It's a Fabulous Life, page 27
“True,” Bailey laughed. “You’ve earned them all.”
“So have you.” Uncle Bill winked at her. “Use them, okay?”
She was hyper aware of Maria standing beside her. “I will.”
The stage lights came back up. A recording of a choir singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” played through the speakers.
“Do the madrigals have an encore?” Bailey asked Maria.
“Not that I’m aware of.”
The song changed to a thumping beat. A pale, curvy drag queen in a glittery white leotard appeared on one side of the stage. A statuesque Black queen, her leotard a shimmering silver, appeared on the opposite side. Both had large sets of closed wings on their backs.
Wings. Drag queens in wings.
They lip-synced to the song, engaging the crowd with grand arm and hand movements. Maria clapped and cheered with glee.
A third queen sashayed onstage in a brilliant gold leotard.
“Clara,” Bailey whispered.
She had on a full blonde wig and bold makeup. And she was wearing her wings.
“You did it.” Bailey couldn’t contain herself and waved like a maniac. “Way to go, Clara!”
Clara searched the audience until she saw her. She waved back as she mouthed the lyrics.
“Holy shit, she’s real.”
Bailey looked at the other queens. Clara’s family. That meant the whole journey to the dark side had been real.
“Where did they come from?” Maria said.
“Heaven?” Bailey guessed. “They are Angels.”
She stood entranced by the show. Clara was a fabulous performer. She shimmied and hammed it up to the delight of the crowd.
The song slowed and quieted. The queens staggered themselves across the stage.
A swell of trumpets sounded. Their wings unfurled to reveal gleaming white feathers.
The crowd gasped.
The queens raised their arms to the sky. It was as though the stage lights made them glow. Or maybe it was their own special brand of magic.
The tempo returned to dance-worthy. They paraded back and forth, displaying the beautiful wings. The lights caught the silver and gold threading through them. They were indeed worth everything Clara had done to get hers.
Dear Clara. She looked so happy. Beyond happy. She had to be bursting with as much joy as was coursing through Bailey.
She drew Maria into her arms and snuggled her from behind. Maria rested her head on Bailey’s shoulder. They watched the Angels dance in perfect sync. Rosie and Lulu plopped at their feet, tongues lolling from their mouths.
Tremendous gratitude overwhelmed her. This was pretty damn perfect.
The performance came to a glorious end with Clara posing in the middle, arms wide. The audience went wild.
The queens held their positions for several long moments before breaking apart. Clara stepped back, but the tall queen in silver urged her toward one of the microphones. She seemed genuinely surprised, then delighted.
“Thank you, Lanford Falls,” Clara said. “We wish you a very happy holiday season. And remember …” She looked in Bailey’s direction. “The true measure of success is in love. Surround yourself with love and good friends, and you’ll achieve beautiful things.”
Tears coated Bailey’s eyes. She blew Clara a kiss.
Clara gestured to her wings, which made Bailey laugh and nod vigorously. Clara blew her several kisses with both hands. Then she waved to the audience and trotted offstage.
Maria turned in Bailey’s arms. “Do you know her?”
“That was Clara. My dear friend from out of town.”
“You didn’t tell me your friend was a stunning drag queen.”
“She’s a whole lot of things,” Bailey said.
Somewhere in the crowd, several people began to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” It caught on, with more folks joining in. There was a fair amount of “nah nah nah” for the lyrics they didn’t know.
Bailey stared at the beautiful woman in her arms. An old acquaintance she thankfully never forgot.
“You have cool friends.” Maria gave her secretive little smile.
“Yes, I do.” Bailey lowered her head and nuzzled Maria’s nose.
“If you think I’m a cool friend …” There was no mistaking the intent in her eyes, in her tone. “Just you wait.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
A quiet stillness surrounded Mistletoe Grove. With general cleanup done for the evening, the village green was deserted. Bailey unclipped Lulu’s leash to let her explore the edge of the pine trees.
Maria looked down at Rosie. “Stay with Lulu, you naughty monster.”
