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Rejoice, rejoice!

Christ is born

Of the Virgin Mary –

Rejoice!

We repeat the chorus, with a couple of the others joining in, and then I sing the first verse on my own.

Tempus adest gratiæ

Hoc quod optabamus,

Carmina lætitiæ

Devote reddamus.

In English, this means:

The time of grace has come—

What we have wished for;

Songs of joy

Let us give back faithfully.

There are four verses, and as I work my way through them, I glance over to see my father coming out of his study. He leans against the door post, hands in the pockets of his jeans, listening and watching me, and I know he’s thinking about Mum, too.

It’s impossible for me not to get emotional as I finish the last verse:

Ergo nostra contio

Psallat iam in lustro;

Benedicat Domino:

Salus Regi nostro.

It means:

Therefore, let our assembly

Now sing in brightness

Let it bless the Lord:

Salvation to our King.

I manage to hold it in as everyone joins in for the final chorus, but as we finish the last gaudete, I press my fingers to my mouth, dissolving into tears.

Several things happen at once—everyone goes, “Awww…” and at the same time, cheers and claps break out from behind me. In shock, I turn to see that the boys have come back—Ollie, Jake, Bear, and Mitch—and they were obviously standing there, listening. They stop as they see I’m upset, though, and Mitch immediately comes forward and wraps his arms around me.

“Hey,” he murmurs, “it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry,” I squeak, burying my face in his neck.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He tightens his arms.