The night when he'd found Ruth and Katie asleep in the Emergency Room, exhausted.
Reaching over, he put both of his hands around Ruth's and held her gently.
He was trying to reassure her, and he hoped he'd succeeded when she relaxed against his shoulder.
When he felt her exhale and her hand relaxed between his he smiled.
KATIE
There was a saying in theater and dance. If you could see the audience from the wings, they could see you in the wings.
Katie hadn't 'peeked' out in years, but this night, this performance was different.
She knew where her dad and Ruth were sitting.
She'd helped her dad pick out the tickets.
So, while the Snow Prince and Snow Princess were dancing theirpas de deuxon the stage, Katie craned her neck to see into the audience.
When she saw her dad, she grinned.
And when she saw Ruth, her whole heart lit up inside of her.
"Hey..."
Eun touched her shoulder and the two girls stepped deeper into the wings to get in line for their next entrance.
"Katie? Did you see your dad?"
Katie nodded, a bright smile on her face. "And my soon-to-be mom."
Eun gave her a thumbs up and when the music shifted, they both changed like a switch had been flipped.
They'd gone from giddy girls to elegant snowflakes.
Katie couldn't wait to show Ruth just how awesome she was.
She wanted Ruth to see it. To see her.
And to be proud of her.
Just like Katie was proud of Ruth.
RUTH
Her heart was singing.
Not only was she proud as punch of what Katie did in the Snow dance, after the intermission, the second act set in the Land of Sweets was so much fun! The adorable little angels, the Spanish Chocolates, Arabian Coffee and so many adorable dances. Then, when it was time for the Waltz of the Flowers, Katie was easy to spot. The costumes were separated into four different flowers and colors. Katie was in a dress with layers of yellow and orange. When she danced and twirled with the others, her skirts fluttered around her like a wind was stirring the petals.
By the time the dance was over, Ruth had her heart in her throat, and she was clapping as hard as she could.
It was all so inspiring!
They waited outside the stage door and Ruth clutched the twisted wicker handle of the basket. Lifting it again, she looked at the basket with an eye that had never been good with flowers or anything like it.
The only thing she had an affinity for was flour.
And that wasn't pretty.
