Anne Tyler’s delightful novel, Clock Dance, takes us from 1967 to 2017, from Willa Drake’s elementary school days to widowhood, and on to her second marriage to Peter.
Willa receives a startling telephone call from a stranger asking if she can come to Baltimore to help a young woman she’s never met. Her husband Peter balks. Fly all the way from Arizona to Maryland to help a perfect stranger? It’s ridiculous. But, Willa counters, the woman is her son’s ex-girlfriend who is laid up and she needs help caring for her daughter. It’s just until the woman gets back on her feet.
Peter and Willa fly to Baltimore, Peter dragging his feet. Although retired, it seems almost everything Peter does is more important than anything Willa undertakes. And he’s used to getting his own way. They manage to help get the mother and daughter through the early days, but then Peter is ready to leave. To Peter’s disgust, Willa stays. She can’t leave in good conscience. She feels needed and, for the first time in years, finds contentment. The neighborhood is rundown, but the eccentric residents are caring and helpful. Willa becomes involved and finds unexpected fulfillment.
Clock Dance touched my heart. I believe most women will rediscover long-buried truths in Willa’s story about hope and transformation. I highly recommend this heart-felt novel.