned. He wondered if the figures that he had been shown for the studio were real, or if they were fabricated.

  He sat back down on the floor. “Do you know anything about ratings?”

  Elle put her back against the wall and slid down until she was back in her original position. “Just a bit.”

  “Why do you think they were trying to bump the ratings over the last few months?”

  Elle shrugged her shoulders. “I heard that some yobbo was trying to buy the station.”

  “Yobbo?”

  “My college roomie was Australian. I picked up some bad habits. Yobbo. You know… some young, aggressive, take no prisoners type.”

  “Oh.” Dan remained silent for a moment.

  “Why would it matter?”

  “No reason. Are you always this chatty?”

  Elle wiggled on the floor. “Only when I’m nervous.”

  Dan laughed. She reached up to press the emergency button again. Suddenly a static-like squelch could be heard through the speaker.

  “Do you think they know we are in here?” Dan nodded. “I hope they get us out of here soon.”

  “I hope so, too, Elle,” he replied softly.

  Elle turned off her phone so he could only see the faint outline of her in the dark. They sat in silence for a few minutes before he heard Elle call out.

  “Dan?” she said. Her voice was so soft he could barely hear it.

  “Yes, Elle?”

  “I’m sorry about that kiss.”

  Dan paused for a moment. If anything, his father had taught him to be honest. He cleared his throat before replying to her through the shadows, “I’m not.”

  Chapter 3

  October, Dancer Island, Alaska

  Dan looked up as Gordon Holliday came into the office on Dancer island. Dan was in the middle of reviewing applications and audition tapes. Papers were strewn on the desk and floor.

  It was organized chaos. If anyone asked for a piece of information, he knew exactly what pile of papers to look in. The elder Holliday looked around the spacious office and with a harrumph, dropped into the chair in front of Dan’s sprawling desk.

  “I would have thought you would have been more into the holiday spirit.” He waved his hand around the office.

  Dan’s mouth curled up at the side. “Pretend the paper is snow, Pops.”

  Gordon looked at him and blinked twice then threw back his head and laughed. “That’s a good one.”

  “Everything alright?” Dan asked looking at his father across the teakwood desk. He wondered what would bring his father to the Island to speak to him. Normally Gordon would just call.

  “Can’t I come visit you?”

  “Of course, I’m happy to have you visit. You just do it so rarely.”

  Gordon wrinkled his brow. “I guess I don’t see you as much as I should.”

  Dan pushed aside the papers in front of him and folded his hands together in the one clear space on his desk. He was about to reply when a knock interrupted him, and his secretary popped her head in the door.

  “I thought I saw Mr. Holliday,” she said stepping into the room. “I was at the copier and didn’t make it back before he entered. Would you like coffee, sir?”

  “Hello, Marcy,” Gordon replied. “That would be fine.”

  Dan watched his secretary glance towards him. “Anything for you, sir?” she asked.

  Dan glanced at his watch. “How about you get him a cup of coffee and then send for lunch? That way we can eat while we chat.” Marcy nodded and backed from the room. “You will be staying for lunch, won’t you?” he asked his father.

  “Depends on what we’re having?”

  Dan picked up the papers in front of him. “Don’t have a clue.”

  “Sounds good. Guess I’m staying.”

  Dan noticed his father looked tired. His dark hair was now more silver than brown. “I’m glad,” Dan said. “So, what brings you here?”

  “How was your trip to New York? I feel like I’ve not seen you.”

  “You saw me when I returned home with Rudy.”

  Marcy returned with a cup of coffee and placed it on a coaster in front of Gordon. She handed a bottle of water to Dan.

  “You are getting grouchy. You need to hydrate.”

  Dan gave a light growl. His secretary knew him too well. “Thanks,” he replied, pulling the bottle towards him.

  “Lunch will be delivered in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Thank you, Marcy. That is all,” Dan said gesturing towards the door.

  Gordon took a sip of his coffee. “I don’t know how she does that.”

  “What?”

  “She knows exactly how to make my coffee.”

  Dan laughed. “That’s Marcy. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

  “Where were we? Oh, that’s right. Your brother. I think that boy is hiding something.”

  This was a conversation Dan did not want to have. “You’ll have to take that up with Rudy.”

  Gordon rubbed his chin. “You are thick as thieves. I figured you would know what is going on with him.”

  Dan shrugged. “You already know what is going on with Rudy. You know, word travels quickly. Whatever it is, that’s Rudy’s business.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Heard you bought a station while you were there.”

