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“If she passes this phase, she’ll get to.”
The woman started touching girls on the shoulder, and they’d step out to stand at the side of the stage. Elsie was the third dancer she touched.
Jessie grabbed Callie’s hand again, and they hung on.
“Is that good?” I whispered. “Is she going to get to do her routine?”
Callie took my hand and squeezed it. “I’m not sure, but I think so. Elsie was doing a fantastic job.”
When the woman had the music stopped, she dismissed the girls who’d still been dancing and had the ones she’d touched come back onto the stage.
Callie shook mine and Jessie’s hands in her excitement. They started the dance again. This time, she made notes but didn’t touch anyone and stopped the music after only a couple of minutes.
Then she motioned for one girl and the others waited on the side. The girl started her routine after squinting nervously into the audience, probably to see where a parent sat.
I distracted myself from my nervousness for Elsie by looking at Callie’s hand wrapped around mine. By watching her genuine excitement as Elsie took the stage and started dancing the routine they’d worked on together. By watching her pride grow with every move Elsie nailed.
She was so gorgeous, and the way she seemed to care so much about my family only made her more beautiful to me.
When Elsie’s dance was done, I tried to get some sense of what the teacher thought by her expression. But she merely nodded, and Elsie bounced off the stage, smiling happily.
I knew we weren’t going to know anything for at least a couple of days. But Elsie’s happy reaction to her own audition meant our lunch would be one of celebration rather than one trying to cheer her up.
“She did so fantastic!” Callie squeezed our hands. “She absolutely slayed!”
I lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. “With your help.”
“Yes,” Jessie said. “Thank you so much. I’m sure Elsie will say the same.”
“I think she’d have done great even if she’d never met me. But thank you for saying so.” Callie smiled happily at me, her kind of smile where her eyes sparkle and her nose wrinkles up. I couldn’t resist leaning over and kissing that scrunched up nose.
Once we were outside, everyone hugged Elsie until finally, she stood in front of Callie. Callie grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in tight. “You did such a fantastic job!”
Then both of them were bouncing like they had springs on their feet.
“Do you think I’ll make it in?” she asked.
“I think you have as good a chance as anyone in there,” Callie said.
I knew she couldn’t say yes or no. But based on what we saw and what little I knew about dance, I thought Callie’s answer was great.
Jessie piped up. “If you don’t, that’s okay. You try again next time, remember? Just making the attempt is worth celebrating.”
“That’s right,” Callie said.
“But I did a good job?” Elsie grinned, starting to bounce again.
“The best!” Callie and she hugged again, leaving me and Jessie to grin at each other around them.
“Well, I’m starving,” Mom said. “All that being nervous worked up my appetite. Let's go get lunch, and afterward, we’ll stop by the bakery for a special celebration pie.”
“Chocolate?” Elsie and Callie asked together.
“Of course,” Mom said, flashing a smile at me.
***
At the restaurant, I specifically requested a specific table near the back. I didn’t explain why, but I wanted to make sure I had a clear view of the ladies’ restroom in case Callie needed to use it while we were there. If it was out of my sight, I’d have to go with her and wait outside.
