Carousel Nights (23 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

M
EL
RACED
DOWN
the steps, dashed past Kiddieland and ran full speed to the theater. He pulled on the front door. Locked. He raced around the side. Also locked.

He unclipped the wad of keys from his belt and speed-sorted to find the right one. He didn't even know what he was going to say when he found June. Why on earth would he want to stop her from turning down her dream role?

Because he loved her.

Which was also the reason he wanted her to stay.

These infernal keys...

Mel finally found the key, unlocked the door and shoved his way onto the stage. Only a few lights were on and he was momentarily blind after being outside in the morning sunshine. He tripped over a drum set and knocked over a rack of costumes. He rolled to a stop in a pile of glittering vests, shimmery skirts, dancing shoes and at least one top hat. Which was now crushed. The crash was deafening in the silent theater.

Desperate to disentangle himself, Mel kicked off the sparkly costumes and unhooked the frame of the clothing rack from his foot. Static electricity glued a sparkly vest to his cotton uniform sleeve and Mel jerked at it and tried to fling it away.

“June!” he yelled. He thought he heard a voice getting closer.

Finally free of the clothing pile, Mel rushed toward the voice. It was June, cell phone to her ear. When she saw him, a huge smile lit her face.

Definitely better than the reaction he'd expected after their argument.

She covered her mouth with her free hand and smothered a laugh. Her eyebrows rose in a question. Of course he looked ridiculous, but was that the only reason she looked so happy?

And was she happy because she was taking the part on Broadway...or turning it down to stay here working the theaters. Or—
and this was the great
or—was she just that happy to see him?

June approached Mel and stood so close he could pick up the voice of the other person on the phone call. It was a man's voice, but Mel couldn't hear a word he was saying. June reached for Mel and plucked a sequin off his forehead. She held it on her finger so he could see what she'd done.

June continued holding out her sequined finger as she nodded slightly and said, “I'll take it. I'll call you later and we'll discuss the details.”

Mel's heart, already racing from his mad dash across the midway and his flailing fight with the clothing rack, jerked to a sudden stop.

He knew his face must reflect the near-stoppage, because June's expression changed. She drew her eyebrows together and tilted her head.

“I'm excited, too,” she said. “Thanks again. Bye.”

She ended the call and tucked the phone in the back pocket of her curve-hugging jeans. Mel wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms so she wouldn't have a chance to leave. He closed his eyes, trying to control his feelings.

Eyes still shut, he felt June's arms slide around him. “Are you all right?” she asked.

Mel cleared his throat. He opened his eyes.

June ran her fingers through his hair and pulled out more sequins. “What happened to you?” she asked. “You're covered in sparkles and your shirt's missing a button.” She touched the place on his chest where the button should be. Mel didn't move. Having June's finger right over his heart was a problem he'd been fighting for months.

June glanced over his shoulder and saw the trail of wreckage.

“What did you do?”

“It was dark. I tripped.”

“You could have turned on a light.”

“I was in a hurry.”

June stepped back slightly but kept her finger on the missing button. “Why?”

“Because I had faulty information. I heard you were going to call your agent and turn down the part you desperately wanted.”

June opened her mouth, but Mel touched her lips with one finger.

“I didn't want you to turn it down. It's your dream, June. You're the most talented and beautiful person I know.” Mel looked up at the darkened ceiling and then returned his gaze to June's face. “I love you. And loving you means I have to let you go. I'm glad I got to hear you tell your agent you'll take the part. I'm glad I got to see the joy on your face when you said it. That's how I know for sure this is the right thing.”

“Mel,” June said. “Listen—”

“I don't know where we go from here. I've racked my brain trying to figure it out.”

He was talking too fast and he knew it, but he couldn't stop.

“I thought about following you to the city. I could find a job there. Ross could start school someplace nice. Or maybe we could stay here and wait for you. You could come home on the weekends, holidays—”

“Stop talking, Mel,” June said. Her eyes filled with tears.

“I'm sorry. I don't even know if you feel the same way about me. Maybe you don't and you can't wait to unload me and my son—”

June kissed him on the lips. A long, deep kiss. Mel held her close, unwilling to let go until she said the final words that would make him.
Is this a goodbye kiss?
If so, it was the most incredible goodbye he'd ever had.

* * *

“I
WANT
TO
SHOW
you something,” June said, finally breaking the kiss. The last thing she wanted to do was stop kissing Mel, but there was something he needed to know.

She pulled her cell phone from her back pocket and handed it to him. “Look at my call history.”

Mel took the phone in one hand and scratched his forehead with the other. “I'm not good with these things. I don't even know what I'm looking for. Ross handles complicated electronics at our house.”

“You're an electrician,” June said.

“That doesn't count.”

“Did you hit your head when you crashed through my costumes?”

“Maybe.”

June swiped the screen on her phone as it lay in Mel's outstretched hand. “There's the number I just called. The person I was talking to when you came thundering in here.”

Mel frowned. “It's a local number. Is your agent in town?”

June laughed. “No. I called a Realtor.” She let her words sink in for a moment, but Mel's confusion showed in the twist of his mouth. “I called the man who has the listing for a dance studio in downtown Bayside. The one I used to go to when I was younger.”

“You want to lease a dance studio?”

“Yes. It's where I learned to dance. And I discovered this summer just how much fun it is to teach. The studio needs to be modernized. I know it needs work, but I can't wait to get started.”

“So you're not taking the part?”

