The Perfect Christmas - Debbie Macomber [28]
Cassie gaped at her.
“We want you to be as safe as possible,” Daisy said in a confiding voice. “The wire will lower you from the top level of the mall to the ground floor.”
“Oh.” Cassie couldn’t recall if the mall was two or three levels. One thing was guaranteed—she’d have her eyes closed the entire flight.
As if reading her mind, Daisy added, “You have to play this up, you know.”
“Play this up?” Cassie asked skeptically. “What do you mean?”
“To the crowd. We want you to yell out that Santa’s on his way and all the boys and girls will be getting a gift from him.”
“We’re giving them gifts?”
“Candy canes. The children look forward to receiving those.”
A cheap candy cane was a gift? That seemed to be an exaggeration—but who was Cassie to quibble over truth in advertising?
They finally got to the ladies’ room and Cassie went inside. She removed her shoes and then her jeans and sweater. She hung what she could on the hook of the stall door, then sat on the toilet in order to slip on the tights. Force them on was more accurate.
The fit was so tight, they felt like an extra skin. Unfortunately they didn’t reach all the way to her waist. One wrong move, and Cassie feared they’d roll down and reveal features—like her butt—that she’d rather keep private. It helped a little to jump up and down and then prance around, pulling on the waistband as she did. She also did a couple of squats. Still, the tights didn’t stretch quite as far as she would’ve liked.
“Is everything all right in there, dear?” Daisy asked.
“Just fine,” Cassie told her. Thankfully, the mini-dress fit. The shoes were good, too. She adjusted the hat in the bathroom mirror and realized she’d need to secure it for the flight. Digging around the bottom of her purse, she located two paper clips, which worked—sort of. How long those paper clips had been there and where they’d come from would forever remain a mystery. Cassie could only be grateful for their presence.
She opened the restroom door, feeling more than a little foolish.
Daisy stood back and brought both hands to her face. “Oh, this is just perfect.”
“I look okay?”
“You look wonderful. The children are going to be so excited.” Daisy glanced at her watch, then led Cassie to an elevator. Silently they rode to the second floor, where a crew of men seemed to be waiting for her. Eight—or was it nine?—life-size plastic reindeer were lined up against the wall beside an authentic-looking sleigh.
Before Cassie had a chance to ask any questions, two of the men stepped forward and strapped her into a harness. They moved her arms, each grasping one, lifting them up and down.
One of the men murmured something in Spanish. She couldn’t understand what he’d said, but got the gist of it when he made the sign of the cross and raised his eyes heavenward.
“Don’t look down,” the other man advised her tersely.
“You don’t have a thing to worry about,” Daisy said with a grandmotherly smile.
Suddenly a voice came over the loudspeaker system. “Boys and girls, moms and dads—is that Santa’s sleigh I hear?”
The man next to her jingled bells and everyone looked up to where Cassie stood.
“Okay, boys,” Daisy whispered and stepped back.
Suddenly Cassie was hoisted from the ground. Her feet made running movements as she scrabbled to find her footing and instead found only air.
“Play to the crowd,” Daisy instructed in a loud stage whisper.
“Santa’s on his way!” Cassie called out, doing her best to sound enthusiastic although she was absolutely terrified. “I can see him now! Look, here comes Santa.”
And then it happened. Cassie gasped as her tights rolled down, catching on her thighs. She didn’t know what to do.