Page 22 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

“I’ve got a piano in my place,” Doris said. “We could have it moved down here. And I’d be happy to accompany whatever music we choose.”

Charlie glared at her, too.

Maggie clapped her hands together. “This is so exciting!” she trilled. “I can get started on wardrobe. We’ll want to coordinate outfits, I assume?”

“Oh my God,” Charlie muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose as the excitement in the room kicked off.

“See?” Julian said, catching Charlie’s eye. “Solutions. This is what I like to hear. All we need now is one very brave choir director.”

“I’m not a choir director,” she insisted.

Harriet snorted. “Well, not with that attitude.”

“I’m no choir director, either,” Julian said. “But I’m willing to give this a shot.” He knew he didn’t have one ounce of musical talent. He also knew he’d sprung the idea on Charlie. It wasn’t fair of him to get the residents fired up about the idea before she’d had time to consider it. And in doing so, he’d made it almost impossible for her to say no. But he didn’t come down here to play fair, because she’d come crashing back into his life, and that was unfair.

Charlie looked around at the residents, her gaze landing on her grandmother who’d been pulled into a boisterous conversation with Maggie and Harriet. He knew the last thing Charlie wanted to do was disappoint Doris. Charlie’s frown softened the tiniest amount, and Julian could tell she was considering the idea.

“Think of it this way,” he said, stepping a little closer, suddenly overwhelmed by the scent of her—strawberries and vanilla and something flowery. Something that reminded him of summer. Focus, dammit! “Without you, I’m liable to get us laughed offstage. Do you really want to subject these lovely people to that kind of embarrassment?”

“Yes, do you want us to suffer that shame and ridicule?” Harriet cut in, smirking. “To be forever known as the retirees that butchered Silent Night?”

“Or to be the choir whose Bells didn’t Jingle,” Julian added.

“Is that the legacy you want us to leave behind?” Harriet said.

“I, for one, am not prepared to be part of that cautionary tale,” Doris said.

Charlie huffed. “Okay. Okay. Fine.”

“What was that?” Julian asked, grinning from ear to ear.

She glared at him so hard it should have hurt. “I said fine. I’ll do it.”

“Hear that, folks?” Julian lifted his arms in success. “We officially have a choir director!”

“Codirector,” Charlie told him. “I’m not doing all the work here. This is your big idea.”

“Codirector,” he amended. He could handle that. “And she has agreed to help us turn some of Glendale’s very own into a choir before the competition.”

The residents started talking all at once.

“So dust off those vocal chords!” he called over the voices. “Auditions start tomorrow bright and early.”

“Auditions start at ten,” Charlie clarified. She glanced at Julian. “I’m not going to be here any earlier.”

“You heard the lady. Auditions at ten. Prepare to wow us tomorrow!”

The group filed through the doorway, chatting song choices and music, the conversation brimming with excitement. It had been a while since Julian had heard them this pumped about something. He sighed, feeling hopeful as he turned to Charlie. “I think this is gonna be really great for them.”

Charlie simply rolled her eyes. “You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”

“I have a good feeling.”

Charlie huffed, gathering her things. “Hope it’s a twenty thousand dollar feeling.”

“Maybe it is,” Julian called after her. “I’m full of winning ideas.”

Charlie looked him up and down as she reached the door. “You’re definitely full of something.”