And now the front window was finished.

Kimball School Of Dance

She stood out on the sidewalk, her palms together and pressed to her lips, reading it over and over again.

Dreams, she thought, came true. All you had to do was believe hard enough, and work long enough.

“Oh, miss?”

“Hmm?” Lost in her own joy, she turned, then blinked at the woman crossing the street. The woman, Kate remembered with a sinking stomach, who’d seen Brody cart her outside over his shoulder. “Oh. Yes. Hello.”

“Hello. We didn’t really meet before.” The woman looked as uneasy as Kate and fiddled with the strap of her shoulder bag. “I’m Marjorie Rowan.”

“Kate Kimball.”

“Yes, I know. Actually, I sort of know your boyfriend, too. The landlord’s hired him a couple of times to see to things in my building.”

“Ah,” Kate said. “Hmm.”

“Anyway, I picked up one of your brochures the other day, from your mother’s store. My little girl, she’s eight, she’s just been nagging me half to death about taking ballet classes.”

Relief came first. It was not to be a conversation about creating public scenes on quiet streets. Then came the pleasure at the possibility of another student.

“I’d be happy to talk to you about it, and to her if you’d like. First classes start next week. Would you like to come in, see the school?”

“Truth is, we’ve peeked in the window a few times. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.”

“I’ve been telling Audrey—that’s my girl—that I’d think about it. I guess I have. I’d like her to be able to try it.”

“Why don’t you come inside, and tell me about Audrey.”

“Thanks. She’ll be home from school soon. This’ll be a nice surprise.” She started up the stairs, relaxing now. “You know I always wanted ballet lessons when I was a girl. We couldn’t swing it.”

“Why don’t you take them now?”

“Now?” Marjorie laughed and stepped inside. “Oh, I’m too old for ballet lessons.”

“They’re wonderful exercise. It increases flexibility. And they’re fun. No one’s too old for that. You look to be in very good shape.”

“I do what I can.” Marjorie looked around, smiling a little dreamily at the barres, the mirrors, the framed posters. “I guess it would be fun. But I couldn’t afford classes for both of us.”

“We’ll talk about that, too. Come on back to my office.”

An hour later, Kate rushed upstairs. She wanted to share with someone, and Brody was elected. She had two new students—her first mother and daughter team. And the accomplishment had given her yet one more angle for her school.

Family plans.

She started to dash across the little living room and stopped in her tracks. Slowly she turned a circle. It was done. She hadn’t been paying enough attention, she decided, and the progress had zipped right by her.

The floors and walls were finished. The woodwork glowed like silk.

Dazzled, she walked into her kitchen where everything gleamed. Cabinets waited only to be filled. The windowsill cried out for flowerpots.