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"Tully, apologize?"

Kate couldnt help s "I know I know But how coo? How come I always have to make the first call?"

"You just do "

It was true; always had been Friendships were like es in that way Routines and patterns were poured early and hardened like cement

Kate went into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and climbed into bed with him

He turned off the bedside lah theand illu for her to snuggle up to hily sharp, given their years together He knew her so well, and there was a cashmere comfort in that; it wrapped around and warmed her

No wonder Tully had so es; shed never let herself be softened by love, wrapped up in it Without kids or a husband or a ain, Kate would let go of her anger without an apology She shouldnt have let it si anyway It was remarkable how quickly time passed Sometimes it felt as if theyd just had the blowup What mattered noas not the words, spoken or withheld, but rather the years of friendship

"Thanks," she whispered Tomorrow shed call Tully and invite her over to dinner Like always, that would put an end to their fight Theyd move effortlessly back onto the road of their friendship

"For what?"

She kissed hiently, touched his cheek Of all the views she loved, this"

On a gray, drizzlyin mid-Nove lot and joined the snakelike line of SUVs and ht

Marah sat slouched in the passenger seat, looking surly Her expression and herclass in New York

Before, Kate no, there had been bricks between her and her daughter Lately there was a wall

Usually it fell to Kate to sh patches in the road their family traveled She was the peace she said had worked Marah had stayed angry for weeks now and it was taking a toll on Kate She wasnt sleeping well It pissed her off, too, these silent treat to break Kate down

"Are you excited about the banquet?" she forced herself to ask At least it was sorade was excited about the winter banquet, as they should be The parents—including Kate—had expended a huge aht for the kids