  “How did you hear th
at?”

  “Word travels.”

  That only meant one thing. Gordon must have had someone tailing them while they were in New York. “It doesn’t travel that quickly.”

  “Everything go alright?”

  Dan rubbed his eyes. “I have my lawyers looking at the contract. I think I purchased it under fraudulent conditions.”

  “Normally you’re a better businessperson than that. What happened?”

  “Not sure, really. I purchased it with the expectations that the ratings were something that they weren’t.” A knock interrupted his train of thought. “That must be lunch. Enter.”

  The door opened and Dan’s executive chef rolled in a cart with two silver cloches covering plates. “At the table, sir?”

  Dan nodded and the chef proceeded to set the small round table in the office. It was the one clear spot in the room. Dan hated eating at his desk. Instead, he sat a small table near the window so he could look out at the Alaska wilderness while he ate.

  Gordon and Dan moved to the table. The chef removed the cloches. “King salmon frittata with petite haricot verts, and fingerling potatoes.”

  “It looks delicious. Thank you,” Gordon said, picking up his fork.

  Dan cracked open the cola and poured it over ice. He limited sugar in his diet, but even in the dead of winter he treated himself with soda twice a week. He took a sip of the beverage, allowing the bubbles to tickle his nose as the foam subsided.

  “Your brothers have been in the papers this week.”

  Dan lifted his eyebrow. It wasn’t uncommon for one of his eight reindeer brothers to be seen on the first page of one of the trash tabloids. Dan had managed to avoid being photographed. The press referred to him as the dull brother.

  He was perfectly content being labeled dull instead of having his personal business plastered for everyone to see. That is probably why he was more comfortable behind the camera instead of in front of it.

  “Lemme ask you a question, son,” Gordon said biting into a roasted potato. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

  Dan chewed on a bite of the frittata as he thought about his father’s question. “Not that I can think of.” Dan had no problem sharing information with his father or brothers, he just didn’t provide anything unless directly asked.

  “Nothing at all?” the elder Holliday lifted an eyebrow at his son.

  “If you want to know something, Dad, just ask.”

  Gordon shifted in his seat. “I was just wondering if there was a reason, I never see you in the tabloids?”

  Dan nodded. “Of course, there is. I don’t flaunt my life or lifestyle.” He picked up the bottle of water that Marcy had brought in to him and gave it a little shake. “Take this, for example. It is glacier water. Do you know why I drink this brand?” Gordon shook his head. “Because it’s bottled in a small village on the mainland. The indigenous people make their living bottling this water. And I make my living so I can support the people of the state I love.” He put the bottle back down. “It doesn’t cost much, and no one wants to see a picture of someone drinking water from a local water source. It’s not glamourous.”

  Gordon scratched his head. “That’s not what I’m talking about, son.”

  Dan wrinkled his brow. “Then what are you talking about?”

  “The company you keep. You’ve never been photographed with anyone but Marcy.”

  “That’s because …” Dan’s mouth went into a silent O, as he understood where his father was going.

  Gordon put his fork down and lifted his hands. “I love you regardless.”

  “You think because I’ve only been seen with Marcy that it must mean that I prefer the company of men?” The words came out rushed, as if he couldn’t believe what his father asked him.

  “You keep a very low profile.”

  Dan sighed and pushed the plate away from him. “No, Pops. The answer is no.”

  Dan could see his father’s shoulders relaxing immediately. “Good. Good. I was worried about you giving me grandchildren.”

  “Why ask now?”

  “Just worried. That’s all. I want to see you happy.”

  “I am happy, Pops. If it makes you happier, I’ll get a dog. Or a cat. Perhaps a cat can be as aloof as me.”

  A disappointed look appeared on Gordon’s face and just as quickly it was gone. Dan couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or on the edge of anger. “I don’t want you to be alone.”

  Dan bit the inside of his cheek. Instead of the sharp reply on the tip of his tongue, he simply nodded. “Thanks, Pops.”

  “I love all of my boys.”

  “I know, Pops. We love you too.” Dan tilted his head. “Are you sure you aren’t dying?”

  Gordon laughed and beat his chest. “Lots of years left on this old boy.”

  Dan picked his fork back up and finished off the frittata. “Who’s that woman I saw in your office when Rudy and I visited?”

  “Which woman?”

  “The blonde. Around your age. You know…” Dan made an hourglass shape with his hands.

  “That was Evelyn.”

  “New assistant?”

  “Not hardly. And if you meet her, don’t call her that either. She’s helping me with business matters.”

