It didn’t surprise Matthew much when Laura sent him a message that Kelly was going to drive her to the theater for opening night. He’d already known that Kelly was going to attend the first performance and it made sense for them to go together.

He’d sent her messages the night before as well, checking on her. She’d responded but she’d been a little reserved. He didn’t blame her. According to Juliet, when she’d gotten up to go check on him, Laura had gone with her and heard most of what they’d said outside the theater.

And when he’d worried about her reaction, Juliet had given the side of her bed a pat and he’d sat down beside her on the edge.

When he’d told Andrea that Juliet reminded him of Aimee in so many ways, he’d meant it all, but none more than last night as his daughter, dressed in her Wonder Woman night shirt and fuzzy cat-socks talked to him about women. “Don’t you worry, dad. Laura wasn’t upset at you. She was worried for you. There’s a difference, you know? She wanted to make sure that you were okay, just like me. And she heard how upset Aunty was. She said she understood that no one likes to be alone. And that,” she’d assured him, “isn’t just a woman thing, dad. I think that’s true for all people. Still, when Laura left early, I think it was just because she really wanted us to have some family time, you know?”

He’d nodded at his daughter.

And she’d gone on, satisfied that she’d made her point. “I know I'm still what you consider a little girl, dad, but I’ve seen some things.”

“Some things?”

“Yep. And I’m not going to tell you what I think you should do about those things, but I think, if you haven’t already,” she’d given him a pointed look and wormed her way down under the covers, bumping him up and off the bed, “you’d better think about what’s going to happen after this show is over.”

“I’d better think about it?”

She’d yawned and stretched before pulling her covers up under her chin with a big grin. “That’s right, dad. There’s only a few more days that we’ll have the excuse to see Laura because of the show. After that... you’d better think of another excuse... really quick.”

Here he was, dressed early and waiting for Laura to arrive. He’d done a lot of thinking the night before and although he’d come to many of the same conclusions that he’d come to before when he’d been thinking about Laura, they were a little more concrete now.

The stakes that much higher.

The Stage Door opened and he turned toward it.

Laura stepped inside with Kelly just a half a step behind her. Kelly looked back and forth between them and then gave Laura a kiss on the cheek. “I think I’ll go and get some coffee from the vendor outside the theater.”

“Okay,” Laura gave Kelly a return kiss, murmuring something to her friend that had Kelly laughing as she gave Laura a hug before exiting out the same door. “Hey there.”

Matthew felt a weight lift off of his heart as she smiled at him. “Hi.”

She looked him over from head to toe and her smile brightened. “You look really good. Confident too.”

“Confident?” He wasn’t sure he could identify with that because he was pretty sure that his knees were shaking and an entire air force of butterflies were dive-bombing in his stomach. “I know I'm prepared for the show thanks to you and Juliet for all the help.”

She grinned and touched his arm. “I can’t have any of my students go out on stage without being prepared.”

“You’re too good of a teacher for that.”

Her cheeks flooded pink with color. “That’s really sweet of you to say.”

“All true,” he assured her. He let the moment settle between them before he let out a pent-up breath. “I wanted to thank you for giving us the time to spend with Andrea last night. I know that must have been confusing for you.”

She nodded, but her smile hardly dimmed at all. “When you’ve been alone and lonely, you recognize the signs in others. Juliet’s aunt was hurt, but she wasn’t trying to be mean. And I know you would have had me go along, but I didn’t want to add to the complexity of the moment. I doubt Andrea would have enjoyed having me, an outsider, see more of her pain.”

“But you’re not, you know,” he began, “an outsider.”

Laura paused for a moment and he wondered if she was letting the words sink in or if she was building a wall against them.

“And that’s what I wanted to talk to you about before the show starts. That’s why I got here early. Things are always so unsettled and worrying about getting dressed on time would make it difficult to talk.”

“You’re right.” She grinned at him. “Juliet was right. You’ve gotten to be the best kind of dance dad.” She gestured toward the stairway. “I’m going to go change and when I’m done, where do you want me to meet you?”

