Jane Tesh

Butterfly Waltz Jane Tesh

Publisher Marketing: Desmond Fairweather is a young musician whose creative efforts are hampered by fears he may possess destructive magical powers, the same powers that killed his parents. He is struggling to pay his bills, teaching piano and trying to compose. His friend, Jake Banner, a tabloid reporters hunting for a big story on the supernatural, is always dragging the skeptical Des with him. Today, Jake wants Des to travel out to the country to investigate some talking flowers; Jake's boss has given him until Friday to find a story, or he's fired. If Des will come along, Jake promises to help him secure an audition with the city symphony, a break Des desperately needs. The flowers talk, but only to their owner, Christine Snowden, a lovely young woman Jake falls for immediately. He decides to help Christine outwit her scheming cousin, who wants to turn the house and its extensive gardens into a tourist attraction. While Jake hunts for his story, Des plays Christine's piano. A startlingly beautiful young woman appears. She is Kalida, a magical creature who has escaped from the people of the Caverns and renounced their evil ways. However, her people have found her and are pressuring her to return to their world. When Des follows her into the forest, her people attack, and she rescues him. When another member of the Caverns comes to Christine's house, Kalida fights it off with spells that unfortunately destroy the garden. Christine and Jake are thrilled when Kalida restores the flowers, but Des still has difficulty accepting Kalida. Kalida fears she is endangering her new friends, so she returns to the forest. When Des can't find her, the flowers, to his amazement, speak and tell him what to do. His music attracted her before; he must try again. With a melody she inspired, he plays her back to him. But Kalida's people come after her in force. Des decides to risk using his power; however, having always been afraid to use it, he can't make it work. But when he plays his music, the creatures recoil and slink away. Kalida knows her people will never give up, but she sees a way to be with Des and continue to inspire him. She melts into him and becomes a part of him, knowing he won't remember her, but willing to sacrifice all. After a successful audition, Des becomes a member of the symphony. This time, when Jake stops by, wanting his help, Des readily agrees to go. In his reflection, Des now often sees a sparkle of topaz, the color of Kalida's eyes. Somehow he knows the music will be with him forever, like magic. Contributor Bio:  Tesh, Jane Jane Tesh lives and writes in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. A media specialist/librarian for grades K-6 for 30 years, she retired to write and exercise her creative side. A rehearsal pianist and sometime orchestra conductor for community theater, she also plays the violin, and is a certified kick-boxing instructor.