Cocoon Read Free Page A

hangout in Paradise Springs.
    Entire families, drawn in by Zoe’s economy family package deals, signed up in droves. Even children became proficient in fancy footwork. Smart girl, Zoe, knowing that if she could captivate the kids, the parents would land in the palm of her hand.
    It was there, in the roomy yet intimate ballroom, that Seana and Ansel had spent the majority of their down time. They’d enjoyed dancing, but most of all, they loved the way it drew not only their family but other families together.
    The coziness of it, plus the invigoration of dance, was intoxicating.
    Tim, older than Zoe by two years, finished Clemson University with a degree in business. Upon his father’s death, Tim stepped into Ansel’s shoes. Seana had signed the lucrative real estate business over to her son, figuring that since she and Ansel had blessed Zoe with her dance facilities and capital to get her started, their gift to Tim evened out the two siblings’s playing field.
    Ansel’s vast real estate rental and lease holdings, managed by a professional firm, remained Seana’s legacy. He left Seana free to simply enjoy the fruits of his labors.
    But all the wealth in the world didn’t keep away heartache.
    Following Ansel’s death, Seana experienced a loneliness such as she’d never imagined possible. For years she remained convinced a part of her heart had been surgically removed and would forever leave a gaping, raw void where romance once thrived.
    And then, she met Barth. Against all odds, she met him when she least expected to ever again feel.
    â€¢ • •
    That Monday night, Seana had settled down in a chair at Happy Feet Dance Studio, chilling out. Tired after spending a good part of the day at son Tim’s Howard Real Estate office, helping his wife, Sherry, with some paperwork.
    She’d discovered how rusty her office skills had become. “I’ve got to take a computer course to brush up.” Seana blew out a frustrated breath and gazed at Sherry as she sat at the computer. “Everything is changing in cyberspace.”
    â€œThere’s going to be a computer class at Tech in a few months. I’m thinking about taking a refresher myself,” Sherry said, stapling some forms together that the collator machine had just spit out. She reached down to give Seana a hug. “Thanks, Seana. You’re sweet to bail me out of this paper jungle.”
    â€œGlad to be here for you.” She glanced at her watch. “Oops! Gotta get over to the Studio.”
    So there Seana sat that Newcomer’s Night, one held periodically to welcome new arrivals to town and maybe infect some more locals with dance fever. Zoe depended on her to help greet those who wandered in. Too, Seana knew it was to get her mom out of the house.
    Seana covered her mouth to hide a huge yawn.
    She was weary and – lonesome. In a room full of happy, dancing people.
    Lonely.
    Seemed ridiculous. But there it was, like a daggum Grand Canyon chasm gaping before her.
    Then she saw him. A newcomer. A stag. Most folks thereabouts came in twos and sometimes more.
    Ambitious Zoe’s coupons for two free introductory dance lessons littered the entire town to lure folks in. New resident Barth McGrath took the bait, moseyed into Happy Feet Studio and planted his long length in one of the folding studio chairs as far back into a dim corner as he could manage, fidgeting at his white starched shirt collar until he could stand it no longer and pulled off his paisley tie, folded it, and slipped it into his navy blue blazer pocket.
    Seana witnessed it all that Monday night, fighting a tug at the corners of her generous mouth. Her tiredness dissolved. He looked about as lonely as she felt. Next thing she knew, she migrated toward him.
    Tall and lanky as a Western cowboy, he looked so ill at ease and so nerdy she felt sorry for the man. But that only lasted until she looked through those thick lenses