He gave it a little thought and then gestured toward the stage door. “How about the far wing? By then the crew will have set everything up and we could have some quiet time before everyone comes upstairs for circle.”

“Perfect,” she agreed. “I’ll meet you there when I’m ready.”

He watched her as she crossed to the stairway and just before she took the first step down, she turned her head toward him and gave him a smile.

Matthew blew out a breath as she started down the stairs. He just had to hope that Laura felt the same way he did, or at the very least didn’t think he was crazy for what he was about to say to her.

Turning on his heel, he started toward the stage door only to nearly be knocked off of his feet by the end of a step ladder.

It was a heartbeat later that he heard the ‘warning.’ “Heads up! Coming through!”

Stepping out of the way he saw the rest of the ladder cross past him headed for the set shop. He recognized Adrienne’s bright red hair on the far side of the ladder.

“Are you trying to break down a door or something?”

The ladder paused for a moment. “Nope, but if I did, I’m glad we have a top-notch lawyer in the cast.”

He laughed at her as the ladder continued on its way. “Well, I’m not your lawyer... yet.”

The laughter he heard wasn’t just from Adrienne. There was another laugh, a little softer, and higher.

“Wait just a moment.”

The ladder stopped and turned about thirty degrees to the side. “You know, Matthew, this is kind of heavy.”

He sighed. “Then maybe you should get Juliet to help you carry it?”

His daughter’s head popped up from behind the ladder. “Hey! How did you know it was me?”

He rolled his eyes and made her laugh even more. “That tell-tale giggle of yours. After all of these years are you even asking me that?”

Adrienne set down the ladder at her feet and stood up, brushing a few errant strands of her hair from her face. “Okay, so you caught us, but neither of us have red hands.” She held her hands up so he could see her palms and Juliet did the same although she looked a little confused. Chances are, she didn’t know the phrase. “And we’re not going to tell you what we were up to.”

“Oh?” Matthew looked at his daughter. “I’m pretty sure I can get Juliet to spill the beans.”

To his surprise, she folded her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “Nope. You can torture me, but I’ll never tell!”

Adrienne leaned over to the side. “That’s a little much, don’t you think?”

Mathew copied his daughter. “I don’t have to torture you,” he began, “why would I? All I have to do is change the wifi password at home.”

Juliet’s mouth gaped open in shock and Adrienne tried to smother her laugh. “That’s devious, but my partner in crime won’t give us away.”

Juliet looked up at Adrienne with a worried pout. “I won’t?”

Adrienne put an arm around Juliet and pulled her closer to her side. “How about this, lawman?” She aimed a look at Matthew. “When you figure out what it is that we’ve done... if you want to punish us, go ahead. We’re big girls, we can take it.”

“Okay.” Now he was really curious. “But, why do I get the feeling I might just like what you’ve done?”

Juliet looked up at Adrienne and grinned before she turned back to her dad. “That’s because you’re really smart, dad. So, um... we’re going to go now. See you later!”

As Matthew waited for Laura to arrive, he felt like he was back in high school waiting to ask a girl out for the first time. In a way it was true.

He’d spent years with Aimee and now, he was back to taking that first step, although they’d already spent a lot of time together.

Matthew heard some footsteps behind him and turned. Laura was just stepping out of the shadows and into the pale glow cast by the worklight on stage.

He smiled and reached up to brush his fingers through his hair and stopped, laughing.

“That’s a good idea,” Laura laughed along with him. “Felix would have a fit if you ruined his work.”

“That’s very true.” Lowering his hand back to his side, he gestured at her. “You look really beautiful tonight.”

Her laughter slowed to a quiet smile as she moved closer. “And you always look so handsome. I’m really looking forward to dancing with you tonight.”

Swallowing against the sudden knot in his throat, Matthew took a step closer to her as well. “And I’m hoping it won’t stop there.”

Laura’s step faltered. “What?”

