Page 14 of What Maple Heard

“Correct.”

She nodded. “What did you do?”

“Something unforgivable.”

“Hm.” She plugged in a glue gun and took out glittery bows from another box. She pressed a bow onto a small tutu with great precision. “Well. Good luck with that. She’s the most stubborn person I’ve ever met. Once she decides something, it’s decided.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“She’s also usually right.”

“I know.”

“So if you did something unforgivable, she’s not going to waste her time on you.” She shrugged her shoulders and gave me a “sorry, not sorry” look.

“Thanks, Ms. Debbie Downer,” I said.

Nancy laughed.

“Just trying to not give you false hopes, that’s all.”

And that was the moment the studio door opened and Maple appeared.

She had clearly just finished class. She was looking for Nancy, registered that it was me on the floor with her, and that look of fury I had seen on the porch that evening found its way back to her face. I stood up.

“Why are you still here?” she said.

“I came to say hi.”

She looked at me. Then she looked at the sorted tutus and the glue gun and Nancy, who had taken the opportunity to find urgent business on the other side of the reception desk.

As Nancy passed me, she whispered: “I told you.”

“Maple—“ I started.

“What part of I don’t want to see you did you not understand, Cade? Which word was unclear?”

“I want to apologize—“

“You apologize after a fight. What you said isn’t something you apologize for.” She pointed at the door. “Leave.”

“Maple, please—“

“I will call the police.”

I looked at her. She meant it absolutely. I turned and walked toward the door, and behind me I could hear her voice switching registers entirely — warm and easy and fully present — as the kids from her class streamed out around me.

“Great work today, guys.” Maple clapped twice. “Costumes came in—“

The room exploded.

“YEAH—“

“Can I see mine—“

“Is it orange—“

“I want the big bow—“