Page 44 of What Maple Heard

“MAPLE.” Blessing’s voice came from the hallway, approximately the volume of a small foghorn.

“We did the whole run-through and we did not make ONE mistake! Not even Devon! Come watch! Please come watch!”

“Sure sweetheart,” I got up and followed her voice to the dance studio.

They were extraordinary.

That was the word for the rehearsal I saw. Even more so now, watching the full run-through with all the pieces together — the music, the choreography, Marcus’s tree, the kids in their positions, and Cade being lowered through the stage ceiling contraption they’d rigged up in the studio to practice, in the tutu, holding the wand, singing his three lines in a voice that should genuinely not exist.

The kids who had refused to participate for the first two weeks were dancing, and they were dancing well.

They were one unit, with one goal in mind. And in the middle of all of them, descending slowly from the ceiling on his small platform, was Cade Sonnenberg, the richest and most respected man in Chestnut Ridge, in an orange tutu with an acorn hat, singing about autumn leaves.

Completely unbothered.

In many ways, the kids had really found a fairy godmother.

His name was Cade and he wore a size ten women’s ballet flat.

After the rehearsal, I gathered Cade and all the kids and smiled. Maybe it was time to reach back out, and give this one more try.

“Okay,” I said. “Since you were all absolutely incredible today, and since you worked harder than I have ever seen any group work — what would you say if I took you all out for ice cream? I’ve spoken to Shineforth House to arrange for a pick-up for you all at the ice cream parlor.”

The studio became briefly uninhabitable. Eleven children screaming at the same time.

“ICE CREAM—“

“CAN I GET TWO SCOOPS—“

“I WANT THE ONE WITH THE CONE—“

“Are we going RIGHT NOW—“

“Marcus,” Blessing said, grabbing his arm. “Marcus. ICE. CREAM.”

When the noise had leveled to something manageable, Marcus turned to Cade.

“You’re coming too, right?”

Cade looked at me, hesitant, not sure if he was included in the invitation or not. “I’ll let you know in a bit, buddy.” he said.

Marcus agreed and went back to join the other kids.

“The invite was open to you too,” I said.

“Thanks, Maple.” he said, stepping closer to me, “I just didn’t want to assume you wanted me to come.”

“I know you didn’t.” I picked up my bag. “But I want to show my appreciation for all the hard work you have been putting in with the kids here. They would drag you there if they could anyway. I thought we could all have a small reward tonight for all our hard work.”

“I would love to come. Thank you, Maple.” He paused. “But I know I still have a lot to prove to you. I’m not taking this invitation as a gesture of complete forgiveness, or an all-clear for me. I know I still have a long way to go to undo the wrong I did. But I have to say—“ He grinned. “I have never in my life been this excited about ice cream.”

It was decided that the kids would divide themselves among mine, Nancy’s and Cade’s car. Nancy took off with three kids, and I seated four in mine.The remaining four stood next to Cade’s Mercedes Maybach SUV, while he moved his work files into the trunk.

“We are the LUCKY ones,” Devon announced. The entire group seemed to agree.

Cade opened the door to the third row, and we were both helping the kids buckle up from either ends of the row. As Blessing went in to sit in the middle seat, she saw some books occupying the seat. She held them out in front of me.

“Can you please move these away?”