“You agreed to perform with us for the Nutcracker,” he explained, “but I want to see if you might want to continue. I mean, not performing with us, because the show will be over soon, but I’m asking about being with us. Juliet. Myself. You know. After the show. In the future and-” He turned and reached up his hand, mussing his hair. “So much for being a lawyer and knowing how to talk, right?”

She moved closer, the momentum putting a little sway in her hoopskirt. “I hope that when you’re with me,” she looked up at him, “that you’re not a lawyer.”

He nodded, keeping quiet.

“And if you’re asking me if I want to continue to spend time with you. And with Juliet. The answer is easy. Of course. I would love to.” Reaching a hand over to her opposite wrist, Laura opened a brocade draw-string purse and tugged at the fabric to widen the opening. “It’s all seemed kind of like a fairytale to me, Matthew.” She dipped her fingers into the purse and pulled something out of it. Moving closer she laid the item on her other palm and he could see it was a pair of pointe shoes in a soft peachy pink color. They looked like they’d fit a tiny elfin dancer with its long delicate satin ribbons holding them together.

“I received this in the mail the day you and Juliet stopped by the studio. The note inside of the box said to TAKE THE CHANCE AND DANCE. I want you to know that even without the note or the ornament, I would have accepted. It will always be an honor to help her with anything she needs.”

Taking one last step forward, as close as she could get with the width of her hoop skirt softly bumping against his legs, she took his hand and put the ornament on his palm. “You know I don’t have a tree at my apartment, but I was hoping that you might put this on your tree.”

He smiled at her, his heart pounding joyfully in his chest. “On our tree,” he corrected, “It’s as much yours as it is ours.”

She agreed. “Our tree.”

“Good,” he let out a sigh. “I’m falling for you, Laura. I know what I feel like when you’re near. And I can’t help but think of you when we’re not together. Juliet already loves you and she’s told me in her own perfect authority that I’m just a little on the slow side, but she knows I’ll catch up and figure things out.”

Laura beamed up at him. “It’s nice to have someone so smart to keep you in line.”

“I have a feeling you’ll both be keeping me in line for years to come.”

They stood there, eyes searching, hearts beating deeply in their chests, hands warming the others as they realized that this wasn’t just the opening night for the ballet.

It was the opening night for another reason all together.

“So tonight...” he began.

“Tonight?” She wondered back.

“Tonight, after the show, can we take you and Kelly out for dinner?”

Laura shook her head. “Kelly’s taking one of the other teachers home in her car. She brought me here tonight thinking I might catch a ride home from you and Juliet.”

“Another very, very smart woman I have in my life.”

Laura’s shoulder shook in silent laughter and again he was dazzled by how beautiful she looked in her costume.

“Laura, I-”

“Psst!”

They both froze and Laura’s forehead furrowed with confusion.

“Psst!!”

Together, they turned toward the stage.

Adrienne and Juliet were standing near center stage with the single-bulb worklight beside them.

Juliet pointed up above their heads and grinned. “Surprise!”

Together, they turned their heads up and looked into the dark of the wings above their head.

Suspended about a foot and a half from the top of his head was a ball of mistletoe attached to a rope with a wide red ribbon.

Matthew knew he’d owe both Adrienne and Juliet a big hug later, but right at that moment, there was only one thing he wanted.

One thing he needed.

Holding Laura’s ornament carefully in his hand, he gathered her hands to his and leaned in. She met his lips halfway, a soft brush of movement that stole his breath.

When they finally leaned back and looked into each other’s eyes they were both smiling from ear to ear.

“I’m hoping,” he began.

“Hoping what?” she answered back.

“That you’ll keep taking chances with me, Laura. With us.”

“I’m ready,” she told him, her eyes shining with joy, “for whatever comes for us in the future.”

Before he could kiss her a second time, they were both nearly knocked off of their feet. Juliet had her arms around both of them and was trying to pull them into a group hug, but Laura’s hoopskirt was making it a near impossibility.

Together, they leaned into Juliet and hugged her close, their eyes meeting over her head as they took each other’s hand, completing their circle.