Read Online A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robin Lee Hatcher
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gun-shy when it comes to women. That’s not to say he doesn’t want love, marriage, and a family. He does. It’s just he figures God’ll tell him when the right gal comes along, and he’s willin’ to wait till He does.”
Carol smiled, a sweet memory flowing through her mind. “That’s how I felt when I met Johnny. I knew he was the one God meant for me.” She gave Friday a little wave and slipped into the car; he closed the door after her. “See you tomorrow night,” she called before turning the key in the ignition.
As she drove home, she didn’t think about Nashville or the agent’s card in her purse or even the upcoming benefit performance. She thought about Jonathan, wondering what her life would be like without him.
She couldn’t imagine it.
Would a career in country music fill that place in her heart if he wasn’t there? She didn’t know that either.
But was it necessary for her to choose between her hus- band and a career? Couldn’t she have both?
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ad.” Jonathan stepped into the president’s office.
Arlen Burke leaned back in his chair. “What’s up?” “Just wanted you to know I’m leaving now. Tonight’s
the benefit.”
“As if I didn’t know. Your mother’s talked of nothing else since that singer got to town.”
“This is an important night for Carol. It means a lot to her. I think she’s nervous.” Of course, he didn’t know for sure; they’d barely talked all week. And every additional minute of silence seemed to make it harder to speak again. “I want to be with her before the show, lend my support however I can.”
“Of course you want to be there. Get going.” Jonathan must have let surprise show on his face.
“I’m a married man myself.” There was the hint of a grin in the corners of his dad’s mouth as he spoke. “I may not be a sentimental fool, but I love your mother and try to support her in her hobbies and volunteer work.”
This is different , Jonathan wanted to say. This is more
than a hobby or volunteer work. She’s got amazing talent. She’s got a gift. She’s so good , it scares me.
But he didn’t say anything. He’d been shackled by the unspoken, trapped by missed opportunities, paralyzed by what-ifs.
“I’ll see you at the high school, son.”
“Yeah. See you there.” Jonathan turned and left.
As he exited the rear door of the department store, he checked his watch. Carol was supposed to be at the high school by five thirty for a short rehearsal before the doors opened at six fifteen. He had almost an hour before he needed to be at the apartment. That gave him plenty of time to stop at the florist shop to buy a bouquet of long- stem red roses.
Hang the budget. He meant to splurge on his wife, tonight of all nights.
Q
Carol stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her hair was all wrong. She’d tried putting it up. She’d tried leaving it down. Nothing looked right. Her appear- ance would undoubtedly embarrass Travis, the members of his band, and the other two singers standing with her.
Worse, she probably wouldn’t sing the right notes. Or, for that matter, remember the words to any of the songs. She was going to bomb. There was no doubt about it. She would bomb.
Breathe , Carol. Breathe.
She closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose, then let it out through her mouth.
Better? Yes, that was a little better.
She turned from the mirror and her gaze fell upon the new dress hanging against the bathroom door, a gift from Ruth. Black and white sequins glittered beneath the clear- plastic dress bag. A box on the floor in her bedroom held black-satin heels with rhinestone clips on the toes.
At least her clothing would be flawless, even if she flopped in every other respect.
Breathe.
She flipped off the bathroom light and walked to the kitchen, where she poured herself a cup of hot water from the teakettle. Leaning her hip against the counter, she took
Carol smiled, a sweet memory flowing through her mind. “That’s how I felt when I met Johnny. I knew he was the one God meant for me.” She gave Friday a little wave and slipped into the car; he closed the door after her. “See you tomorrow night,” she called before turning the key in the ignition.
As she drove home, she didn’t think about Nashville or the agent’s card in her purse or even the upcoming benefit performance. She thought about Jonathan, wondering what her life would be like without him.
She couldn’t imagine it.
Would a career in country music fill that place in her heart if he wasn’t there? She didn’t know that either.
But was it necessary for her to choose between her hus- band and a career? Couldn’t she have both?
This page is intentionally left blank
Cbaplez '"
D
ad.” Jonathan stepped into the president’s office.
Arlen Burke leaned back in his chair. “What’s up?” “Just wanted you to know I’m leaving now. Tonight’s
the benefit.”
“As if I didn’t know. Your mother’s talked of nothing else since that singer got to town.”
“This is an important night for Carol. It means a lot to her. I think she’s nervous.” Of course, he didn’t know for sure; they’d barely talked all week. And every additional minute of silence seemed to make it harder to speak again. “I want to be with her before the show, lend my support however I can.”
“Of course you want to be there. Get going.” Jonathan must have let surprise show on his face.
“I’m a married man myself.” There was the hint of a grin in the corners of his dad’s mouth as he spoke. “I may not be a sentimental fool, but I love your mother and try to support her in her hobbies and volunteer work.”
This is different , Jonathan wanted to say. This is more
than a hobby or volunteer work. She’s got amazing talent. She’s got a gift. She’s so good , it scares me.
But he didn’t say anything. He’d been shackled by the unspoken, trapped by missed opportunities, paralyzed by what-ifs.
“I’ll see you at the high school, son.”
“Yeah. See you there.” Jonathan turned and left.
As he exited the rear door of the department store, he checked his watch. Carol was supposed to be at the high school by five thirty for a short rehearsal before the doors opened at six fifteen. He had almost an hour before he needed to be at the apartment. That gave him plenty of time to stop at the florist shop to buy a bouquet of long- stem red roses.
Hang the budget. He meant to splurge on his wife, tonight of all nights.
Q
Carol stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her hair was all wrong. She’d tried putting it up. She’d tried leaving it down. Nothing looked right. Her appear- ance would undoubtedly embarrass Travis, the members of his band, and the other two singers standing with her.
Worse, she probably wouldn’t sing the right notes. Or, for that matter, remember the words to any of the songs. She was going to bomb. There was no doubt about it. She would bomb.
Breathe , Carol. Breathe.
She closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose, then let it out through her mouth.
Better? Yes, that was a little better.
She turned from the mirror and her gaze fell upon the new dress hanging against the bathroom door, a gift from Ruth. Black and white sequins glittered beneath the clear- plastic dress bag. A box on the floor in her bedroom held black-satin heels with rhinestone clips on the toes.
At least her clothing would be flawless, even if she flopped in every other respect.
Breathe.
She flipped off the bathroom light and walked to the kitchen, where she poured herself a cup of hot water from the teakettle. Leaning her hip against the counter, she took
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