June shrugged. “I haven't called him yet to tell him the bad news. I was more interested in seeing if the Realtor could get me the lease on that place downtown.”

“You're turning down the part and staying home. And you're leasing a dance studio.”

June felt her smile stretch her cheeks. “I am.”

“But why? What changed your mind?” Mel reached out and plucked a sequin off June's neck. “These look great on you, by the way.”

“Of course they do. I was born for the stage.”

“But you're giving it up.”

She shook her head. “I'm not giving it up. I'm changing course. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went to the city. Glad I was on Broadway for several years. I'm proud of my performances and I wouldn't trade those years. But this summer has changed me. For the better.”

Mel's look was pure hope. Eyes huge, a smile beginning to dimple his cheeks.

“I fell in love,” June said.

Big smile now.

“With Starlight Point,” she continued. The smile dipped a little. “With the theaters here. With the people I've worked with. I fell in love with choreography, the parade, teaching the kids at the hotel day care. I fell in love with a boy who turned six while I was away doing something else, a mistake I won't make again.”

“And?” Mel asked. He ran a gentle finger down her cheek and the hope returned full force to his expression.

“I fell in love with you.”

Mel crushed her against his chest, holding her tight as if she would fall off a cliff if his grip failed. His cotton work shirt scratched her cheek, and his lips pressed into her hair. Finally, Mel loosened his hold and gently pushed her away from him, holding her at arm's length.

“I love you, June, so much it hurts. But if you really love me, I want you to prove it.”

“I do love you,” she said. What more did he want? She'd decided to stay home, took out a lease on a local studio and gave her heart away.

“I believe you. But I still have to ask you to do something.”

“What?”

“Take the role in
White Christmas
. The one you earned.”

June felt her breath catch. Her heart lost its rhythm. He loved her but he wanted her to leave?

“It's only for a few months, right? The show ends right before Christmas?”

She nodded, totally flummoxed. “The last show is December 23.”

“Perfect,” he said. He drew in a long, deep breath. “Ross and I will work on your studio while you're gone. And we'll be there to watch your last show and bring you home for Christmas.”

“Why do you want me to do this, Mel?”

He pulled her close again. “I want you to know I trust you. After what happened with my...well...you know, I found it very hard to trust and let someone into my life. Especially hard to trust someone with my son's heart.” Mel laughed. “Whether I wanted him to or not, Ross fell in love with you before I could stop him.”

“I love him, too. I hope he liked my birthday present.”

“He loved it. And I'm so happy you'll be here to teach him to play. In a few months.” He planted a quick kiss on her lips. “I believe in you and us. And I don't want you to finish this phase of your career with any doubts, any regrets. Please. Do this one last show for me, but also for yourself. And then you'll be the best Christmas present I've ever gotten.”

June's heart kicked back into a rhythm. A fast one. This was the most incredible moment of her life. Better than opening day on a big show, better than a standing ovation.

Clapping erupted from the other side of the curtain.

“Am I hearing things?” Mel asked.

June slid out of his arms and crossed to the side of the stage. She pulled the ropes to open the curtains. Jack and Evie sat in the front row.

Mel stood center stage and waited for June to cross to the middle with him.

“You're just in time for the grand finale,” Mel said. He dropped to one knee and took June's hand. “Will you marry me, June? I can't guarantee it's the most glamorous part you've ever had, but I'll always be your biggest fan.”

June smiled, tears racing down her cheeks. “I love you, Mel. I can't wait to come home at Christmas and marry you.”

Her brother and sister stood and clapped enthusiastically.

“Where's the ring?” Jack called out.

June shook her head. “There's always a heckler in the audience.”

Mel got to his feet and they took a bow together. “If you'll come over to the arcade, I'll try to win you a nice shiny ring from one of the machines. It'll work until I get you a more permanent one.”

“Perfect,” June said.

“Those things are all rigged,” Evie yelled.

June laughed, took a quick bow and danced off the stage with her fingers laced through those of the man she loved.

EPILOGUE

I
N
THE
GLOW
of the towering Christmas tree, June held hands with her fellow
performers and walked to the front of the stage. They sang the final bars of
“White Christmas” with the orchestra swelling and audience members already
rising to their feet to sing along. She smiled and lifted her eyes to take in
the theater, alive with thousands of guests enjoying the holiday classic.

She loved it. Truly loved the music, the lights, her
floor-length red dress with white trim. But in her heart she was ready for the
next stage of her life. When she sang about twinkling lights and snow-covered
Christmases, she thought of Starlight Point. The glittering tree behind her was
stunning, but she couldn't wait to see the tree Ross had described in detail
over the phone.

Ross and Mel. They were in the audience, somewhere, tonight.
She wished she could have been there when they cut down their tree, but she'd
get to decorate it with them as soon as they all got home.

The curtain closed, the cast members said goodbye and June
headed for her dressing room to take off the sparkling costume for the last
time. Two men waited for her at her door. A six-foot-three man who'd been part
of her life almost as long as she'd been dancing. And a boy with bright eyes
who'd recently stepped into her heart, but she'd never let him go.

Mel and Ross each held out bundles of flowers, their gestures
and smiles identical. June hugged them both, crushing the roses and releasing a
summery scent that took her back to Starlight Point.

“Let's go home,” she said.

* * * * *

Don't miss the next book in Amie Denman's
STARLIGHT POINT STORIES
miniseries, available December 2016!

Keep reading for an excerpt from
FORGET ME NOT
by Marion
Ekholm.

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