careful

ten

There comes a day toward the end of the school year where Sadie's dance recital is considered some sort of final grade. Gina tells Nina that she and EJ will, once again, be out of town on this day. To make up for it, she gives Nina instructions to take her out to dinner and then, "buy her a new whatever." Worst yet, Ricky is to accompany them to make sure Sadie has someone from her family to support her. Apparently, Ella doesn't count.

"I can't believe you wouldn't let me drive myself," Nina mutters at Ricky in the audience before the show starts. "And I can't believe you put me in the middle."

Ella looks up at her with a little giggle. Nina squints back at her and mouths, "you're dead."

"It's easier. We've got the girls and going out to dinner will be faster and more efficient," he explains. She mimics him. "Very mature."

And all seems to be smooth sailing until the lights go up for intermission. Ella stands up and puts her hand on Nina's knees, her face contorted in confusion. "We didn't get to see Sadie, why is everyone leaving?"

Nina rubs her hair. "This is an intermission. It's just a tiny break and then we'll go right back to watching the performances. Now's the time to go to the bathroom. Do you need to?" The little girl shakes her head and rocks back and forth on the heels of her little dress shoes. "Okay, but if you have to go after this, I'm gonna make you hold it."

"I'm bored here, Nina," she says quietly. "Can we leave after we watch Sadie?"

"I'm game," Ricky agrees. Nina rolls her eyes and gives him a look. "What? Some of these solos so far have really sucked."

"No," she says. "We're not leaving."

When the lights dim once more for the show, Ella climbs onto Nina's lap to watch the show. She's satisfied with the knowledge that Sadie is just a couple of performances away.

And when it's Sadie's turn on the stage, all three pairs of eyes were glued. Nina had seen the dance dozens of times in her little practice room. She'd done Sadie's hair and makeup for the show. And yet, she was still in awe. The lighting, the costume, it was all new to her.

Ricky finds himself distracted by a couple of sniffles. He turns his head toward Nina to find her in tears, her chin resting atop Ella's little head. Tears roll down, her eyes locked on Sadie. He pulls the handkerchief out of his sport coat and hands it to her.

"Thank you," she mumbles quietly. She dabs it at the corners of her eyes, mindful of both her makeup and the cloth itself.

During the transition from Sadie to the next dancer, Ella twists around and looks up at Nina, her eyebrows raised.

"We're not leaving," Nina tells her. "There are three more dances, calm down."

After the show, the trio waits for Sadie very patiently. There's a swarm of people everywhere and it seems they have some time while Sadie changes into her regular clothes and gathers her things backstage. They join other families waiting for their children.

"Nina, did you cry because my mom and dad didn't come? 'Cause Sadie did that last night," Ella says very certainly.

Nina turns her attention from the door she's waiting for the other young girl to appear from. "Sadie cried last night? Are you sure?"

And Ella nods, so Nina glances helplessly at Ricky. "Not to worry," he assures. "Two dozen roses are waiting for her at our dinner reservation."

She smiles up at him and then turns her attention to Sadie rushing out with her dance bag. She takes it from her and hugs her, kissing her forehead. "You were absolutely stunning, baby. So beautiful."

"Kid, I can't lie," Ricky starts, "I think those other kids should start paying you for lessons!"

Other adults in the area glance at them, annoyance cast upon their faces. Nina laughs and pushes Ricky toward the exit. "Let's go, it seems there are some sore losers here."

And the four laugh too hard as they exit, very oblivious to the families around them. The truth is that Nina doesn't care much about what anyone else thinks if it gets Sadie to smile a little bit. She spends the rest of the night arguing with Sadie about why she doesn't need a cell phone.