Nick lifted his left hand and stroked his beard. "I just didn't want to be the bearded lady."
Ruth laughed softly and continued to box the cookies in front of her.
"I think you would have been a pretty bearded lady, Dad."
Ruth turned back to look at him. "I'd have to agree, Nick. Depending on the color of the dress, I think it would really make your eyes pop."
She went back to filling the box with cookies and his daughter almost choked trying to chew and laugh at the same time.
Shaking his head, Nick reached over and gave Katie a hearty pat on her back. She ended up shaking him off a moment later and then they were both laughing.
It wasn't long before Ruth joined in and damn, it was crazy how good it felt.
It almost felt like it was family.
Oh, shit.
He was in trouble.
CHAPTER THREE
RUTH
Just a few days later, Ruth realized that she'd fooled herself.
When she'd shown up to the ballet studio, she thought she'd be safe.
Katie had come over again to talk about the tea and given her the contact information for the Parent Coordinator, Missus Guthrie. Missus Guthrie wanted to talk to her in person, so there she was, standing amidst a whirlwind of dancers while the older lady who ran the Parent Volunteers told her more than she'd ever wanted to know.
Apparently, Missus Guthrie had been with the company from a time before the dinosaurs and had no problem letting everyone know the most intricate and intimate details of the company.
Ruth was worried that she might fall asleep on her feet.
The ballet company was well known in town and while Ruth had wanted to go and see a show, she hadn't managed to work out her schedule.
As soon as she'd met Katie, she became determined to go and actually had a ticket reserved for the opening night performance.
"Now, in the Seventies..."
Oh no... Ruth felt her right foot fall asleep. Not as embarrassing as falling asleep during her introduction, but if they had to walk somewhere, she might have to drag her leg along behind her like Igor in Frankenstein movies.
"Miss Baker! You came!"
Ruth had about half a second's notice before Katie ran into her at full speed.
Ruth's breath rushed out of her lungs and as she reached out an arm to wrap around Katie, she found the wall with the other to keep them both upright.
"Katherine?"
Missus Guthrie's tone was full of disapproval.
"Are you supposed to be running?"
Katie's face twisted into a half-smile, half-wince. "Sorry, Missus Guthrie. I just got out of rehearsal, and I saw Miss Baker was here. I just wanted to say hello."
Ruth adjusted the arm she had around Katie and gave her a one-armed hug. "I'm glad you did. I wasn't sure when you were going to be in rehearsal."
Katie rose up and Ruth looked down to see that Katie had pointe shoes on. She was all the way up on the tips of her shoes.
