at all to get the barre assembled. He inserted the longest pole last and stepped back, giving it a testing tug before considering it done. When he looked at Jasmine, she was studying him with her dark, inscrutable eyes.
“I’m impressed,” she said.
Looking back at the barre, he said, “It’s nothing. I like building things.”
One of her finely arched eyebrows lifted. “I didn’t mean the barre, though I am impressed you put it together so quickly without instructions. I meant your plans for the future.”
“Oh.”
She set down the black gym bag she’d been toting on her shoulder. “But enough grown-up talk. Dance isn’t about talking, right Katie?”
Katie nodded.
Will’s lips parted.
“Are we okay to use these?” Jasmine asked, walking over to a high stack of wood chairs currently waiting to be taken to a charity for donation.
It took Will a couple seconds to shake himself out of his a-ha moment. “Sure,” he said when she glanced over at him.
He moved over to help her pull a couple chairs from the stack that was almost as tall as she was. After he set them on the ground, she scooted them forward a couple of feet so they weren’t too close to the stack. Then she carried her bag over to them and set it on the ground.
“These chairs are for me and Katie to use to gear up and take breaks,” she said. “I’m not sure if you want to sit and watch the lesson, but you might want a chair if you do.”
“I’ll admit I’m curious,” he said, pulling down another chair. “I want to do a walk-through of the space while you’re getting ready, if you’re okay with that. I haven’t been in here since we bought the place.”
“Fine with me.” She sat in one of the chairs and unzipped her bag.
Katie looked from her to Will. He caught the uncertainty in her eyes telling him she didn’t want him to leave the room. He also saw Jasmine watching her and arriving at the same conclusion.
“Katie,” she said, “do you want to go with your dad or come and try these on?”
She held up what looked like two balls of pink leather bound with crisscrossed elastic straps. Katie’s eyes widened. Without another glance in Will’s direction, she hurried over and took the seat beside Jasmine.
He wasn’t sure whether to feel slighted or ecstatic. When he saw Katie’s smile again, he had his answer.
“Well, I’ll just…” He aimed a thumb toward a doorway in the back of the room and took a few steps in that direction.
Jasmine followed the gesture with a look over her shoulder and nodded before returning her focus to Katie. “These were my first ballet shoes,” she explained as Katie tugged off her sneakers and socks. “I was about your age when I took my first lesson. Like you, I fell in love with it right away. My mom kept these as a memento, and now I keep them to remind me of that feeling I had as a child.”
Will stopped in his progress toward the door. He wasn’t sure what to think that Jasmine was allowing Katie to wear what was essentially one of her treasured childhood keepsakes. The generous gesture made him reassess his initial impression of her.
“If you decide you still like ballet after this lesson, we’ll need to talk to your dad about getting you some tights and leotards. And a pair of your own ballet slippers, of course.”
She exchanged smiles with Katie. He felt an unexpected pang in his chest as he stared at their profiles.
What the hell?
“I’d like to help you with the first shoe,” she told Katie. “The elastic can be a little tricky.”
Katie nodded and stuck out her bare foot. Jasmine held the elastic bands apart and maneuvered the slipper into place.
“There. It’s meant to be snug. You don’t want loose material making you trip or slip.”
Katie lifted her jean-clad leg and wiggled her foot. Her head bobbed in apparent agreement.
“Here’s the other one,” Jasmine said, handing it to her. “Let me know if you need help.”
They both bent to put on their shoes. He noted Jasmine’s were close in style to Katie’s but without the elastic straps. He’d expected the fancy pink ballet shoes with laces up the calves.
“Very good,” Jasmine said. “As I mentioned, ballerinas typically wear leotards and tights. I didn’t expect you to have those, so we’ll make do for today. Are you wearing a T-shirt under that sweater?”
Katie nodded and started removing the sweater. Jasmine