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Nicole re her that her life was more difficult than it see It was still a lot easier than living in the real world

Lisa crossed to the frontand stared out "Has she said anything about the recordings?"

"No" What recordings?

"She’s been invited to be on several CDs I know she’ll accept the ones for charity She always does" Lisa seemed annoyed by that fact "But so sessions in addition to everything else? It ets to see all those cities she travels to," Nicole said, more to herself than to Lisa

Lisa turned to look at her "It’s not her job to see the cities It’s her job to practice and play and give interviews Of course she would rather run away I don’t kno I let things get so out of hand"

Lisa walked back to the chair and picked up her coat "I will not si for her Please tell her she can call et this disaster straightened out"

Nicole didn’t knohat the disaster was and she didn’t want to know Fortunately, Lisa was no longer her problem She listened to the familiar sound of a car in the driveway

"Tell her yourself," she said "She just got home"

"I’M BACK," CLAIRE CALLED as she walked into the kitchen "Sorry I’m late Wyatt asked me to join them for dinner, which turned out to be KFC It’s their one fast-food night a week and Amy picked Have you eaten there? It’s really--"

She walked into the living roo next to Nicole and instantly wished she hadn’t had that extra chicken leg"Hello, Claire," Lisa said coolly "Tell me you didn’t actually eat fried chicken"

Lisa had always had the ability to ue, but she bit it back She was a grown-up and if she wanted to eat fast food, she would It was her right

"Yes, I did It was delicious"

Lisa pressed her lips together "What about the diet I gave you? It’s nutritionally balanced, with a strong e sound, then held up both her hands, palms out "Sorry She just showed up I didn’t knohat to do"

"It’s okay," Claire said She couldn’t hide fronored the exchange "I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I a Just a voiceo away?"

Claire squared her shoulders and lifted her chin "I had a faency," she said, then prayed Nicole wouldn’t pipe in with a stinging comment about how Claire wasn’t exactly welcome here

Fortunately, for once her sister was silent

Lisa’s gaze flickered over Nicole, then returned to her "Everything see to New York shortly?"

"I am not"

"What about the fall schedule? It’s already half the dates it should be If you are not out there, people will forget who you are Brilliance isn’t enough You know that You kno easily everything can be lost"

It was afor years She’d once heard a university professor co about the "publish or perish" rule For Claire it was "perforht now," she said fir to any kind of schedule"

Lisa’s eyes widened "You don’t mean that You can’t"

Claire wanted to ask if she ree How she’d collapsed and humiliated herself How the panic had won But she was too aware of Nicole listening and too ashamed to tell her sister the truth

"There are people depending on you," Lisa continued "You are an industry People’s livelihoods are at stake"

Another line Claire had heard dozens of tiet some new n as er, I don’t have a problem with that"

Lisa took a step back "No That’s not what I mean" She cleared her throat "Claire, dear I had no idea you were so upset Of course you must have ti how Lisa could play both sides of good cop, bad cop and neverto disappoint people, hating not being able to play But that’s where she was right now--trapped with a talent she couldn’t use She was bone tired and not willing to get back onto the tread decisions based on what everyone else wanted What about what she wanted?

An excellent question, if only she had an answer

"It doesn’ter, I don’t know I’ to make any commitments for the fall or any other time I won’t be pushed So you need to just back the hell off"

Lisa stared at her for a long tiht I can see you’re not ready to come home That’s fine I’ll wait You kno to find me"

Claire nodded but didn’t speak She stayed where she was until Lisa had left, then collapsed onto the sofa and covered her face with her hands

"Impressive," Nicole said "You really stood up to her"

"I did, didn’t I?" Claire dropped her hands to her lap "I’er?"

"Has been since I elve"

"She’s scary"

"Tell me about it But she’s also the best There are a lot of talented musicians out there who haven’t had half the opportunities I have"

Nicole settled into a chair across from the sofa "She talked about your concert dates, the practice, fittings, ular day?"

Claire leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes "Pretty much There isn’t a lot of free ti on a wheel You go and go, but you don’t get anywhere and the view never changes I will say it’s gotten easier I know a lot of theThat was a nightmare"

She paused, then braced herself for the sarcastic attack to follow Nicole wasn’t one to walk away froh"

Claire opened her eyes "Are you feeling all right? Do you have a fever?"

Nicole shifted in her seat "No I’ to Lisa I’ve come to see that ht That there ht be actual work involved"

"Oh, really" Claire sat up and smiled "Which would ht, you’re…"

Nicole shook her head "Forget it We’re not going there I’ood as you’re getting"

"Wrong," Claire told her "The word you’re looking for is wrong"