Before Merry, showing up on set to shoot had been the highlight of her day. Now, with Gannon and Paige and her parents nearby, with Noah and Sara and the Hais, she found herself looking forward to the end of the day. To washing off the makeup and grabbing a glass of wine with loved ones… and liked ones.

Cat brushed it aside, chalking up the uncharacteristic sentimentality to the holidays. She was about to embark on the most important project of her life. She’d been dreaming about starting a school like this since she was the only girl in shop class in junior high.

Henry was still plowing through their combined to do lists when Maria, a newbie production assistant appeared.

“Ready to roll in five,” Maria told Cat.

The Hai reveal was finally here and energy on set was nearing Red Bull danger zones. Cat could hear the rumbles of the crowd just outside the makeup trailer. The post-production team was having aneurysms about turning around an episode in barely enough time to shoot one, but Cat had faith that they’d deliver. They had to. It was the next-to-last show to air before the live Christmas Eve finale in two weeks, which would be an even more complicated production nightmare.

Half the town had turned out on the street and sidewalks to watch the action.

Cat slipped out of the stylist’s cape and pulled on her down vest. Henry slung her parka over his shoulder. They’d be shooting outside first to make the most of the light which meant the front of the house reveal and the treehouse. Between takes, she’d be cuddling with a portable heater until they could get inside where she’d sweat through her layers with the press of dozens of crew squishing themselves into corners to shoot.

“You ready?” Drake asked, meeting her outside the makeup trailer.

Cat nodded. “Let’s knock their socks off.”

April, in a red dress with green and red leggings that Sara had picked out, hopped from one foot to the other in front of her parents who looked damp-eyed already.

“Who’s the first to cry?” Drake asked, nodding at the family.

“Oh, my money’s on you today,” Cat grinned. “I saw those baby blues glistening when Mrs. Pringle was singing your praises.”

Drake gave her a nudge with his shoulder. “Shut up.”

Cat waved to Sara who was standing behind the wooden barricade in the street keeping the crowd at bay. She was holding a sign that said Welcome Home, Hais. Noah, handsome as always in his black wool coat, gave Cat an anything but innocent smile.

Cat pulled out her phone and stabbed out a text through her thick gloves.

Cat: Have time to get naked tonight?