And then another song about private conversations came on. It was a rockabilly up-tempo number—perfect for the kind of dancing they did.

And they took off their socks so they’d have some traction.

And Michelle and Justin started dancing—really dancing—like they did when they were kids, back before anyone cared about how they danced. They took hands and did the cuddle into a pretzel spin and then Michelle rolled Justin over her back and then swung him through her legs and then helped him moon-flip over her head. And it was spectacular.

If they had danced that night at the Rec Center the way they were dancing at Justin’s house, some people would have cheered, no doubt, like they had at the talent show seven or so years ago.

But some people would have thought it wasn’t right.

But how else could Justin and Michelle have danced?

Justin could never have flipped and tossed Michelle.

And Michelle didn’t have Justin’s grace and had no idea how to be tossed and flipped.

So they danced the way they were meant to dance.

And after some fast and furious and fancy footwork, Justin dove sideways into Michelle’s arms like he was a plank of wood and Michelle spun him around her hips and then flipped him up onto her shoulder into an angel lift, and, as she slowly turned in a circle, Justin stretched his arms out like a bird as if he were flying.

And he felt the lightness fill up his insides again. It made him feel like a star. And like gravity had no effect on him—and it didn’t for a while.

Because Justin and Michelle were dancing on air. And had been for a while.

They didn’t know it.

But Aunt Belinda did.

She had just pulled into the driveway unbeknownst to Justin and Michelle. And saw them dancing through the living room picture window.

And she was so happy they had found something fun to do.

And she got out of her Honda.

And watched them dance.

And then she watched them elevate. Slowly. While they were dancing.

And she blinked a couple of times—hard—to make sure she was seeing what she thought she was seeing.

And she wondered if maybe she shouldn’t have had that beer with Father Tom.

Because what she was seeing—Justin and Michelle dancing in the air—in her living room—was impossible.

Aunt Belinda was so mesmerized by the miracle she felt like she was witnessing that she didn’t see the northern lights in the sky above.

And she just watched Michelle and Justin dance—on air.

And then, eventually, on the polyurethaned pine floor again.

And Justin and Michelle kept dancing—unaware that they had been dancing on air.

They just felt like they had been dancing.

And they were having fun.

So much fun.

Like Uncle Clair would have wanted.

7

As Ginette passed the Rec Center, she thought about how much her mom and dad used to love to dance. She remembered them going to Country Swing when she was little, and they’d always come back laughing and loving each other.