Page 27 of What Maple Heard

The costume was laid out on the table in its full glory. The bright orange tutu — re-ordered by me in an adult size Large — was currently receiving a second full coating of gold glitter from Devon, who was applying it with focused generosity. The leaf-green leotard bodysuit was next to it. Two of the boys had taken particular creative interest in applying the glitter strategically on the crotch of the costume and were very pleased with their work.

Cade looked at the costume.

Then he looked at the boys.

Then he started clapping.

“Outstanding work,” he said. He pointed at the bodysuit. “And gentlemen? I see what you did there. That is very creative placement. Very thematic.”

The boys collapsed with laughter.

“The glitter—“ He looked at Blessing, who stopped mid-application of an entire fistful of glitter on the acorn hat. “Is that three coats?”

Blessing held up four fingers.

“Four.” Cade nodded seriously. “Good call.”

I gritted my teeth.

“So that’s the costume,” I said, from across the room.

He turned around. “Yes. I see that.”

“It also pairs with the acorn hat. A sparkly orange wand. And orange flat shoes.”

“Great.”

“They’re women’s size ten.”

“I’ll make it work.”

“Are you having second thoughts?” I asked. “Because it’s okay if you want to back out. You can back out. I’m used to you backing out.”

He looked at me. Then he came over to me, and stood right in front of me. “Maple.” He said in a lower register, soft enough that the kids couldn’t hear him. “I’m not here to back out of anything.” He said it simply, without drama. “I’m here because I made a stupid, cowardly mistake and I want to spend however long it takes making up for it.” He glanced at Nancy, who was making absolutely no effort to look like she wasn’t trying to listen. “I’m not going anywhere, Maple”

Nancy gave him a double thumbs up.

I gave Nancy a look that communicated my feelings about the double thumbs up.

Nancy remembered she had something urgent to do with the kids and immediately went to go do it.

Cade smiled. “So.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s see what we’re working with.”

He emerged from the changing room four minutes later.

The leotard was — there is no kind way to say this — extremely figure-hugging on a six-foot-two, broad-chested man. The orange tutu sat at approximately upper thigh level. The glitter was everywhere. His shoulders, his arms, and his crotch.

He walked out like he was walking into a board meeting.

The kids lost it completely.

“OKAY,” he said, over the noise, completely unbothered. “I need everyone to take a breath, because we have six weeks and I need to know the full sequence.” He looked at me. “Walk me through it.”

I stared at him for a moment.

Then I walked him through it.

“You’ll be on the platform behind the tree before the curtain opens,” I said. “When the music hits the second verse, Marcus activates the pulley and you’re lowered. The descent takes about fifteen seconds.”