Page 62 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

“Harriet said these got mixed up with our decorations,” she said, handing them off to Julian.

“Yes,” Charlie said, regarding her grandmother with amusement. “You two seem to be getting quite adventurous with your decorations.”

“We’ve hardly scratched the surface,” Doris said. “Just wait until you see the tree topper.”

Charlie put her head in her hands. “Oh God. I don’t even want to imagine. Harriet is a terrible influence on you.”

“I’ll have you know the tree topper was my idea.” Doris winked and sauntered away.

“Well, on that terrifying note,” Charlie said, “I should get down to the music room and prepare for rehearsal. You know, on the off chance we get good news from the Arts Council.”

Julian was trying not to think about his inbox. He felt like the more he checked his email, the less likely he was to actually receive an answer.

“I keep envisioning a group of faceless men and women watching our audition video,” Charlie continued, “and it’s driving me a little wild not being able to read them, you know?”

Julian shook his head. “Not quite.”

“Like I can’t adjust in the moment the way I could at an in-person audition or change the program of a show based on the audience’s reaction. We have to let the video speak for itself and hope the council recognizes how amazing the residents are.”

Julian loved hearing her talk about the residents that way. “Whatever happens,” he said, “you and I both know this choir deserves to be up there. And that’s what really matters.”

“Not winning?” she asked.

“I mean, the money could change so much,” Julian said. “But please don’t discount how much joy you’ve brought to the residents these past couple of weeks.” He didn’t want to have to let her go, not just for his sake, but for Glendale’s. How can I get you to stay? “I’ve got a couple of emails to check, and then I’ll be down for rehearsal.”

“If you’re busy with Christmas tree stuff, I can handle it,” she said.

“I’m not too busy,” he said. Not for the choir. Or for you. “You know I take my codirector duties very seriously, standing on the sidelines and clapping.”

“You do more than that,” Charlie said. “You keep everyone’s spirits up when I’m demanding perfection.”

“Do I keep your spirits up?” Julian asked, reaching out to stroke her cheek. He did it quickly, before anyone could see, liking the subtle color that spread beneath his touch.

“I think you know the answer to that.”

“Do I?”

“That’s one thing that hasn’t changed in all these years,” she said. She looked at him in a way that made his chest ache dangerously.

Charlie had stolen his heart before, and he couldn’t hand it over again that easily. Don’t do this to yourself. But the longer he looked at her, the more he wanted. He wanted her to forgive herself for the guilt she carried over Tom. He wanted her to be confident that Doris would thrive at Glendale. He wanted her to fall in love with music again. Mostly, he wanted to be the one to make her happy.

And that was a lot, because he knew that Charlie had to want those things, too. She had to believe she could be happy and that she deserved to live her life in Tom’s absence. More than that, she had to want him the way he wanted her.

Julian’s chest suddenly felt too small for all the emotion it contained.

“You okay?” she asked as they headed for the door.

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

She nodded and they turned, walking in opposite directions.

“Check it again!” Harriet said as Julian walked into the music room.

The entire choir was hunched around the piano, crowding in behind Charlie who frowned down at her laptop screen.

“I just looked,” she insisted. “I promise nothing has changed in the last thirty seconds.”

“You don’t know that.”