Page 123 of Book Club Confidential

“Is that them?” Hallie asked, arm extended toward the DJ booth. A man and woman with lanyards and badges had attracted a circle of guests near the dance floor. Hundreds more bounced and sang along to Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls).”

“Yeah,” Vera answered. “They’re impressed. The woman, Solani, says you got the word out about this event as efficiently and effectively as any New York City pop-up.”

Grant squeezed Tessa’s hand. “She’s got connections.”

“Clearly,” Vera agreed.

A mass of newcomers collected near the door, and Grant stepped back, smiling. “Duty calls. Hallie? Call me?”

She nodded. “Thank you!”

“I think you’re going to double your money on this event,” he said. “I can think of ten ways to reinvest that into the food truck.”

Tessa’s heart filled for her friend. “The Vampire Café is already a total hit.”

“Tessa, I’d love to help you too,” Grant said. “My offer stands.”

“You’ve already helped me,” she said. Grant had helped her more than he knew, and in more ways than she could articulate, but most of all by believing in her. “Besides, it’s bad form to date a client.”

Kate’s eyes went wide with delight as she looked between Tessa and Grant, already jogging back to the door. “You’re dating!” Kate said. “I love that for you! For both of you!”

“Me too,” Tessa said. She hadn’t dated since her divorce. Instead, she’d thrown herself into work. Now, she couldn’t imagine going back to the way things were only a month before.

At the moment, however, she had local reporters to welcome.

Tessa pulled her friends toward the man and woman wearing lanyards with News Channel 5 badges and introduced herself. She told the story of how their book club decided to become the heroines of their lives, and how everything immediately fell apart but got a lot better from there.

“One more question,” the female reporter said. “What is the name of your company?”

Tessa smiled, knowing instinctively what to say. Because it was her company. Hers to grow and nurture. Hers to lead and love. “Michels Marketing,” she said. Short and sweet. A name she shared with her dad, and one she’d be proud to see in lights, on stationery, and in the news.

She encouraged the reporters to stay awhile. To eat, dance, and invite their friends. She hoped they would. Tonight, she realized, was about more than celebrating fresh starts and new beginnings. It was about how incredible it was just to be alive.

Kate and Hallie pulled Tessa onto the dance floor, arms flung overhead and hips swaying to the beat.

Hallie’s mom joined them, a drink in one hand, glittering confetti stuck in her hair. “You are a marvel,” she told her daughter. “I know I raised you to marry a good man, and Bryce is a good man, but he wasn’t the right man, and you were brave for speaking up. I am so proud of you. I don’t say that enough. I’m going to work on it.”

“Thank you, Mama,” Hallie croaked. Her eyes glossed with unshed tears.

“I can’t believe y’all did all this!” Her mama motioned to the party around them. “I mean, look!”

A barn full of women, many who were complete strangers only hours before, now sang and swayed arm in arm to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, bonding beneath the historic wooden rafters.

“You know,” Mrs. Montgomery said. “I was downtown yesterday, and I didn’t see a psychic in this town.”

Hallie’s eyes slid to her mama. “I’m not pretending to be a psychic.”

“Not you,” Mrs. Montgomery said. “Me! Every town needs someone to guide them, don’t they? And it sure would be nice to be closer to my little girl. Your cousins could visit more often too!”

Hallie’s gaze slid to Tessa, then to the nearest exit sign, and her expression changed in an instant.

Tessa followed her friend’s line of sight to a familiar barista dancing her way to them.

Eloise offered a small hip-high wave. She blushed as she smiled at Tessa, Kate, and Hallie. “I saw the posts on your social media feeds,” she hollered above the music. “I was honored to get a personal invitation. Y’all throw quite a party.”

Mrs. Montgomery yelled back. “Thank you! My daughter left a rich man last night!” She raised the drink in her hand. “She turned it into a celebration of her new food truck. She’s unstoppable!”

“You broke your engagement?” Eloise asked.