She released the hound, who bounded over to sniff the same spot of snow as Lulu. Bailey hung Lulu’s leash on the arbor. Maria hung Rosie’s beside it. Side by side, just like their dogs. Just like them.
Staring up at the sky, Maria said, “What a beautiful night.”
Bailey inhaled the crisp air and looked at the stars winking in the inky darkness. “Beautiful night,” she agreed, her breath coming out in a puffy cloud.
“I lost feeling in my feet an hour ago, but other than freezing—”
“You’re cold? Come here.”
She led Maria under the arch, beneath the kissing ball. Bailey pulled her close, rubbing her back. She rested her slightly warmer cheek against Maria’s chilly forehead. “Better?”
“Mm-hmm.” Maria melted against her, tucking her arms around Bailey.
They held each other, sharing body heat, enjoying the ease of being together. But really, they were here for one very important thing.
“So.” Bailey lowered her voice. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“We have a habit of running into each other here every two decades or so.”
She chuckled and said, “I hope we can increase the frequency. A lot.”
Maria hummed and raised her head. “I think that’s doable.”
Their lips met in a slow, sweet kiss. She tasted of rich hot cocoa and lip balm and wintertime.
Bailey trailed her fingers along Maria’s cheek, gently drawing her mouth up. The kiss deepened, awakening the part of her that had always been reserved for Maria. Fate or the universe or kindhearted drag queens had brought them together once more, and she was holding on this time.
“Happy Winter Wonderfest,” Bailey murmured.
“Happy Winter Wonderfest.”
“It’s going to be an amazing Christmas.”
“It already is.” Maria’s smile thawed the chill in the air. “I got my Christmas wish early.”
Bailey grinned. “I did too.”
They kissed, and kissed, until a familiar weight pressed against their legs. Laughter broke them apart. That, and Rosie shoving herself between them. She smiled up like she required all the attention. Lulu stood outside the arbor, all but rolling her eyes at the needy youngster.
“The absolute worst,” Maria said, poking Rosie in the head. She bent down and told her doggo, “But I love you.”
Bailey motioned for Lulu to join them. “The absolute best,” she cooed to her baby. “And I love you.”
They petted both dogs, glancing at one another through their lashes. The push to tell Maria she was the absolute best was as strong as the vibe pulsing off Maria.
Maria loves me.
Maria loves me, and I love her.
Wow.
Maybe they’d say it tonight. Maybe they wouldn’t. But Bailey knew it, and Maria knew it. Even their dogs were acting like they knew it and were psyched to be best buddies.
They shared a smile, excitement surrounding them as boundless as their future together. Maria set a hand on Bailey’s chest. “Do you have any plans for New Year’s Eve?”
“Nope.”
“No?”
“None at all.”
Maria bit her lower lip. “New York could be a fun adventure. Watch the ball drop and everything.”
Bailey looked around at the twinkle lights, the greenery, the pine trees and path that led back to town. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
“Really?” Maria seemed surprised but elated.
“Really. Maybe I’ll host a party for my friends and family.”
“That sounds nice.”
Bailey gestured downward with her chin. “Besides, I think these two will want to ring in the New Year with us.”
“These two will want to do everything with us,” Maria laughed. “But if you want to stick around for New Year’s, that’s okay with me.”
“For New Year’s.” Bailey raised her eyebrows. “Though maybe for Valentine’s Day …”
Maria raised her eyebrows too. “I’m very much okay with that.”
They reached for one another at the same time, meeting for a joyous kiss. Lulu barked at something in the evergreens. Possibly a magical drag queen.
Bailey pulled Maria into her arms. Their kisses spoke of all the holidays to come. Of meeting every year from here on out at Mistletoe Grove. Of caroling together and decorating trees and snuggling on the couch while Lulu and Rosie snoozed in front of the fireplace. Of the things they’d do in front of the fireplace on a cozy pile of pillows and blankets while the dogs snoozed on the couch.
Of one hell of a fabulous life.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book went on a journey, my friend. So many people and some unexpected twists and turns helped get it into your hot little hands.
Bryn Donovan, this book would not have happened without your persistence. Thank you for never, ever giving up on it. I’m so glad to call you my friend!
