[Second Chances 02]California Dreams (13 page)

Monday morning rolled around and Daniella was full of energy and ready for another day of preschool. Jane hadn’t come till after 2 a.m., so Grace left her sleeping as she and Daniella made their way out the front door.

“Why’s Aunt Jane so tired?” Daniella asked.

“She had a big day yesterday. I’m sure when we get home she’ll tell us all about it.”

“Goody!”

Grace pulled up to the school and Daniella hurried to unbuckle herself, a skill she had only recently acquired and one that Grace still wasn’t sure she liked. “Have a good day, honey,” she said, giving Daniella a hug and kiss before sending her up to where Mr. Simpson was waiting for his students.

With a little wave, she headed over to the arts center and the final preparations for the first class this afternoon.

The Children’s Choir was a big commitment and met three times a week for the first month of each semester. They practiced from 4:00 until 5:30 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and then they dropped the Wednesday practice unless it was a performance week.

Tonight was the most important class of the semester and Grace wanted everything to go perfectly. She and Katelin made sure the choir uniforms were all arranged according to size, and laid folders out, neatly spaced, along the risers. Derek had been successful in obtaining the extra risers needed to increase the size of the choir, and they would now be a group of three hundred and twenty nine, instead of three hundred.

Jane and Samuel had offered to pick Daniella up from preschool today and feed her dinner. Grace was grateful for the extra help, and the ability to focus solely on what was to take place shortly.

Right after lunch, she called Jane to make sure everything was a go and received the news that the two Chefs from
The Inferno
had loved her cooking skills and wanted to meet with her again at 9 o’clock in the morning as they had a special proposition for her to consider.

Jane was brimming with enthusiasm and couldn’t wait to see Samuel and tell him the good news. Samuel had taken the day shift at the hospital, watching over Hector, so that he could help Jane take care of Daniella later in the day.

Grace hung up the phone amazed at how everything was working out for Jane and Samuel. Glancing at the clock, she saw that is was already 3:30 and parents would be arriving with their children anytime.

“Katelin?” she called into the other office.

“Yes?” came back the reply.

“It’s about that time. Are you ready?”

“Not quite. Give me a few minutes. I just have to finish my hair.”

Grace took another look at her own reflection and smiled. She and Katelin had decided several years ago that kids who looked good, performed and behaved better. For their part, they would dress in their performance outfits each and every practice – black tuxedo trousers with suspenders over a crisp white button down shirt, colorful bow tie and cummerbund, and black short-waisted tuxedo jacket.

Girls and boys alike dressed in the same outfit, enabling a variety of movement for the girls without worrying about skirts riding up, or tights being ripped.

Grabbing her top hat and walking stick, she exited the room to see Katelin dressed identical to her. “Ready?”

“Yes. I love this part,” Katelin said enthusiastically.

As part of the welcome to Children’s Choir, Grace and Katelin performed a number together. This not only proved to the kids that they could actually sing and dance, but gained respect from the parents and broke the ice. Tonight’s number was from Broadway musical
Gypsy
and included a short soft tap routine.

Dance wasn’t Grace’s forte, but it was Katelin’s. Smiling, they entered the back of the theatre to see hundreds of kids and parents milling around, wondering what they were supposed to do. Without acknowledging anyone, they walked up and onto the stage, nodding at Jerry the sound man when they were in position.

As the music of
Let Me Entertain You
filled the theatre, parents and kids alike found a seat and watched entranced as Grace and Katelin filled the theatre with song and dance. The applause at the end of their performance was deafening.

Grace waited for it to die down before she introduced herself and her assistant. Several other staff members were present to help collect parental consent forms and other paperwork. The kids were separated into five groups, based upon age. They were then taken back stage where they were assigned an outfit, and then asked to join the directors on stage.

The younger students were led to their correct spots, the older and returning students smiled and calmly took their places. All of this took place within the first forty-five minutes of the practice, and at 4:45, every child was in their place on the risers and had been assigned an outfit.

Grace left Katelin in charge of teaching their beginning warmups while she descended the stage to speak with the parents and visitors.

She walked about halfway up the theatre, before turning and asking the parents to direct their attention to her instead of their children.

“Good afternoon, and thank you so much for being willing to invest your time and resources into your children. I know I speak for Katelin as well when I tell you it is a privilege for us to work with your amazing kids.”

