Page 2 of Small Town Prince Charming

“No.” Erin lowered her gaze. “My friend Maisey and I switched. See...hers was too big, and so she took mine, and we switched.”

“Hmm.” She didn’t remember fitting anyone named Maisey. She scratched her chin. “Erin, honey, I need you to switch back so I can check Maisey’s fit, too.”

Erin inched closer to her and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Maisey can’t afford hers. I heard her dad say there wasn’t money, and she couldn’t dance.”

“Okay.” She frowned. “Is that why you’re wearing the wrong costume?” She wasn’t sure about the math, but Tracey hoped Erin would be honest.

Erin sighed and her shoulders stooped. “My mom already paid for mine, so I gave it to Maisey. Then I took the extra one, so she could have a costume, too,” she said. “My mom won’t know and will pay for mine again. Then Maisey and I can both dance.”

“Does Maisey know what you did? You should be honest with your mother.”

“Am I in trouble?” Erin’s eyes widened and her chin quivered. “I wanted to help her.”

“You’re not in trouble. You helped her, and that’s nice, but I want to get you both in the correctly sized costumes. Why don’t you and Maisey switch, so I can check the proper fit on hers, and I’ll make sure she can dance?” She winked and fluffed Erin’s tutu. “Thank you for telling me. We’ll get her a costume—costs don’t matter—and that way she can dance. Okay? You were brave to tell me.”

“I’m not in trouble?”

“Nope.”

“Phew.” Erin relaxed and tugged at her costume. “This doesn’t fit right.”

“I know. Switch back so I can make sure the one you’re supposed to have does fit, and I’ll talk to Maisey.” She waited for the girls to don the correct costumes.

“Thank you.” Erin bounced away to the changing room.

Another little girl followed her into the room. Her costume appeared too big, and Tracey assumed she must be Maisey.

Donnah glided over to Tracey. “I guess you found out about Maisey and Erin.”

“I did. I’m waiting for them to switch costumes. Erin’s should fit just fine, but Maisey’s might need some help.” She moved her bag aside. “You knew they’d switched?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain when we’re done, but yes.” Donnah shook her head. “It’s complicated.” She snapped her fingers. “Maisey?”

The little girl who’d followed Erin into the changing room, a short thin blond with big brown eyes, crept up to Tracey. Her costume was still too big on her tiny frame. She brushed her hair from her eyes as she fidgeted with her tutu.

“Maisey?” She didn’t remember fitting this girl. “Hi, honey. Let’s get your costume sorted out. It’s too big.”

“Dad doesn’t know I’m in the troupe.” Maisey’s eyes widened. “He told me to do my homework while he helped Mr. Derek.”

“Well, then let’s get you fitted so you can dance. Won’t take long.” She worked on the straps, then gathered the elastic on the tutu to snug it up to Maisey’s body. “Do you like to dance?”

Maisey tucked into herself. “Don’t tell Daddy. He doesn’t want me to.”

“Why?” She added a safety pin to mark the tuck, then turned Maisey around.

“He said I should focus on school.”

“How old are you?” She couldn’t be more than seven.

“I’ll be seven in a month. I’m in Mrs. McKimson’s second grade.” Maisey smiled. “I have all As.”

“I bet you do.” She winked at her and adjusted the straps, then marked them with her chalk. “Does Miss Donnah know you want to dance?”

“She said I can if I stay out of the way. I have rhythm.” Maisey twirled for her. “See?”

“I do.” What a sweet little girl. She needed to talk to Donnah as well as Maisey’s father. Something could be worked out. If the girl wanted to dance and she could help her, then Tracey wanted to assist. “Do you have warm-ups?”

“No. Just my school clothes.” Maisey averted her gaze. “Dad told me not to get them dirty.”

---