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Natalie launched into a ue that lasted for a steady fifteen minutes Annie heard about the plane trip, the airport, about the strangeness of the London Underground, and the way the houses were all connected together—like, San Francisco, you know, Mom—

“Mom?”

Annie realized with a start that she’d lapsed into silence She’d been listening to Natalie—she truly had—but some silly, pointless turn in the conversation had e and the body that wasn’t beside her in bed

God, is that how it’s going to be from now on?

“Mom?”

Annie squeezed her eyes shut, a feeble attempt to escape There was a white, static roar of sound in her head “II’ me about your host family ”

“Are you all right, Mom?”

Tears leaked down Annie’s cheeks She didn’t bother to wipe them away “I’m fine How about you?”

A pause crackled through the lines “I uys ”

Annie heard loneliness in her daughter’s voice and it took all of her self-control not to whisper into the phone, Coether

“Trust me, Nana, you’llsofor your old mom to call June fifteenth will come much too quickly ”

“Hey, Moone?”

Annie laughed; it was a nervous, fluttery sound “Of course I will Don’t you dare worry about me ”

“Okay ” The as spoken so softly Annie had to strain to hear it “Before I start crying, I better talk to Daddy ”

Annie flinched “Dad’s not here right now ”