A Carol for Christmas Read Online Free PDF

definitely approve of it.”
    The comment deflated Jonathan’s pleasure somewhat. Christmas to Arlen Burke was about store profits, not the birth of Jesus. Financial success was what drove him. He tolerated his wife’s and son’s faith, but he wanted no part of religion himself. In many ways, the success of Burke Department Stores was his religion.
    It won’t be like that for me , Jonathan promised himself
    as he followed his dad inside. He had every intention of keeping his priorities straight. He might have to put in long hours right now in order to make his way and provide for his wife, but he didn’t plan to lose sight of what mattered most.
    The glass revolving door whooshed closed behind Jona- than, and he stopped beside his dad in the aisle leading into the cosmetics department. The air was filled with the scents of expensive perfumes. Jonathan found it overpower- ing and was thankful Carol had simpler tastes.
    He wondered how the tryout was going. He wished he could have been there.
    Carol had confessed her nervousness to Jonathan before he left for work. “Why would anybody listen to my opin- ion? I don’t have a music degree or any professional singing experience. Somebody’s bound to think I’m too young to be in charge.” She released a sigh. “They’re probably right.”
    “That’s not true,” he answered. “You’ll be the most talented person in the room. That qualifies you to be in charge.”
    Carol gave him a pained but grateful smile before kiss- ing him good-bye.
    I should have called her this afternoon. She could’ve used the encouragement.
    He’d meant to call her, but somehow, time got away from him. It seemed like that happened a lot lately.
    Q

    “Come on,” Ruth said. “I’ll treat you to a piece of pie à la mode.”
    Carol leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. “I’m too tired to eat anything.”
    Ruth chuckled as she tugged on Carol’s upper arm. “I’m not. We’ll go in my car and then I’ll bring you back to get yours when we’re finished.”
    “All right,” she agreed, too tired to resist. Besides, pie sounded pretty good.
    It wasn’t until they reached the mostly deserted res- taurant and were seated in a comfortable booth, menus in hand, that Ruth asked, “So what do you think?”
    “Hmm. I’ll have the rhubarb.”
    “Not the pie, Carol. About the tryouts. Did you find two good singers in that group?”
    Carol swept loose strands of hair back from her face. “The problem will be narrowing it down to two. There was a lot of talent in that room tonight. I was surprised.”
    “Yes, but there were more than a few who didn’t belong there.” Ruth shook her head as she lowered her gaze to the menu. “Some of it was painful to listen to.”
    Carol recalled Barbara Matthews’s singing — a gener- ous word to describe the noise coming out of that pretty
    throat — and winced. Elizabeth Gray hadn’t exaggerated when she said Barbara couldn’t sing a lick. And now Carol would have to tell the pastor’s daughter that she wouldn’t be singing with Travis Thompson.
    Ruth patted the back of Carol’s hand. “I can read your face like a book, my dear girl. Stop worrying about Barbara. She’s young. She’ll get over her disappointment.”
    “I hope so.”
    “If she can’t, she’d better learn quick. Life is strewn with disappointments and heartaches to go along with the good. The experiences we have, good and bad, make us grow into who we’re supposed to be. For those who love God, the refining process makes us more Christlike.”
    Carol felt a sting of conviction. Was she accepting of the things in her life that weren’t what she wanted?
    The waitress arrived at the table. Carol ordered the rhu- barb pie, heated, with ice cream. Ruth chose banana cream pie with extra whipped topping. Both asked for decaffein- ated coffee.
    “Be right back,” the waitress said as she slipped the pen- cil behind her ear.
    Alone again, Carol smiled at her