Eva Scalzo, agent extraordinaire, I’m thrilled we finally connected and that you found this story a permanent home. I love working with you and our Zoom calls, and can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Holly Ingraham gave this book its second chance, and I am forever grateful. Big thanks to you and the terrific team at Alcove Press for bringing Bailey, Maria, and Clara’s story to fruition.
Louisa Maggio, I am obsessed with this gorgeous book cover. You captured the cozy feel of the story perfectly.
The Panera Supper Club and Chicago-North Romance Writers, you are my people. In particular, Rachelle Paige Campbell, Julie Hamilton, Beccan James, Pamala Knight, Shannyn Schroeder, and Kelly Smith. You’re the ones I tell aaallll my news first, good and bad. And there were a lot of ups and downs with this book! Thank you for riding the waves with me.
My parents and brother are awesome and hilarious and grounding. I can’t imagine going on this journey without you. Ditto to all my friends and family who are as excited when I have book news as I am!
Camille Pagán, your coaching and guidance continue to help with the wild ride of this wacky author career. Thanks for everything.
Emilka Orlowski Kapa, thanks so much for helping me with the Polish food and language. I can smell the golabki, and pronounce it, too!
My newsletter subscribers! I love you! I get a little thrill each time someone new signs up or replies to one of my emails. You are all awesome and make me feel so authorly.
I also want to thank everyone on Twitter who retweeted, DM’d, and commented when I posted about this book losing its first publisher. I was overwhelmed by the support and encouragement. Thanks for helping out my queer little Christmas story.
And I have to thank every contestant who has ever been on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Mama Ru herself. Also much love to Bob, Shangela, Eureka, and all the wonderful participants on We’re Here. You have shared your stories, your talent, your laughter, and your tears. Thank you for your fierceness, your fearlessness, and bringing your art to the world. Any time you want to do a makeover on a short white bi girl who’s secretly a lip sync assassin, I am available!
As always, I am immensely grateful to you, fabulous reader, for choosing to spend your precious time and money hanging out in a world I created so it doesn’t just exist in my head. Thank you for supporting love for all.
This book is a love letter to a few of my favorite things. The art of drag. Christmas movies, music, and TV specials. High school choir. Adorable rescue dogs. Celebrating queer joy. And, of course, It’s a Wonderful Life.
I remember the first time I watched the movie as a teenager. I was struck by the simple but powerful lines Clarence says to George when he points out that each life touches so many other lives. And when someone isn’t around, they leave an awful hole. That sentiment has stayed with me all these years later, and honestly, even gotten me through some dark times. Your life matters. You matter. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel otherwise.
The movie was released over seventy-five years ago. And while so much has changed in that time, much remains the same. We live in a world where I can openly write a book about drag queens and two women falling in love, which is amazing. Yet there are places where such things are frowned upon, and sadly, far, far worse. Drag performers reading stories to children and public drag performances should be in the news for celebrating love, diversity, positivity, and living your truth. Period.
I long for a world more like Lanford Falls. Let’s each do our part to get us there.
Also available by Kelly Farmer
OUT ON THE ICE SERIES
Out on the Ice
Unexpected Goals
Calling the Shots
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Kelly Farmer has been writing romance novels since junior high. The stories have changed, but one theme remains the same: everyone deserves to have a happy ending. She loves telling tales with a touch of snark and a lot of heart. When not writing, she enjoys being outside in nature, quoting from Eighties movies, listening to all kinds of music, and petting every dog she comes in contact with. All of these show up in her books. Kelly lives in the Chicago area, where she swears every winter is her last one there
This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, organizations, places, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real or actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by Kelly Farmer
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Alcove Press, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Alcove Press and its logo are trademarks of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.
Library of Congress Catalog-in-Publication data available upon request.
ISBN (trade paperback): 978-1-63910-604-2
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-63910-605-9
Illustration and cover design by Louisa Maggio Design.
Printed in the United States.
www.alcovepress.com
Alcove Press
34 West 27th St., 10th Floor
New York, NY 10001
First Edition: October 2023
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Kelly Farmer, It's a Fabulous Life
