Luka settled into the auditorium seat and looked around him. People were milling about but it seemed to be filling up fast.
"So this is where your girls go to school?" he asked. Scott nodded in the seat next to him.
"We came here for Molly's first dance recital and their mother liked it and looked into it," he explained. Luka nodded again.
"And do you want to know what I like best about it?" Scott asked. Luka looked at him and shrugged.
"Do you know how we see all those little girls at the hospital who kind of dress to impress the boys?" Scott went on as he settled his elbows on the arms of his seat and linked his hands together. Luka nodded.
"Starting in second grade," his friend smiled, "they wear the same crappy school uniform every day." Luka's brows dropped into a contemplative frown and he shifted Lauren in his lap. He glanced over at Scott again and Scott nodded slowly. Luka bent his head to kiss the top of his daughter's dark head.
"How are the snacks after programs and things?" he asked.
"Susan says I am not allowed to tell you," Scott replied. Luka's eyebrows rose.
"That good, eh?" he mused. Scott nodded slowly again. He sat up straighter as he saw Susie standing at one of the doors beside the stage. She was searching the auditorium. He nudged Susan and tipped his head toward Susie.
"Uh oh," she sighed and stood up.
"Want me to go?" he asked. She frowned and shook her head.
"It's a dressing room," she said as she made her way past his knees and then Luka's. "Dads aren't allowed."
"Sorry…" he said. Susan sighed.
"No, you're not," she sang softly. Scott shrugged happily and watched her make her way to the door.
"What's going on?" Susan asked Susie as they went back through the door.
"Grandma showed up and is trying to get Molly to wear some stupid necklace," Susie huffed angrily as they moved into the hall. "Molly told her she couldn't and then I told grandma that Molly knows what the rules are. She told me to leave and then Casey started crying and Molly is flipping out." Susan rolled her eyes and they hurried toward one of the classrooms that had been turned into a dressing room for the recital. Susan sighed as she saw Molly in a corner with her hands on her hips above the stiff white tutu she wore arguing with her grandmother. Casey stood nearby with tears streaming down her face leaving streaks of stage makeup on her cheeks. Other mothers were busy dressing their own dancers but were watching the scene. Susan caught the worried eye of Chelsea's mother and rolled her eyes and shook her head. Chelsea was watching Molly and was almost in tears herself.
"I can't wear it!" Molly said sharply as she pushed her grandmother's hands away from her neck again. "We have to look exactly the same!"
"What's the matter?" Susan asked quietly as she stepped over costume boxes to move closer. Rachel glared at her.
"It's none of your concern," she said as she stood a little straighter.
"Yes," Susan said calmly. "I am afraid that it is."
"Grandma wants me to wear Mom's necklace and she won't listen to me," Molly retorted hotly. "I can't wear it! We all have to look the same!" Susan reached for Casey's hand and tugged the softly sobbing little girl between Molly and her grandmother and hugged her.
"Take her over to Chelsea's mother and see if the two of you can fix her makeup," she said as she nudged her toward Susie. Susie nodded and wrapped an arm around Casey's shoulders. Susan watched as they made their way across the room. Chelsea and her mother encircled Casey and Susie. She smiled as they all went to work on Casey's face. She took a deep breath and turned back to Molly.
"Can I see the necklace?" she asked the girl. Molly snatched it from her surprised grandmother's hand and gave it to Susan. Susan studied the tangle of gold chain and ballet shoe charm in her palm. She knelt down and dug through the suitcase that held the girls' makeup and hair things. She found the package of safety pins. She stood up again and took one of the smaller gold pins from the package and dropped the package back into the suitcase. She turned an angry Molly toward her and looped the pin into the link nearest the charm and pinned it to the underside of the sequined edge of her leotard neck.
"When you change into your next costume," she said carefully, "pin this to the band of your tights and no one will see anything, but you will be able to feel your Mom with you the whole time you are on stage." The anger in Molly's brown eyes faded and tears pooled at the edge of her mascaraed lashes.
"Oh, don't you start crying too," Susan chuckled and hugged her for a second. "We worked too hard on that make up!" She pulled a tissue from the box on a nearby table and handed it to Molly.
"Now, Susie will still be here to help you with your costume changes but let Grandma help you finish getting ready right now," she said. Molly started to protest and Susan shook her head.
"There is always room for compromise, Moll," she said firmly. Molly frowned slightly and then nodded. Susan glanced over at Rachel. The older woman was eyeing her with such contempt. Susan flashed a quick smile before crossing the room to check on Casey. She took a deep breath and shared a glance with Chelsea's mother.
"Everything's fine," she said brightly and patted Susie on the back. She bent down and looked into Casey's worried eyes.
"I'll see you after the show," she said. "Dance your heart out, sweetie." She leaned closer to whisper.
"Pretend you love it as much as football," she said. Casey grinned and then nodded. Susan kissed her cheek and glanced back at Molly before leaving the room. She was chatting animatedly as her grandmother smoothed the girl's dark hair back into its tight bun and tipped her chin up to check her make up.
The auditorium was full and the lights went down just as she found their row, eased past Luka and Scott and slipped into her seat beside Abby.
"Is everything okay?" Scott asked quietly. Susan nodded.
"Just a little pre-show jitters," she whispered as he laced his fingers into hers.
"What did I miss?" Abby asked from the other side.
"Nothing," Susan shrugged. The curtains opened and the dance studio director stood at a microphone to the side. There was a beautifully painted softly muted flower garden set behind her. Susan glanced on one side to see Lauren sitting up straight on Luka's lap watching the stage with interest. She smiled. On the other side of Abby, a disgruntled Cosmo was slouched down in his seat next to his grandfather. Susan suppressed a smile and relaxed in her seat. Her thumb caressed Scott's fingers and he glanced over at her. She smiled and snuggled next to his shoulder. All was well with her world.