That last bit flattered Tully so much she almost forgot what had preceded it. She had to force herself back on track. “You’re not being fair to your mom. Girls your age are more vulnerable than you think. A long time ago, when I was your age and thought I was invincible, I—”

“You’d let me go to the concert if you were my mom.”

“Yes, but—”

“I wish you were my mom.”

Tully was surprised by how deeply she felt those words. They found a soft spot inside her. “You two will get past this, Marah. You’ll see.”

“No, we won’t.”

For the next hour Tully tried to crack through Marah’s anger, but it was a durable shell, impossible to breach. She was stunned by how easily Marah claimed to hate Katie, afraid that these two would never repair their damaged relationship. If there was one thing Tully knew, it was how ruined you could be without a mother’s love.

Finally, the intercom buzzed and Edmond’s voice came through: “The Ryans, Ms. Hart.”

“They know I’m here?” Marah said, popping to her feet.

“It couldn’t have been hard to figure out,” Tully said, going to the intercom. “Let them up, Edmond. Thanks.”

“They’re going to kill me,” Marah said, pacing, wringing her hands, and all at once she was a child again, gangly and tall and gorgeous, but still a child, scared that she was going to be in trouble.

Johnny was the first to walk through the open door. “Damn it, Marah,” he said, “you scared the hell out of us. We didn’t know if you’d been kidnapped or run away—” He broke his sentence off, as if he were afraid to say more.

Kate came up behind him.

Tully was stunned at the sight of her friend. She looked tired and sick and smaller somehow, as if she’d just taken a beating.

“Katie?” Tully said, worried.

“Thanks, Tully,” she answered, giving her a wan smile.

“Aunt Tully said she’d take us to the concert in her limo,” Marah said. “And chaperone us.”

“Your aunt is a moron,” Johnny snapped. “Her wacko mother dropped her on her head. Now get your stuff. We’re going home.”

“But—”

“No buts, Marah,” Kate said. “Get your things.”

Marah put on a real show—sighing, stomping, uttering, whining. Then she gave Tully a fierce hug, whispered, “Thanks for trying,” and left the condo with Johnny.

Tully waited for Kate to say something.

“Don’t promise her things without asking us, okay?” was all Kate said; her voice was a monotone, not even angry. “It just makes it harder.” She turned to leave.

“Katie, wait—”

“Not tonight, Tul. I’m exhausted.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE