“That would be great. I’ll be back soon.”
Taking off his jacket, Joseph placed it across two chairs and sat on the one beside them. As soon as the choir entered the dining room, a last-minute rush of people finding seats added another layer of excitement to the performance.
Adele looked around the room. When she spotted him, her face broke into a relieved smile.
His heart squeezed tight. Before they’d moved to Sapphire Bay, he’d missed almost all her after-school activities. He was so wrapped up in his own life he hadn’t seen the effect his absence had on her.
Shona came out of the kitchen with Nate and quickly moved to where he was sitting.
“Thanks for saving the seats,” she whispered.
“You’re welcome. Hi, Nate.”
“Hi, Mr. Adams. Adele looks cute in her red T-shirt and reindeer antlers.”
He looked at his daughter and smiled. “She loves dressing up.”
“She reminds me of someone else I knew at the same age,” Shona said with a smile.
Nate groaned. “Don’t tell Mr. Adams the skeleton story.”
Joseph raised his eyebrows. Whatever the story involved would have to wait. Pastor John stood at the front of the room and introduced Mabel and the Sapphire Bay Community Choir.
Following a round of applause, Mabel took her place in front of the singers. With a nod to her husband, the first orchestral notes of “Silent Night” filled the dining room.
Keeping his hand steady, Joseph videoed the choir. He smiled at Adele. Even when her reindeer antlers slipped sideways, her gaze never left Mabel. She sang with such confidence that his heart swelled with pride. He might be biased but, by the time the choir finished the first song, he was sure they’d win the competition in December.
While people clapped and cheered, Shona touched his arm. “They’re wonderful. Adele looks as though she’s enjoying herself.”
He bent his head closer to her. “She told me she feels like she’s walking on clouds when she sings.”
“That makes it even more special.”
He yearned for something he hadn’t felt in a long time when he saw Shona’s tender expression. Knowing someone believed in you, that no matter what, they’d always be there for you was as alien to him as shooting a rocket into space and looking for stardust.
Nate took a photo, reminding Joseph of his promise to Mabel.
He held up his cell phone and snapped random photos of the choir. Adele’s friends, Jack and Charlie, were singing with all their might. Nora had a sweet smile on her face, and Mr. Jessop looked like he belonged on Broadway. He took photos of Willow playing the piano, and Andy Smith accompanying her on his guitar.
During the next three songs, he tried to capture the spirit of the choir and what made their performance special.
The expression on Adele’s face was pure joy, especially when the audience clapped and cheered after the last song. As she walked out of the room, she looked at him and her smile grew wider.
Joseph blew her a kiss and she reached forward, plucked it from the air and pressed it to her chest. It was their secret code—his way of telling her he loved her.
“What you just did was lovely,” Shona said from beside him.
His daughter disappeared into the corridor. “When Adele was younger, she had a bad stutter. After her mom left, her speech became worse. Blowing her a kiss when she’s nervous makes her feel better. It’s become a habit that makes both of us smile.”
“Adele’s lucky to have you as her dad.”
His smile faded. Shona wouldn’t think so highly of him if she’d met him five years ago. He was so wrapped up in his own life he hadn’t noticed that the people around him were falling to pieces.
Shona turned to her son. “What did you think of the choir, Nate?”
“They were great. Mr. Jessop looked good in his reindeer antlers.”
Joseph watched Gordon leave the room. He was waving at a group of teenagers who helped him in the community garden. “It must be better than wearing last year’s Santa suit.”
