Page 34 of A Perfectly Splendid Christmas
Kacey called him back, and he answered on the second ring. “I just got your message. What’s going on?”
“I was stuck in traffic. I’m almost there, but the festival starts in ten minutes. Can you help me? I’ll tell you where everything is. It’s easy.”
“Uh, I don’t know, Drew.” Her stomach dipped. “You remember how I froze up every time we had to give presentations at school.”
“Kacey,” he began slowly, as if speaking to a child, “you can do this. I have faith in you.”
She listened while he explained where to find the CD with the kids’ music on it and whom to give it to. “I’ll try, but you need to promise me that you’ll get here as soon as you can, okay?”
“Thank you, Kace. You’re the best.”
“You’re going to owe me, Murphy,” she teased.
“I know. I’ll see you soon.”
Kacey disconnected the call and then slipped her phone back into her pocket before gathering up her coat, hat, and gloves.
“Where are you going?” Dani asked when Kacey returned to the front of the store.
Kacey zipped her coat. “Drew was stuck in traffic, and he needs me to direct the choir for him until he gets here.”
“What do you know about directing a choir?” Dani laughed.
“Nothing, and honestly, the whole idea of standing up there in front of all those people scares me to death, but Drew needs help.” Kacey rushed out of the bakery and into the community center, where she found the CD and Drew’s folder of music.
She exited the community center and wove through the noisy crowd until she came to the thirty-foot-tall artificial tree that towered at the end of the block near the town hall. The members of the children’s choir, all wearing elf hats, stood in front of the tree. A podium faced the children, and microphones stood on stands in front of them.
Riley rushed over to Kacey and grabbed her arm. “The festival is about to start! Where’s Mr.Murphy?”
“He’s on his way, and he asked me to fill in until he gets here. I’m going to take care of the music. You tell all the kids to get ready.” She searched the sea of nearby people until she found a young man standing by the electronic equipment, and made a beeline to him. “Are you Brian?”
He gave her a curious expression. “Yes.”
“Drew Murphy is stuck in traffic, and he asked me to direct the choir until he gets here.” Her hands shook as she gave him the CD. “Here’s the music.”
“Got it.” Brian took the CD and turned to the equipment.
Kacey spotted Mayor Fairmount and dashed over to him. “Excuse me, Mayor.”
“Yes?” Mayor Fairmount spun to face her.
“I’m Kacey Williams. Drew Murphy is stuck in traffic, and he asked me to direct the choir.” She took a deep, trembling breath, hoping to calm her frayed nerves. “I-I’m ready whenever you want to make the introduction.”
“Oh good. Let’s get this show on the road.” The mayor walked over to the microphone near the tree.
Kacey joined the children and put her shaking finger to her lips, indicating that they should be quiet. When she turned toward the crowd, her stomach plummeted, and her throat began to close up.
Calm down, Kacey! You got this!
Then Drew’s voice echoed through her mind:Kacey, you can do this. I have faith in you.
Drew believed in her, and she was determined to make him proud.
She found her mother, Dani, and Travis standing beside Travis’s parents in the crowd with Kelly perched on Travis’s shoulder, waving.
“Welcome, everyone, to the annual Splendid Lake Christmas Tree Lighting Festival,” the mayor began. “It’s my favorite festival of the year. Now join me in welcoming our community children’s choir as they sing us into the Christmas season. Kacey Williams is standing in for our choir director, Drew Murphy, who is on his way. Let’s give our choir a round of applause.”
While the crowd clapped and cheered, Kacey took a deep breath in through her nose and worked to stop her hands from quaking as she opened the music folder. She looked over at the children and pointed to her eyes, indicating that they needed to look at her.
