Amy, the substitute teacher who’s covering Zoe’s maternity leave, walks the kids into the building. Josephine and Andrew follow.
I smile at Landon. “Thank you.”
He leans in and gives me a brief kiss. “You’re welcome.”
“Do you two ever stop kissing?” Adam says, approaching us.
“Nope,” we say in near unison.
“We have to make up for while he was in the hospital,” I remind Adam.
None of the kids, so far, have questioned why the assistant janitor is joining us for the concert. They’re just happy to get to see Landon again. They even made him a Get-Well card while he was recovering.
It’s a picture of a snowman with a broken arm.
At least I think his arm is broken.
“I didn’t think it would be possible, but you two are worse than Jayden and Isabelle. ”
“Just wait until you fall in love,” I tell him, “you’ll be just as bad as us.”
“I doubt it.”
“You want to make a wager on it?” Landon asks.
Adam holds out his hand. “A hundred dollars that by the end of next year, I’ll still be happily single.”
“You’re on.”
They shake on it, with Landon using his nondominant hand.
Amy and I pass out the elf hats while Josephine guides the kids through a quick warm-up.
“You ready, everyone?” she asks.
Forty-eight kindergarteners call out “Yes” in a loud chorus, which causes the adults in the foyer to laugh.
“I think they’re ready,” I say, grinning.
Landon rests his hand on my lower back, and we all enter the recreation room. Folding chairs are lined up in tidy rows, and the piano is now located to the side of the makeshift stage.
Landon goes to join Samuel and his cohorts. Amy and I get the kids in position.
They won’t be entertaining only the seniors who live in the building. Some of the seniors’ family members are also here. It’s a full house.
Andrew takes his seat at the piano.
“Hello, everyone,” I say into the microphone. “Thank you for having us here today. First, I’d like to introduce you to the two people who helped make today possible. Josephine Ashworth helped to get our little singers’ performance ready.”
She curtsies. Loud applause fills the room. Everyone knows who she is. She doesn’t need much of an introduction.
“Tony-Award-winning Andrew Stanton will be accompanying our delightful choir on the piano. We’re so honored to have these two wonderful and talented people with us today.”
Again, the audience breaks out in loud applause.
As do the kids—mostly because they love jumping up and down while clapping and shaking their bells.
“And on stage, we have the kindergarteners from Dalhousie Elementary.” Loud cheers, whistles, and applause spread through the room like a rising tide. I step aside to let Josephine take her position in front of the kids.
