“It’s the sequel to that video game I bought you last year.”
Bert could hardly believe it. How could a man know her so well? He must love her, she realized. “I didn’t even know they made a second game.”
“Well, I know you enjoyed the first one, so here it is.”
“Thank you, thank you,” she whispered, leaning in and giving him a hug.
“We better get in there before all the good seats are taken.”
“I don’t think we’ll have to worry.”
The cathedral was packed to the brim with patrons. The jumble of friendly and cheerful voices all talking at once bounced off the roof of the building, creating a strange echo over the Christmas organ music that played as everyone found a spot. Standing room only.
Bert would have usually taken a spot in the upper balcony of the building. She loved it up there. It provided a great view of the stage and allowed for great vibrations of the music. This year, however, she was sitting at the front with the rest of the directors waiting to take a turn to lead their choir.
Harry sat on one side of her and Gracie sat on the other, a big smile on her face. After being released, Bert had offered her the opportunity to lead the choir at the concert. She had happily agreed.
Turning her attention toward the stand, Bert saw familiar faces looking down at her. Their choir was up first and the members, all dressed in red and white clothing for the event, were getting into the seats up on the stand.
Bert eagerly squeezed Harry’s hand
“Oh,” came a voice from nearby.
The man who had saved Bert’s life by making an important phone call, the neighbor from next door to the church, stood there in front of the wooden pew where they sat with a bundle of flowers and a box of Christmas cherry chocolates in his hands.
“Chap Clapton?” Harry asked, recognizing the star witness for the case.
“I-I just brought these for Bert. For good luck,” he said, flushing redder than the roses he held. “Here,” he said, plopping the gifts down in her arms and making a quick and embarrassing escape into the crowd of audience members.
Harry furrowed his brow. “What the heck was that about?”
“I have no idea.”
“Shh, they’re starting,” someone said from behind.
The whole audience quieted down as the lights in the old cathedral dimmed. The master of ceremonies welcomed everyone and announced the first choir. In minutes, Gracie was on her feet, looking less wobbly than the week before.
Coming to the conductor’s stand, she looked up at the smiling faces of the choir. Men and women she’d worked to the bone the past week to get ready.
Smiling in return, Gracie raised her hand and signaled the beginning of Joy to the World.
It was fitting, seeing as it was a truly joyous Christmas after all.
Also by Carolyn Q. Hunter
Book 1: The Wicked Waffle
Book 2: Battered and Buttered Waffle
Book 3: Sinister Strawberry Waffle
Book 4: The Wayward Waffle
Book 5: Pumpkin Pie Waffle
Book 6: Turkey and Terror
Book 7: Creepy Christmas Waffle
Book 8: Birthday Cake Waffle
Book 9: Spooky Sweetheart Waffle
Book 10: Eerie Irish Waffle
Book 11: Savory Spring Waffle
Book 12: Benedict Waffle
Book 13: Scary Sausage Waffle
Book 14: Murderous Mocha Waffle
Book 15: Red Velvet Waffle
Book 16: High Steaks Murder
Book 17: Hole In One Waffle
Book 18: Fireworks and Waffles
Book 19: Games, Ghouls and Waffles
Book 20: Waffling in Murder
The Wicked Waffle Series
Book 1:Hot Buttered Murder
Book 3: Thanksgiving Waffle Murder
Book 4: Christmas Waffle Caper
Book 5: Buckaroo Waffle Murder
Book 6: Wedding Waffle Murder
Book 7: Cactus Waffle Murder
Book 8: Zombie Waffle Murder
Book 9: A Very Catty Murder
Pies and Pages Series
Book 1: Killer Apple Pie
Book 2: Killer Chocolate Pie
Book 3: Killer Halloween Pie
Book 4: Killer Thanksgiving Pie
Book 5: Killer Christmas Pie
Book 6: Killer Caramel Pie
Book 7: Killer Cocoa Pie
Book 8: Shamrock Pie Murder
Book 9: Killer Easter Pie
Book 10: Killer Cheesecake Tart
Book 11: Summer Smore Murder
Book 12: Maple Nut Murder
Book 13: Tea, Thyme, and Murder
Book 14: A Harvest of Murder
Book 16: Killer Acorn Pie
Dead-End Drive-In Series
Book 1: Sisterly Screams
Book 2: Moans, Mummies and Murder
Book 3: Blue Eyed Doll
Book 4: Movies and Murder
The Cracked Mirror Series
Book 1: The Biker and The Boogeyman
Author’s Note
I’d love to hear your thoughts on my books, the storylines, and anything else that you’d like to comment on—reader feedback is very important to me. My contact information, along with some other helpful links, is listed below. If you’d like to be on my list of “folks to contact” with updates, release and sales notifications, etc.… just shoot me an email and let me know. Thanks for reading!
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