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Mr and Mrs Johnson: I'm not sure if you'll rehter Allie's fourth-grade teacher Having left New Jersey o, I never heard about what happened to her until recently I'oes out to you I will be visiting Memphis all this week, and would love the opportunity to ht for a moment, then added:

I have sohter that I know she would have wanted me to share with you

Sincerely,

Sarah Wintuck

Now there was nothing to do but wait

Within five minutes the mailer-daemon sent back her father's e-mail as "undeliverable" and "nonexistent"

Allie's heart sank in the old woman's chest as she stared numbly at the screen It was her mother who had relatives in Memphis Could it be that her father died in the crash? She tried to dislass as half-full Her n

She waited for a response fro cats who kept ju for her attention By six o'clock no response had coer She lay down on the bed, peeled out of the woman, and the shock of it jarred the woman awake The cat woman bolted up in bed, then oncethe day away, and checked all the locks again

The next day when the cat woman lay down for her nap, she set her alarood, because the moment Allie skinjacked her, she turned the alar for [email protected] / /

Allie felt the wohtheaded in nervous anticipation She took slow, deep breaths, waited until the wave of dizziness passed, then Allie opened the e-mail

Mrs Wintuck: Thank you for your note It would be wonderful to catch up with you Anytime after five, any day this ould be fine Perhaps you could codale Street--let me know if you need directions, and when you'd like to stop by

Sincerely,

Andrea Johnson

Allie pushed away from the computer so quickly, she nearly fell over backward in the chair A cat ju several random s It must have hit the reply button as well, because the top as an e for Allie to fill in the words

Allie told her ht

Then she went out to buy hair color and a curling iron

Chapter 26 Home

The house did not look like a home her family should live in--but then, no hoht As she approached the front door, she double-checked her dowdy clothes, and her newly styled hair--now auburn instead of the salt-and-pepper it had been If she didn't know better, she really would think she was her fourth-grade teacher

She stood at the front door for what felt like forever, reaching for the doorbell, then pulling her finger back, reaching, then pulling back, until finally she pulled back a little too late, and succeeded in ringing the bell anyway

Footsteps fro A familiar face A little careworn, a little tired, but Allie still knew that face After three years Allie was standing in front of her lad you couldherself into her mother's arms She had to re to be a cat wo to be a teacher from New Jersey "Please, call me Sarah," Allie said, and stepped into the house The foyer opened right into the living room All their old furniture was there, with a fe additions

"Make yourself co to drink?"

"Soet so around the roon that her father was still part of this picture, but there was so much to take in, she didn't even knohat she should be looking for He was in photographs, but then so was she A high school graduation picture sat on the mantel It hadn't even occurred to Allie that her sister, April, would now be away at college While time had stopped for Allie, everyone else's lives had moved on

"I've ordered Chinese food," herback from the kitchen with soet home froht, I'lad to have you"

We! Her mother said we! "Soyour husband "

"He's picking up the food on the way home He should be here soon"

Allie practically collapsed into the sofa, full of sweet relief So he had survived! If nothing else ca, at least she would have that! But then--what if it was a new husband? What if her e, a new house--a lot can happen in three years She had to know

"Was hebadly injured in the accident? I hope not" Allie clenched her toes, preparing for the worst of all possible news Then her mother said

"It was a difficult rehabilitation, but he pulled through"

Allie released her breath, not even realizing she had been holding it She felt her face flush with relief Herthe bottled water into a glass for her As Allie reached for the glass, she saw that her hand--the cat wolass with her other hand instead

"I et your e-mail," her mother said

"As soon as I heard you were here in Memphis, I knew I had to contact you You know, Allie was one of my favorite students"

Her mother smiled slimly "Really"

Allie searched her nant moment to share "I remember for Mother's Day, we had a poem that each student was supposed to paste into a card they wereher own poem--and when it was done, half the class wanted to use her poeinal one!"

Her mother looked at her incredulously "I still have that card And you're telling me you remember that?"