Page 32 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

Julian swallowed his grumble. “I’m talking about the way the choir looks.”

“What about them?”

“Well…they’re not really having any fun.”

“What do you want?” Charlie snapped. “Them dressed in clown costumes, twirling balloon animals?”

Julian rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant.”

“And what did you mean?”

“Only that you’ve been sort of tough on them today.”

“By asking them to be professional?”

“All I’m saying is that maybe if you lightened up a bit they would, too. They take their cues from you.”

That had been entirely the wrong thing to say. He could see it now. Charlie coiled like a snake about to strike.

“If you think you can do a better job conducting this choir, then have at it, Julian!” She gathered up her things from the table and stormed out.

“Charlie!” he called after her. Bahhhh! He glanced back over his shoulder at the choir. “Uh, take five. No, twenty. Actually, let’s just call it for today. Good job, team!” He fist pumped the air, then dashed into the hallway.

Charlie was motoring, already turning into the lobby, shrugging into her winter coat.

“Charlie!” he called again, rushing after her. He ran past the front desk and out into a bitter, gray December day. It had been snowing all morning, more than Julian had expected. Charlie’s car was buried under half a foot of snow. The parking lot hadn’t even been cleared yet, and neither had the roads from what he could see.

“Where are you going?” he called after her.

“Home. To Gram’s.” She waved off his question. “Whatever. I have a house to organize. I don’t need to be wasting my time here.”

Julian groaned, his breath fogging in front of his face. “You weren’t wasting your time. Just come back inside,” he called. “The roads aren’t clear yet.”

Charlie stomped around her car, brushing at the snow with her coat sleeve. When she’d cleared enough to get the back door open, she reached inside for a snowbrush.

“Don’t do something stupid just because you’re annoyed with me,” he called. “At least wait until the plows come out to clear the streets.”

She ignored him.

The last thing he wanted was Charlie trying to drive in this. Best case she’d get stuck before she left the parking lot. Worst case she’d skid off the road and get into an accident. Julian picked up a handful of snow from the walkway, packed it together and hurled it in Charlie’s direction. The snowball hit the windshield, releasing a spray of powder into the air.

Charlie squinted as the cloud of snow hit her face. She dropped the snowbrush. “Did you just throw snow at me?”

“Not at you,” he clarified. “Just in your general direction.”

“Knock it off!”

Julian ignored that request and threw another snowball. “Come back inside!”

Charlie picked up a handful of snow and threw it back. “Why? So you can tell me to lighten up some more?”

Julian dodged. “I didn’t mean it, okay?”

“Yes, you did!”

A snowball exploded against the wall beside him. Hard. Holy! She had damn good aim.

“Everyone could see what you were thinking,” she continued.