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Kate closed her eyes, and suddenly they were kids again, sitting by the Pilchuck River, wondering how their lives would unfold.
Well be TV journalists. Someday Ill tell Mike Wallace that I couldnt have done it without you.
Dreams. Theyd had so many of them, and a surprising number had come true. The funny thing was that she hadnt valued them all highly enough when shed had the chance.
Leaning back in her seat, she said quietly, "Do you still know the guy who runs the drama program at USC?"
"I do. " Tully looked at her. "Why?"
Kate felt Tullys scrutiny on her profile. Without making eye contact, she straightened her wig. "Maybe you could call him. Marah would love to go there. " With the words came the thought: I wont be there for her. For any of it. Marah would go off to college without her . . .
"I thought you didnt want her to be in the arts. "
"It scares the hell out of me to think of my baby in Hollywood. But youre a TV star. Her dads a news producer. The poor kid is surrounded by dreamers. What chance did she ever have?" She reached over, squeezed Tullys hand. More than anything, she wanted to look at Tully, but she couldnt do it, didnt dare. "Youll watch out for her and the boys, right?"
"Always. "
Kate felt the start of a smile; that one word released a little of her sadness. One thing about Tully: she kept her word. "And maybe youll look up Cloud again. "
"Its funny youd mention that. I was planning on it. Someday. "
"Good," Kate said softly but firmly. "Chad was right, and I was wrong about that. When you get . . . to the end, you see that love and family are all there is. Nothing else matters. "
"Youre my family, Katie. "
"I know. Youll need more after—"
"Please dont say it. "
Kate looked at her friend. Bold, brassy, larger-than-life Tully, whod barreled through the years like a lion in a jungle, always the king. Now she was quiet, afraid. The very idea of Kates death had unraveled her, made her smaller. "Im going to die, Tully. Not saying it wont change it. "
"I know. "
"Heres what I want you to know: I loved my life. For so long I was waiting for it to start, waiting for more. It seemed like all I did was drive and shop and wait. But you know what? I didnt miss a thing with my family. Not a moment. I was there for all of it. Thats what Ill remember, and theyll have each other. "
"Yes. "
"Im worried about you, though," Kate said.
"You would be. "
"Youre afraid of love, but youve got so much of it to give. "
"I know Ive spent a lot of years whining about being alone, and Ive had a history of hooking up with inappropriate or unavailable men, but the truth is my career has been my love, and mostly its been enough. Ive been happy. Its important to me that you know that. "
Kate gave her a tired smile. "Im proud of you, you know. Have I told you that often enough?"
"And Im proud of you. " Tully looked at her best friend, and in that one look, thirty plus years crowded in between them, reminded them both of the girls theyd been and the dreams theyd shared, and of the women theyd become. "Weve done all right, havent we?"
Before Kate could answer, the auditorium doors banged open and people streamed in.
Johnny, Mom, Dad, and the boys took their seats just as the house lights flickered.
Then the stage lights came on, the heavy red velvet curtains parted slowly, dragging across the wooden stage at their hem, and revealing the poorly painted set of a small town.
Marah walked onstage, dressed in a high school drama version of a nineteenth century gown.
When Marah began to speak, it was magic.
