Page 89 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

“Just gotta make it onto that stage,” Julian called.

“You’ve got this.”

“I do,” Julian said, hardly believing it. He turned and booked it inside the community center.

The energy was more frantic than the day of dress rehearsal. Choirs were lined up in the hall, dressed in various Christmas-themed outfits. Attendees had started to arrive, filling the auditorium with loud chatter. Heather was running back and forth, wearing a necklace of jingle bells, looking a little windswept.

“Julian!”

He twisted, spying Harriet, who waved him down the hall. She was all dressed up, reindeer ears with jingle bells on her head. Julian followed her through a door, up a short set of stairs and found the choir amassed behind the stage, spying on another group as they warmed up.

“One of the choirs didn’t show,” Doris whispered to him. “We’ve been moved up from our original timeslot.”

Good thing we weren’t late, Julian thought. “That should be fine. We’re ready, right?”

“As ready as we can be.”

“They’re really good, aren’t they?” Maggie said, and for the first time, Julian actually listened to the voices that were harmonizing backstage. “I didn’t hear them at the dress rehearsal.”

“I don’t think they were there,” Jim said. “We definitely would have remembered.”

“There’s no way they’re an amateur choir,” Harriet said. “They’re too damn good. We should say something.”

Doris tittered uncertainly. “To who?”

“It’s not exactly like we can demand proof,” Maggie added.

Harriet glowered. “Sure we can.”

“I don’t think we can do this,” Elaine said. “We’re not that good.”

“It’s not about being good,” Julian was quick to say. “It’s about having fun. Right?”

“But listen to them,” Elaine continued as a volunteer popped by and hung up a sign next to the stage entrance. She darted forward to read it. “Are they on right before us? This is them, I think. The Markdale Music Makers.” She pressed her hand to her forehead. “We’re going to look ridiculous following that up. People are expecting something wonderful from us after that video went viral.”

Doubts started to spin through the group. Harriet pulled off her reindeer antlers.

Maggie glanced at Julian. “Does this count as problem number three?”

Julian opened his mouth. Closed it. This was a problem he wasn’t prepared to handle. He looked to Doris, but she didn’t seem to have any words of wisdom.

Julian had never missed Charlie more. Wrinkled faces stared back at him for reassurance, but Julian had nothing to offer them. All he knew how to do was write failed grant proposals and commit to things that never worked out.

They were right. They weren’t ready for this. Not with him at the helm.

Defeat rang through him. “We’re up soon,” he said, not knowing what else to do. “Maybe take a quick walk? Shake out the nerves.”

“Yes,” Doris said. “Good idea.”

The group trundled down the stairs and back into the hall. Julian hesitated, running through his options. Should he just pull them from the competition? That might be the easiest way to spare the residents the embarrassment of following up the Markdale Music Makers.

“There you are!”

He turned, and his jaw dropped.

Charlie? What the hell was she doing here?

She stood there on the opposite side of the stage. Julian felt like he was looking at a ghost. But the ghost of Christmas what? She hurried toward him, racing past the red velvet curtains that had been drawn across the stage.