Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Chapter 57
The radar went crazy. Keeping her tone even, Tessa said, “Well, that narrows it down. Give me a second here.” She pulled a couple books and finally turned to face Daniel. Keeping her focus on the books, her face impassive, she laid them out. “Have you read A Wrinkle in
Time p>
“Yeah, a long time ago for school p>
She picked up The Golden Compass. Her juniors had been reading it earlier this year, and it was a little more dense than what Daniel had read so far, but he’d been mowing through books at a breakneck pace, so she decided to give it a try. “This one takes a little while to get going, but once you get into it, it’s amazing. It’s set in a world like our own, but just a little different. Everybody has an animal familiar-” Tessa almost choked on her own words, but managed to keep it together. She cleared her throat. “They have animal familiars. And the main character thinks she’s an orphan, but… well, it’s a good story p>
“Sure.” Daniel took it and slid it into his backpack. “Thanks, Ms.
Romano p>
She watched him walk out. When the sound of his footsteps faded away, she got up and made her way to Margaret’s office. Margaret looked up when she knocked on the door, phone pressed to her ear, and gestured for Tessa to come in. Tessa sank into one of the chairs across from Margaret’s desk while she wrapped up her call.
“Well, of course,” Margaret said impatiently to whoever was on the other end. “That goes without saying.” She listened for a moment. “Okay. Keep me updated.” She hung up. “Gracie. How are you p>
Is Margaret a werewolf, too? Tessa remembered her change of clothes after the shadow attack, the way she called younger people
Chapter 57
“pup,” and concluded that she definitely was.
“Uh, I have a question that maybe isn’t my place to ask p>
Margaret folded her hands together, regarding Tessa for a moment over her desk. A heavy weight seemed to settle between them. “I can’t guarantee I’ll answer,” she said. “But why don’t you ask,
anyway p>
She thinks I’m going to ask about werewolves. She must’ve been wondering how much Tessa had seen the night of the attar much she’d figured out. And if Declan had spoken to her…
“It’s about Daniel Gray p>
Immediately, the heaviness faded. Margaret sat back, her expression softening. “Is everything okay p>
“I don’t know. That’s my question. Daniel’s so much more reserved than the other kids. He has this…guardedness that he’s too young for. He’s been borrowing books, and today he asked me specifically for a book where the parents aren’t dead, but are gone p>
Margaret nodded. She was quiet for a moment, contemplative.
Tessa steeled herself to be shut down with yet another “Valley business” dismissal. But instead, she said, “Daniel’s father left him and his mother about a year ago. Left the Valley, left Alaska. Obviously, that’s hard on a child p>
Tessa’s stomach twisted. “Okay. That explains some things p>
“Daniel’s having a tough time right now, but he’ll come through it. He has the entire Valley standing behind him. His mother’s a little lost in grief right now, but she’ll recover. The same thing happened to her mother, and Meredith came out the other side, whole and
capable p>
Chapter 57
“pup,” and concluded that she definitely was.
“Uh, I have a question that maybe isn’t my place to ask p>
Margaret folded her hands together, regarding Tessa for a moment over her desk. A heavy weight seemed to settle between them. “I can’t guarantee I’ll answer,” she said. “But why don’t you ask,
anyway. ”
She thinks I’m going to ask about werewolves. She must’ve been wondering how much Tessa had seen the night of the atta much she’d figured out. And if Declan had spoken to her.
“It’s about Daniel Gray p>
Immediately, the heaviness faded. Margaret sat back, her expression softening. “Is everything okay p>
“I don’t know. That’s my question. Daniel’s so much more reserved than the other kids. He has this…guardedness that he’s too young for. He’s been borrowing books, and today he asked me specifically for a book where the parents aren’t dead, but are gone p>
Margaret nodded. She was quiet for a moment, contemplative.
Tessa steeled herself to be shut down with yet another “Valley business” dismissal. But instead, she said. “Daniel’s father left him and his mother about a year ago. Left the Valley, left Alaska. Obviously, that’s hard on a child p>
Tessa’s stomach twisted. “Okay. That explains some things p>
“Daniel’s having a tough time right now, but he’ll come through it. He has the entire Valley standing behind him. His mother’s a little lost in grief right now, but she’ll recover. The same thing happened to her mother, and Meredith came out the other side, whole and
capable p>
Chapter 57
“Meredith Kovak?” Declan’s mother? Had Declan been abandoned
by his father?
Margaret’s expression flattened. “Damn me. That wasn’t my story to tell. I trust you’ll keep that knowledge to yourself p>
“Of course I will p>
“I know.” She contemplated Tessa for a moment. “How have you
been doing, Tessa p>
Tessa shrugged, uncomfortable. “I’m fine. Same as always p>
“After the attack p>
She laughed. Between Declan and Daniel, she’d almost forgotten about it. “Oh, that. I’m…” Alex’s face flashed into her mind again, and she somehow managed not to flinch. “I’m totally fine. No frostbite p>
“No frostbite p>
“Yep p>
Margaret rested her chin on one hand, considering Tessa. “You haven’t asked much about that night p>
Did she want Tessa to ask about werewolves? “Nobody seems to have any answers,” she said, observing Margaret’s expression carefully, but Margaret betrayed nothing. Another silence stretched between them.
Margaret shifted, leaning back. “Does Longtooth feel like home to you p>
The change of topic caught Tessa by surprise, and she didn’t know how to answer. She didn’t want to reveal too much. The crushing loneliness hadn’t been quite so crushing lately, and she didn’t want
Chapter 57
to think about it too much, for fear of reviving it.
“I don’t know if…” Tessa hesitated. Margaret watched patiently. “I don’t know if anywhere has ever felt like home, you know? I’ve
moved around a lot p>
“Don’t you have a hometown p>
“Yeah, but I don’t want to live there p>
“Even though your family is there p>
Tessa shrugged. “I was only ever close to my grandma, and she died when I was sixteen.” Her wedding ring was the only memento Tessa had of her and it had been stolen by Alex.
“What about your parents p>
Tessa shrugged again.
Margaret continued to watch her.
“They’re not bad parents. They didn’t abuse me or anything. We just…” She trailed off, trying to find the right words. “Some families aren’t close p>
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