Page 34 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

“Look, it was still better than anything I could have done on my own. You’re the best volunteer we’ve ever had.” He wanted her to understand how amazing she’d been for Glendale. “I almost can’t believe we lucked out with the opportunity to have someone of your caliber helping with the program.”

Charlie turned away, a bit of a flush running up her neck.

“I mean it,” he said. “You’re really, really good at what you do.”

“Thanks,” she said softly. “All the schooling helps.”

“Don’t downplay your talent,” Julian said. “I mean it. I’m sure Juilliard helped you hone it, but you have a gift, and I’m really glad you chose a career where you get to share it with the world.”

She didn’t look at him. Or maybe she wouldn’t. He meant every word, though. She was born to perform.

“I was being a little tough,” she admitted.

Julian smirked. “Was that so hard?”

Her eyes flickered to his, then back down to her coffee. “I realize that this is important to you. I’m not trying to ruin it.”

“You haven’t ruined anything.”

She nodded slowly. “Can I ask… Why is the music program that important to you? You never really struck me as a musical guy. I thought you studied health sciences in school?”

“I did,” Julian said. “A lot of my studies were actually in health and aging. Even took a couple of really interesting courses in cognitive neurosciences. But there was one that specifically looked at the role of music and the aging brain. I loved that course, and I think it partly inspired my desire to establish a successful music program here.”

“And what was the other part?”

A muscle in Julian’s cheek twitched as his thoughts turned to Grandma Sofia. “Actually, uh…it’s mostly because my grandmother had dementia.”

“I never knew that,” Charlie said softly. She frowned, looking somewhat perplexed, like she was racking her brain for the information.

Julian smiled a bit. He couldn’t remember if he’d ever mentioned his grandmother the summer they spent together. It had still been a sore spot for him, and maybe part of what he’d loved about the time he had with Charlie was the distraction and how easy it was to forget about the rest of the world. “I’m not sure if you remember that my parents are divorced?”

Charlie nodded.

“Well, after the divorce, things at home were pretty unstable for me as my parents figured out what their new lives looked like.”

Charlie tipped her head, staring at him like she might be able to see straight past his bones, to the place his heart raced.

“Anyway, I started spending most of my time with my grandmother. She cleared out space for me in her home and in her life full-time.”

“That’s really sweet,” Charlie said.

“She was an amazing lady,” Julian agreed. “But when I got older… When I realized the disease was taking her from me and I couldn’t return the favor of looking after her on my own, it was sort of devastating.” Somehow even Grandma Sofia had left him behind, through no fault of her own. Julian swallowed down the weight of those feelings. “But the nursing home she ended up in had this amazing music therapy program, and on the days I visited, it provided a way for me to still connect with her. Even when she couldn’t remember people or places or how to hold a fork, there was a place in her brain that music could reach. A place that brought her back to me. So I think for me, music is really all about connection. It unites people. I know that sounds silly.”

“No,” Charlie said softly, staring at him in a way that made Julian flush. “It sounds really nice. Glendale is lucky to have someone like you looking out for the residents.”

Julian waved her off, slightly anxious about how personal he’d gotten.

“I mean it. I was so worried about how Gram would adjust to living at Glendale, but knowing how much you care about the residents and the programming here…” She shrugged. “I just want her to be happy, you know? I’ve been packing up her house and every room I tackle makes me think about everything she’s given up. I never really thought about that before. About what it would be like to spend decades building a life only to slowly lose it to time.” She shook her head. “Maybe that doesn’t make any sense.”

“I get it,” Julian insisted. He did understand. “That’s why I want this music program to work so badly. I want it to be a comfort as people make the transition to assisted living.”

“I think that’s partly why I let Gram talk me into this,” she admitted. “I wanted her to feel comfortable and settled here before I left. And I really want her to find that sense of community and connection you talked about.”

Partly, he thought. What other reason would she have had to say yes? He shoved those thoughts aside before he could dwell too long.

“I think Gram’s been lonely lately,” Charlie admitted, staring off across the dining room.

He studied the soft line of her jaw, remembering what it was like to kiss her there. “You don’t get back to visit her as much?”