Page 47 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

“So, you’re okay with me touching base with the news to make arrangements?”

“Absolutely. Can’t wait to see them on the local channel.”

“And they can film the choir?”

“As long as they promise not to interrupt business as usual elsewhere in the building, I don’t see any problems.”

“Great,” Julian said, excitement bubbling up inside him. “That’s really… I think the residents will be thrilled. And Charlie’s already on board.”

Diane nodded. “I might not have the funds to give you right now, but I want this program to succeed, Julian. You’ve done amazing work getting them this far. Of course I’m going to support you in whatever way I can.”

“Well, that video was all Charlie. If she hadn’t been there to direct them, it might never have happened.”

“I don’t know where you found her,” Diane said. “But she’s a keeper. Maybe try to hold onto her for a while.”

“Yeah, sure,” Julian said, a tight smile stretching across face. He hadn’t known how to hold onto her last time. What made this time any different?

He’d never been good at keeping people in his life. For one reason or another, they all seemed to drift away. His mom. His dad. His grandmother. The old Charlie. Maybe he was the real problem here. And if he wasn’t careful, he’d drive Charlie away again sooner than expected.

Julian headed back upstairs, feeling slightly overwhelmed. For the first time in a long time, he was actually making progress with the music program.

But having Charlie back in town, getting reacquainted with her, was complicated. At times it felt like they were picking up where they’d left off, and he didn’t know how to feel about that. His grandmother had been moved into a nursing home the year before they met, and though Julian wouldn’t have admitted it to anyone, he was lonely, watching the dementia take her. When he found Charlie, she’d made him feel excited about the world again. She’d made him feel less alone. Now here she was, taking up space in his life once more, filling the lonely parts, and he knew it was a bad idea to let her in. Because if he did, he had to be prepared to tear her out again when she left. And that was terrifying.

He wished it could be as easy as having some fun. He wished he could call it casual. But starting over with Charlie wasn’t as simple as just starting up again. This time Julian knew how much he had to lose.

By the time he reached his office, he’d determined to set those thoughts aside as he typed up his response to the news station. Maybe it was a bit of Christmas cheer or the fact that he’d sneaked too many gingerbread samples this morning, but he sort of thought they had a genuine shot at winning this competition. Charlie had changed the odds.

She’d changed everything.

And he had no idea where that left his heart.

Ten

Julian

“There’s an entire news crew unloading in the lobby,” Warren said, popping his head into Julian’s office. “Did you know?”

“Already?” Julian hadn’t even had a chance to finish his coffee or pop down to the music room to see if Charlie and the choir were prepared. He’d spent the last half hour tallying votes from the gingerbread decorating contest. He checked his phone. “They’re early.”

Warren ran his hand through his short locks. “I sort of feel like I should have gelled my hair or something this morning.”

Julian laughed. “They’re not here for you.”

“You never know. This face was made for TV.”

“Mm-hmm,” Julian said. “More like for behind the camera.”

“Ouch. Shots fired.” Warren hit him with the classic eyes on you move. “I’m only letting you get away with that because you’re holding the voting box.”

“I’m not telling you anything,” Julian said, hiding away his tally sheet. He didn’t want Warren to realize that the admin team had started to pull ahead in the count. “Don’t even ask.”

“Oh, come on,” Warren complained. “The nurses are gonna take it this year, right? Blink twice for yes.”

“No comment.”

Warren sniffed. “I see you’ve had your media training.”

“They’re not interviewing me,” Julian said.