Page 50 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

Julian supposed she was used to this kind of pressure. Having a camera on her was probably no different than having hundreds of eyes looking at her from an audience.

“I’m really glad you agreed to do this,” he said to her as the crew sorted themselves out. “I mean specifically today. I’m always grateful for your help with the choir, but especially with this.”

“I had nothing else going on this morning,” she teased.

Julian smirked. He knew that wasn’t true. She had a lot of work still to do on Doris’s place, but he also knew that the choir was growing on her. Maybe she needed them just as much as they needed her.

His gaze lifted as Bobby walked behind the choir. Harriet wiggled her fingers at the camera, and Julian got a look at her attire. He’d almost forgotten what Warren had said. His face fell. She was wearing a holiday sweater that said This Shit Happens Earlier Every Year.

“Oh my God,” he muttered.

Charlie frowned. “What?”

Julian darted to Harriet’s side, leaning close. “You can’t wear that on TV.”

“Why not? It’s my color,” she said, holding out her sweater and looking down at it.

“The color isn’t the problem.”

Harriet gave him a wry grin. “I’m seventy-three. I think I can wear whatever I want.”

“Someone’s going to have a problem with it.” And by someone, he meant Diane.

“I’m just spreading the holiday cheer.”

Julian rubbed his face and fled back to Charlie’s side before he could make a scene. “Try to make sure Harriet stands in the back.”

Charlie frowned. “Why? Oh…” She started laughing. Laughing! She covered her mouth, but both her cheeks turned pink from trying to hold back.

“It’s not funny,” Julian all but hissed.

“It is. A little.”

“Diane is going to kill me if that ends up on TV.”

“Would she really be surprised?”

“God!” Forget murder, Diane was going to fire him.

Charlie covered her mouth again, her shoulders shaking.

Julian glared at her from the corner of his eye. “You’re not helping.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you! We need to be a united front.”

“My job is to make them sound good. You’re in charge of logistics. Why didn’t you suggest matching outfits?”

“Because I…”

“Mm-hmm, I’m listening?”

Because he was too busy thinking about the way Charlie was slowly driving him to distraction. “I didn’t think I had to police their outfits.”

“And that was your first mistake. But I’m sure they’ll block it out,” Charlie said. “Or cut her all together. They’re not about to put that on TV. Let her have her fun.”

“Oh? Look who’s all about the fun now.”