  “Like an assistant?”

  “No. Like an investor.”

  Dan dropped his fork. “Investor? Are you hurting for money?”

  Gordon threw back his head and laughed. “Not hardly. I’m ready to retire. Just exploring options.”

  “You are really thinking of leaving Alaska?”

  “Unless I have a passel of grandchildren.”

  “Hmmm.” He’d let his brothers take up the torch for that. He didn’t envision himself with children. Suddenly an image of a brunette elf appeared in his mind. He shook his head to get rid of the intruding thoughts.

  “Where did you go, son?”

  Dan looked outside the window. It was late autumn in Alaska, which meant winter. He could see the mountains in the distance, covered in snow. Even though it was just after noon, the sun, which should be high in the sky, appeared dimmed.

  “I met someone.”

  “You did?” Gordon’s eyes lit up as Dan said those words he longed to hear. I met someone.

  “It wasn’t anything, Pops.”

  “It must have been if you mentioned it.” Dan was hesitant to say anything, but the look on his father’s face was that of a child on Christmas morning.

  “We got stuck in an elevator together.”

  Gordon’s eyebrow went up. “And…”

  “We were stuck for about thirty minutes, but she made such an impression on me.” Dan looked out the window and chuckled again. “She was wearing a trench coat with a costume underneath it.”

  “That’s odd.”

  “It was for her work. She is… I mean was… a weather girl. I ended up kissing her.” Now that he said it out loud, he realized how silly the whole encounter sounded.

  “You kissed her? That’s interesting. What’s her name?” Gordon leaned forward resting his chin on his hands.

  “Elle.”

  “Elle, what?”

  Dan looked back at his father. “Just Elle.”

  “You mean that you met a woman, spent thirty minutes in an elevator with her and all you know is just Elle?”

  Dan shrugged. “There was a lot going on that day.”

  “I guess so.” Gordon looked at the papers strewn on the floor. “Is all this for your new show?”

  Dan nodded. “They are all the applications for the search for Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”

  “Have you figured out the mechanics yet?”

  “Dad, this is my job. Of course, I figured out the mechanics. The entries are already starting to come in.”

  “Good. Good. When are you going to start production?”

  “I need to find a host or hostess first.”

  “For what?”

  “Didn’t you watch Heartbreak House?”

&nbs
p; “You mean the show where all those young people were running around trying to find love? Worst show on television.”

  “You don’t even own a TV, Dad.”

  “Hulu, son. Hulu.”

  Dan sighed. For being an extremely rich and smart man, sometimes Dan felt his father grew up in the age of the dinosaurs. Gordon was from a different period in television history. Reality TV wasn’t on the television; instead it was news shows and Saturday morning cartoons. He had to give his father props for trying to keep up with the younger generation now.

  Dan ran his hand over his face. “Reality TV meets a need.”

  “What need is that?”

  “Instant gratification. It is an easy escape from their reality.”

  “Sounds like a bunch of fluff and nonsense.”

  “It should be right up your alley, Pops. Everything Christmas, happy couples, holly, jolly and all that other stuff.”

  Gordon placed his napkin on the table and stood. “And that is my signal to leave. Now I remember why I rarely visit.” He looked at his son and smiled. “That was a delicious lunch. I enjoyed our chat.” He turned to leave. “Oh… just a warning. Marzilla is back.”

  Dan stifled a groan. Mara was his ex-stepmother. Her father gave her the nickname Marzilla, whereas his older brother, Dash, called her the evil step-monster. She was more of a leech, still trying to get access to Gordon’s money. Dan wouldn’t put it past her to direct her attention elsewhere so she could keep her standard of living.

  “Thanks for the warning. I don’t think she’ll visit Dancer Island.”

  “Don’t be so sure. You still planning on having the annual live version of A White Christmas?” Dan nodded. “Then she’ll be here.” He held out his hand. “I’ll show myself out.” Dan watched his father leave his office. Gordon stopped at Marcy’s desk. “Got one of those glacier waters for the road?” Marcy handed one to him and Gordon turned to give Dan a little wave.

  Dan’s hand was still in the air as he saw his father disappear around the corner.

  Chapter 4

  Gordon Holliday looked at the notes he scrawled on a piece of paper. They were what he remembered from his conversation with Dancer, and the bits and pieces Marcy filled in. Marcy had her finger on the pulse of Dancer Island.

  Why Dan wasn’t interested in Marcy, he would never know. She was beautiful, discreet and could manage the office while keeping Dan in line.