She scanned the crowd, stopping when she spotted David and Deirdre Simpson smiling back at her. As she moved her gaze to the right, she gasped as she saw a blonde Adonis sitting next to Deirdre and smiling at her as well.
Who is he?

Grace swallowed, catching her breath and forcing her gaze to move on. She completed her parental information speech about caring for the outfit, making sure their children were dressed appropriately when they came to practice, being on time and other important facts that she would have to repeat many times before the semester was over.

The entire time, the blonde man kept staring at her. His piercing blue gaze was locked on her, following her every movement and disconcerting her. When Deirdre leaned over and said something to him, he laughed, but still never took his eyes off her.

When she had finished her speech, Katelin signaled that they were ready to begin and Grace joined her back on the stage, feeling the blue gaze pierce her back.
He’s still staring at me!
Why that thought made her shiver in reaction, she didn’t know. She didn’t ever react to men this way, but something about him touched a place deeply buried inside her.

Shaking it off, she got to work, focusing on the kids in front of her. She and Katelin went through the motions of teaching them to make sound with their hands and mouths and several other staff members joined them on stage when they were ready to demonstrate what they had just learned.

They had divided the kids into four groups. The first group was given the task of lightly rubbing the palms of their hands together.

The next group was to pat their fingertips, and just their fingertips, on their thigh.

The third group was given the task of making the sound of wind with their lips slightly pursed. No whistles, just air moving in and out.

The fourth group was told that they were going to pat their whole hands on their thighs, making as much noise as possible when it was their turn.

Grace signaled for all noise to stop and then they began. The third group began lightly moving air and it sounded like a wind was blowing through the theater. Next came group two, and the sound of little raindrops was heard.

Next groups one and four began as the mighty storm sounded in the theatre, amazing the spectators and the kids alike. After several minutes, Grace signaled first group four, and then group one to cease making noise.

The storm started to abate. She signaled group three to stop making the wind blow and then slowly directed the speed of groups two until only a few raindrops could be heard.

When she gave the signal for silence, everyone held their breath for almost an entire minute before the theatre erupted with the joyous sounds of clapping and cheering for their kids. Grace thanked them one and all for coming and told them she looked forward to seeing them again Wednesday.

“Another job well-done,” Derek told her, having snuck into the back of the theatre during the rainstorm demonstration. “That demo never ceases to amaze me.”

“I have to say,” David Simpson said as he approached with his wife and the blonde man in tow, “that was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Bravo!”

Grace blushed but accepted the praise, “Thank you. I am so glad you and your wife could make it this afternoon.”

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I can see we will be returning often. You’re wonderful with the kids.”

“Thanks, but I don’t do it alone. This is Katelin Rogers, my assistant and right-hand girl everything.”

Katelin nodded her head and then excused herself to go answer questions.

“Grace, I’d like to introduce you to our middle son, Michael. Michael, this is Grace Powers.”

“Ms. Powers, what you just had those kids do up there was nothing short of amazing.”

Grace let his deep voice sink over her senses, feeling slightly lightheaded as he took her hand in his and placed a kiss upon the back of it. Feeling completely out of her league, she murmured her thanks and tried to turn her attention back to his parents, but they were already engaged speaking with Derek.

Grace tried to pull her hand away, but when he didn’t let go, she was forced to look up and meet his gaze. She had to tip her head back quite a ways. He was easily 6’5”, and given that she barely reached 5’4”, it bordered on being uncomfortable to look him in the face.

“Could I have my hand back please?” She tugged once more, resigned to play this out when he didn’t let go.

“On one condition.”

Raising an eyebrow at his audacity, she inquired, “And what would that be?”

“Have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

Grace shook her head, “No. I’m busy tomorrow night.”

“Lunch then and I won’t take ‘No’ for an answer. Please?” He smiled at her and she felt her stomach do a little flip.

What on earth is wrong with me?
Tamping down on the feelings his hand was creating, she shook her head, “Why should I go to lunch with you? I don’t even know you.”

Michael smiled, “But you know my parents. They raised me. Therefore, you know more than you think you do. Besides, I read your bio in the parent handout. I’m sorry for the loss of your husband.”

Grace shook her head, “That was a long time ago. It seems like a lifetime ago, actually.”

