Chapter Nineteen #2
Julian hurried back to the lobby to collect Frank. They got him buckled into the van, then headed back to the community center with the rest of the choir. Warren helped Julian maneuver Frank back into his chair when they arrived.
“All right, I’m gonna head home to pick up the family,” Warren said. “But I’ll help you run the residents back after the show.”
“I’m hoping Walt has the tire sorted by then.”
“Keep me posted.”
“I will.”
Warren waved. “My kids are really excited for the performance.”
“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.
“You’re back,” he said, staring down at her as confusion beat in his temple. He hadn’t expected to see her…maybe ever again.
“I’m back,” she gasped. She’d clearly been running. “I wasn’t sure I was going to make it in time. Parts of the freeway hadn’t been cleared yet and there was a car stalled in the middle of—”
“Why are you back?” he asked, bristling as the surprise wore off. “Don’t you have important rehearsals?”
“Because I made a commitment,” she said. “And I had somewhere else I needed to be.”
Julian started to shake his head. “Charlie—”
She caught his hand. “Please. You were right about so much.”
Julian’s heart dropped into his stomach, the hurt inside him warring with his own regret. “I wasn’t. I shouldn’t have made you doubt yourself,” he said. “Or your decision to go to New York. I should have been more supportive. I’m sorry for that.”
“No,” Charlie said. “You were just telling me hard truths I wasn’t ready to hear.
I thought I was protecting myself by closing off my emotions, shoving them away like old Christmas ornaments in a box.
But I wasn’t. All I was doing was cutting myself off from the experiences that really mattered…
The music… The happiness that Tom would have wanted for me.
The happiness I should have wanted for myself.
Standing on that stage in the Lincoln Center, I realized that I didn’t have to punish myself for being the one that’s still here.
And I’m sorry I had to walk away from you in order to figure that out. But I’m not going to do that anymore.”
“What are you saying?” Julian said, his pulse rushing in his ears.
“I’m saying that you’re part of what I want for myself.”
Julian felt like his heart might punch through his chest. He barely forced the words out. “You’re staying?”
Charlie nodded. “I’m choosing you and Elm Springs and this little life I think we could build.
You gave me a safe place to rediscover myself again.
And if you give me the chance to earn your trust back, I think I could make you just as happy.
You’re the place where the music sings to me, Julian. I love you.”
“Are you sure?” he said, hardly able to believe it.
She laughed. “That I love you? Yeah, pretty damn sure.”
“I mean, are you sure this is what you want?”
“It is. But is it what you want?” she asked.
“I’ve wanted nothing more,” he said, surging forward to capture her lips. The feelings exploded inside him. Contentment. Relief. So much happiness he hadn’t even realized it was possible. He kissed her again and again, until they were both dizzy. “I love you, too.”
When they finally broke apart, he took in her beaming smile. He wanted to whisk her away from here and hold her in his arms, but there wasn’t time for that now. “The choir’s going to be so happy to see you.”
He hugged her tight, knowing he couldn’t spare the time, then he took her hand, tugging her down the stairs and into the hall. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Frank!” Charlie exclaimed as Julian pulled her through an open door. “You’re back!”
“Charlie?” Doris said, letting out a bubbly laugh. “What are you doing here?”
The choir jumped to their feet, eager to embrace her. Julian was loath to let her go, but he knew they needed her more than he did at this moment. Doris immediately wrapped her in a hug.
“How is everyone feeling?” Charlie asked the group.
“Better now,” Maggie said, taking Charlie’s hands. “Not that Julian hasn’t been incredible,” she was quick to add. Julian took no offense. “But it’s good to have you back.”
“It’s good to be back,” Charlie agreed. “And to see all of you. I know that me leaving so abruptly was probably difficult. But I want you to understand how proud I am to be here with you.”
“The choir before us is pretty impressive,” Doris said, cluing Charlie into the somber mood.
Charlie sighed. “And that’s okay. The one thing I learned after all these years performing is that there’s always someone better out there. Someone more talented.”
“Harsh,” Harriet said.
“I don’t know if this is the pep talk you think it is,” Julian muttered.
“It’s the truth,” Charlie said. “But people don’t choose their favorite performers or artists because they’re the best. They choose them because they connect with them.
All those people out there who saw your video connected with you.
With your joy and your spunk and your passion.
” She poked the antlers in Harriet’s hand.
“And maybe even your sassy sense of humor.”
Harriet blinked down at the headband, slowly sliding it back on her head.
“So,” Charlie said. “I say we go out there and give them the show they came to see.”
Julian nodded. “Are we ready to rock this competition?”
“Yes,” Maggie said, grabbing Harriet and Doris, looking determined.
“Hell yes!” Frank said and the group erupted into laughter. Frank wheeled himself toward the door, leading the way, and the choir followed.
“Guess this is it,” Charlie said.
“Guess so.” Julian stroked her cheek. “Break a leg. I’ll be watching from the wings.”
“Nice try.” She picked up a pair of jingly reindeer antlers and fit them over his hair. “We’re in this together, codirector.”
Julian beamed. “The place where the music sings?”
Charlie nodded. “Like Frank said, hell yeah.” And with that she darted off after the choir.
Julian hesitated for a moment, quickly pulling out his phone to text Diane.
So, I’ve had some thoughts on the activities director position.