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Marah, how the hell did we get here?
She’d hated the disappointment in his voice; it made her feel both guilty and ashamed.
I’m going to a teen grief support meeting Wednesday night. Doesn’t that sound fun?
I’ll be there on Thursday. I promise.
Sure.
I’m proud of you, Marah. It’s hard to face pain.
She’d fought for composure, felt the sting of tears. Memories had besieged her—times she’d fallen or been hurt and run to her daddy for a hug. His arms had been so strong and protective.
When had he held her last? She couldn’t remember. In the past year, she’d pulled back from the people who loved her, and grown fragile in their absence, but she didn’t know how to change. She was always afraid of bursting into tears and revealing her pain.
The next morning, she woke feeling sluggish and headachy. Needing coffee, she put on a robe that belonged to Tully and wandered out of her room.
She found Tully asleep on the sofa, one arm flung onto the coffee table. An empty wineglass lay on its side on the table, a pile of papers beside it. There was a small orange prescription pill container near it.
“Tully?”
Tully sat up slowly, looking a little pale. “Oh. Marah. ” She rubbed her eyes and shook her head as if to clear it. “What time is it?” Her speech was slow.
“Almost ten. ”
“Ten! Shit. Get dressed. ”
Marah frowned. “Are we going somewhere?”
“I have a surprise planned for you. ”
“I don’t want to be surprised. ”
“Of course you do. Go. Take a shower. ” Tully shooed her down the hall. “Meet me in twenty. ”
Marah took a shower and put on a pair of baggy jeans and an oversized T-shirt. Without bothering to dry her hair, she pulled it back in a ponytail and went out into the kitchen.
Tully was already there, dressed in a blue suit that was at least a size too small. She was taking a pill and washing it down with coffee when Marah came up beside her.
Tully yelped when Marah touched her, as if surprised. Then she laughed. “Sorry. Didn’t hear you come up. ”
“You’re acting weird,” Marah said.
“I’m excited. About my surprise. ”
“I told you. No surprises. ” Marah eyed her. “What are you taking?”
“The pill? It’s a vitamin. At my age, you can’t forget vitamins. ” She studied Marah, frowned. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“No makeup, even?”
Marah rolled her eyes. “What am I doing, trying out for America’s Next Top Model?” The doorbell rang. Marah was instantly suspicious. “Who’s that?”
“Come on,” Tully said, smiling now, herding her toward the door. “Open it,” she said.
Marah opened the door cautiously.
