Chapter 46
“There we go!” Jess topped her glass off, then dragged her back
through the crowd. “I’ll introduce you to some people. Then it won’t
be so bad p>
And it wasn’t. Jess stayed by her side. Tessa met the parents of many of her students. She met the cousins and siblings of people she already knew. She got into a long conversation with Harry Lance’s sister Lorraine about the difficulty of knitting cables with light–colored yarn. She ended up in a good–natured argument with Connor Ankkonisdoy’s Uncle Geoff about the merits of Jack Kerouac.
She astonished the hell out of Arthur’s sister Ruth when she
mentioned in passing that Natasha taught her to make
babka–apparently Natasha guarded that recipe like a dragon with
its gold. She promised Brigitte Yidineeltot–the mother of two of her
students, aunt to several others, and cousin to her coworker
Roger–that she could borrow a copy of The Cloud Roads.
Jess greeted a tall, dark–eyed woman with a hug. “Aunt Meredith,
this is Tessa Romano. Tessa, this is my aunt, Meredith Kovak.” She
grinned and added, “Declan’s mom p>
“You know my Declan?” Meredith asked with a warm smile, shaking
Tessa’s hand.
“We’re neighbors.” Tessa pointed upstairs. “Do you live in
Longtooth p>
Meredith shook her head. “I’m closer to Eagle Ridge p>
It surprised Tessa how many people had come all the way from
Eagle Ridge, and the even more distant villages of Kiyeedza and
Daghukkoda. The roads connecting the Valley’s towns and villages
were unpaved, and often impassable in the winter. Even in good
conditions, the winding drive from Eagle Ridge to Longtooth would
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take nearly three hours. But Arctic winters were long and dark, and Tessa supposed a three–hour drive was worth getting out of the house and having a little fun.
“Are you the new English teacher?” Meredith asked.
Tessa nodded. “How did you know p>
Meredith shrugged. “The Valley’s small, and news travels fast.” Her tone was casual, but her eyes were intent. She searched Tessa’s face for a moment, her own face unreadable. “Well, welcome to the Valley, Tessa p>
“Thank you. It was nice meeting you p>
Jess pressed her on through the crowd. By the time Tessa made it to
the guests of honor–Roland and Linnea–she’d met just about
everyone in the room, and made her way through two very full
glasses of wine. She gave Roland and Linnea her heartfelt
congratulations.
She and Jess drifted back to the periphery of the room.
“I don’t hate crowds,” Jess shouted, “but I’m not in love with these
giant parties. There’s no room to move and having a conversation is impossible over all the noise p>
“What?” Tessa shouted.
Jess grinned and elbowed her.
The volume of the music rose, and bodies suddenly pressed in on
Tessa as the crowd backed away from the center of the room, leaving Roland and Linnea standing alone in a large circle. The previous song faded into silence, and then the opening of strains of
Unchained Melody floated through the room. Linnea turned to Roland with a huge smile. He reached out for her hand, pulling her
Chapter 46
to his chest with a twirl.
Cheers and whistles traveled through the crowd. Roland and Linnen
danced together in slow circles, so focused on each other that the
rest of the world may as well have not existed. Tessa watched them
and felt that strange little crack in her chest fracture just a little wider. I want that, she thought wistfully.
As the song went on, other couples joined them, until the center of
the room was filled with slowly revolving dancers. Tessa saw Harry and Joanne, Arthur and Natasha, and dozens of others happily swaying in each others‘ arms. When Unchained Melody ended, half the couples drifted off the dance floor. Jim Dandy came on, and the remaining dancers broke from the dreamy romance of slow–dancing into the kind of barroom swing she’d only ever seen people from her grandparents‘ generation do. It was fast and enthusiastic and hectic. A distant memory played in her mind–Grandma and Grandpa tearing it up at a backyard party, both laughing helplessly after Grandpa accidentally twirled Grandma right into Aunt Debbie’s
rhododendrons.
“That’s the smile of a woman who wants to dance.” Max Freeman
stood beside Tessa, hand extended.
“I don’t know how to dance like this,” she shouted over the music, taking his hand anyway, following him to the edge of the dance floor.
“Just follow my lead.” With a tug, he reeled her close to him. He caught her other hand, and away they went. Tessa wasn’t entirely sure how to follow, but Max managed to pull her into turns and spins, and she tried to match her footwork to his. She nearly kicked her shoes off three times. When the song ended, she was breathless and sweaty, but feeling light as a balloon. Jim Dandy bled into Ain’t Goin‘ Down, and Harlan tapped Max on the shoulder, cutting in. Harlan guided her in an energetic two–step, wincing dramatically when she stepped on his feet.
“Your parents were really optimistic when they named you, huh p>
Chapter 46
he shouted over the music.
Tessa swatted at him in mock offense, but her big smile ruined the effect. Harlan kept her for the next song, Black Velvet, laughing in delight when she managed to fall into step without being forcibly guided.
“Not too bad, Tessa,” Harlan told her as the last few chords played
out.
The Way You Look Tonight came on, and Wade Evers appeared, stealing her for a slow dance.
Tamsyn Taaltsiyh claimed Wade from her after that, and Tessa gratefully escaped the dance floor, desperate for a drink of water. Jess was standing at the drinks table, talking to Meredith Kovak, who watched the dancing with dark, unreadable eyes.
(3)
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.