“I asked about you. That man Derek over there. He said you don’t date and you’re not seeing anyone. Why? Are the men in San Diego blind?”

Well isn’t he pouring on the charm!
“I don’t actually see that many men because I don’t go out. At least not without my daughter.”

Michael smiled, “The picture of her with you is cute. I would love to meet her sometime.”

“It doesn’t bother you that I already have a child?” Grace asked, wondering if this guy was for real.

“Not in the least. I love children. Come have lunch with me tomorrow and we’ll get to know more about each other. I’m going to be here all week and possibly next week.”

“On vacation?” Grace asked, trying to remember if he was the doctor or the archaeologist.

“A sabbatical of sorts. I find I’m not very happy working where I am at the moment. I’m thinking of making some changes in my life.”

Grace looked at him and realized he was being very honest and open with her, yet it didn’t seem out of place. She barely knew this man, yet she felt a connection to him unlike anything she’d ever felt before.

“Fine. I would love to have lunch with you. Will your parents be joining us?” Grace asked, pulling her hand away at last.

“Do you need them to?” Michael asked, intrigued by the nervousness that seemed to have stolen her confidence at the thought of having lunch alone with him.

“No, of course not. I just thought that they might miss your company, seeing as you are only visiting.”

“That’s not exactly what I said, but no matter. I would like to take you to lunch. Just the two of us. Does that meet with your approval?”

Grace nodded, “Okay.”

Michael smiled at her again, and she felt her breath stall. “How about I pick you up around 11:30, that way we can beat the lunch crowds?”

“Sure. I’ll meet you out front of the building here.”

“Excellent.” Michael reached for her hand again, leaning down to place another kiss upon it, this time on her palm instead of the back of her hand. Drawing his lips away, he closed her fingers over her palm and smiled at her, “Until tomorrow.”

He released her and joined his parents, his mother having watched the entire exchange and secretly giving herself a pat upon the back. Operation Get Michael Married was well underway and neither he nor Grace Powers had any inkling that they had been set up.

*****

Samuel cringed as Daniella came at him with the plastic earrings, hoping that he didn’t embarrass himself by screaming or running from the room.

“Are those really necessary, sugar?” he asked her for the fifth time.

“All princesses need bling,” Daniella informed him.

He looked at the bedroom door, hoping to see Jane standing there ready to rescue him, but she was still in the kitchen fixing dinner. Deciding to save himself, he dropped his voice a little and tried to correct Daniella’s thinking, “Now, Daniella, see that’s where you’ve got it all wrong. Sweetie, I’m just not princess material. Now a prince, maybe. But no self-respecting prince would be seen wearing earrings or a tiara. It just doesn’t happen.”

Samuel sat back and watched as she tried to process what he was telling her and then groaned when she pointed at him and said, “You’re wrong. Princes do wear earrings and tiaras. Well, I thinks they call them crowns, but I don’t gots none of those so you’s got to pretend.”

“Daniella, I don’t know any princes that wear earrings, sorry,” Samuel shrugged his shoulders.

Daniella walked to her bookshelf and pulled out a sticker book of Disney characters which she brought back and showed him. There, on the pages of her book, she had added earrings to go with Aladdin’s jeweled turban. “See, Aladdin’s wearing earrings.”

“Yes, but you put them on him,” Samuel tried to reason with her.

Daniella started to pout and Samuel gave a huge sigh, “Fine. I’ll wear the earrings.”

Daniella clapped her hands and then turned when she heard Jane laughing in the doorway.

Samuel looked up at her and smirked, “Not a word. Please tell me dinner is ready?”

Jane nodded her head, “Yes, dinner is ready. Daniella, we need to put your dress-up stuff away and get ready for dinner. Mommy should be home any minute.”

“Yeah. Mr. Samuel, I’m sorry, but we’s got to put the jewry away now. Mommy’s coming home.”

“Wow, that’s too bad,” Samuel tried to look sorry, but failed miserably if Jane’s laughing was any indication. Looking at her, he gave her his sternest look, “Just you wait. Next time we watch her, I’m cooking dinner and you can play dress up with her.”

Jane laughed, helping him get up off the floor, “The difference between me and you is that I don’t mind. I think it’s cute the way she wants everyone to be a princess. In her eyes, being a princess makes life worth living.”