Shadows of You (Lost & Found #4)(52)

“Mr. Grizz!”

I hauled her up and onto my hip. “How was your day?”

“Pretty good.”

A throat cleared, and an older teacher gave me a wary look. “Can I see your identification, please?”

“This is Mr. Grizz. He’s me and Mama’s bestie, and he’s taking me to dance today,” Cady informed her.

The woman’s mouth thinned as she waited for me.

I set Cady on the ground and pulled out my badge, handing it to her.

She took her sweet time examining it as if it might be a fake. Finally, she handed it back. “All right.”

“I’m picking up my nephew, as well. Charlie Hartley.”

Charlie bounded up. “You are?”

I clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re coming to ballet with Tiny Dancer and me.”

His face scrunched. “I don’t gotta wear a tutu, do I?”

“Only if you want to, bud,” I said.

The teacher huffed. “We got a call about that.” She acted as if she was annoyed she couldn’t have me arrested.

“Thanks for all your help,” I said with a mock smile, and she scurried off.

“She doesn’t check when Miss Maddie comes to get me,” Cady said thoughtfully.

I bet she didn’t. Because Maddie was all sunshine and rainbows. I was…not.

“Where’s your booster seat, Tiny Dancer?” I asked.

She pointed to a stone wall. I grabbed it and got it installed in my truck. Helping the kids up, I checked that they were securely fastened in their seats. “Ready to hit the road?”

Cady nibbled on her lip. “We don’t have to go to dance. Maybe we could get ice cream instead.”

Anger burned brightly in my gut. Those mean girls had made Cady not want to do her favorite thing. That stopped today.

“How about this? We go to dance and then get ice cream.”

She still looked unsure.

I squeezed her shoulder. “We can’t let the meanies win. Because if we do, they’ll just keep doing it. Not only to you but to other people, too.”

Cady nodded slowly. “I don’t want them to be mean to other kids.”

Such a pure heart.

I held up my hand. “Let’s do this.”

Cady slapped me a high-five. “Let’s do this.”

I shut the door and rounded my truck, grabbing a bag from the back. In a matter of seconds, we were heading for the dance studio on the edge of town. I pulled into an empty spot and helped Cady and Charlie out.

Cady grabbed her bag and ran toward the building. “I gotta change.”

“Hold up, Tiny Dancer. I got you something.” I handed her the shopping bag from the local sporting goods store.

She peeked inside and gasped. “For me?”

I nodded. “The woman at the store said they should be your size.”

Cady pulled out a sparkly pink leotard and gaped. “These are the fancy ones.”

My chest ached for her. Cady deserved the best, and if it was within my power, I’d make sure she had it. “I thought you’d like the sparkles.”

She beamed and threw herself at me. “You’re my favoritest ever!”

I chuckled, patting her back. “You’d better hurry and change.”

Cady released me and ran into the locker room.

Charlie watched her go and then looked up at me. “Sparkles are her favorite.”

“I’ve figured that one out.”

He was quiet for a moment and then looked at the studio. “Heather and her friends are being mean to Cady again, aren’t they?”

I nodded. “Do they do stuff at school, too?”

“Sometimes. But not when I’m around.”

I let out a huff. Of course, not. One of them probably had a crush on my nephew and knew he would have Cady’s back.

“I need you to do me a favor,” I said.

Charlie nodded.

“I want you to stick close to Cady for a while. I’m gonna try to make sure those girls don’t mess with her anymore.”

“You got it, Uncle Roan. We’re together like all the time because she’s my bestest friend.”

I chuckled. “Glad to hear it.”

By the time we stepped inside the dance studio, Cady was emerging from the locker room in her new leotard and a glittery tutu. She grinned at me and handed me her bag.

“Knock ‘em dead, Tiny Dancer.”

Her smile widened, and she bobbed her head in a nod.

The small sea of women along the wall stared at me, mouth agape as I approached. I ignored all of them except for Katelyn Beasley. I flashed her a glare that should’ve sent her into the ice age.

She snapped her mouth closed and averted her gaze.

“That’s meanie number one’s mom,” Charlie whispered.

“Thanks, bud.”

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest and scanning the kids in the class. It was mostly girls, but there were also a couple of little boys. “Which one is Heather?” I whispered to Charlie.

Charlie’s nose scrunched up, and he motioned to a little blonde in the corner, talking to two other girls. She full-on sneered at Cady as Cady found her place among the dancers.

Anger surged, and I cleared my throat. The dancers looked my way. But my gaze was locked on meanie number one. The moment she saw my focus on her, she blanched. Her gaze flicked to Charlie.