“Okay. Well, why don’t you change out of your costume and into your school clothes for me, then I’ll get you some warm-ups?” Tracey asked. “I’ll have your costume ready for you tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” Maisey skipped to the changing room.

Tracey admired her spunk. The girl did have enthusiasm and rhythm. Tracey turned her attention to Donnah. “I’ve got them all and a few notes. Erin’s fits perfectly now and Maisey’s will be adjusted tonight. It’s nothing drastic.”

“Erin Simec and Maisey are friends, and Erin’s mother is one of the troupe’s biggest benefactors.” Donnah sighed. “She’s also pushy as all get out.”

“And Maisey?”

“She’s here because her father needed somewhere for her to go while he worked. You know her father—Ryan Greene.” Donnah shook her head. “He tries, but he’s got his hands full.”

“Oh?” She remembered Ryan Greene very well. She’d crushed on him all through high school. “Does he need help?” The last she knew he’d married Carol. Was Maisey their daughter?

“With this, yes.” Donnah lowered her voice to a whisper. “Maisey is Jessica’s little girl. She lost custody when she went to jail this last time, but everything hit the fan when she died without a will. Thank God the courts allowed Maisey to be placed with Ryan. He’s all she’s got left. It’s a mess and sad, but he tries so hard, and his two jobs aren’t enough.”

“What about Carol?”

“They split ten years ago. He works for Tom’s Renovation Services and here at the theatre. He’s the head of construction, but you’d think he’s not much more than a worker the way Derek shouts at him. Derek knows Ryan’s a good hard worker and dependable,” Donnah said. “Tom runs him ragged, but so does Derek. Then he’s raising Maisey because his sister was too busy sticking God knows what up her nose then overdosed.”

“Ryan?” She couldn’t wrap her mind around what she’d learned. Ryan wasn’t with Carol, but he’d gained custody of his sister’s daughter, and Jessica had died? It was too much to think about.

“Ryan tries to get Maisey into activities, but everything is so expensive. He can’t afford the gear or doesn’t have time to drive her to the practices. He’s here, so she hangs out with me at the dance studio. I’d love to have her fulltime in the troupe, but if I let everyone dance for free, I wouldn’t be able to pay my bills.”