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Cloud took a stu step forward The sadness in her eyes was unmistakable, but Tully didn't care Her mother's pseudo-emotions came and went like the sun in Seattle "Look at "

"No Look I can't help you"

"But I need you"

"That's the fucking tragedy of it," hersmoke out a few seconds later

"Why?" Tully asked She was going to add, Don't you love me? but before she could form the pain into words, the funeral let out and black-clad people swar enough to dry her tears When she turned back, her one

The wo She tried to say the right things, but Tully noticed that she kept glancing at her watch as she stood in the hallway outside Tully's bedroom

"I still don't see why I need to pack e on this house--I know 'cause I paid the bills this year I'h to live alone"

"The lawyer is expecting us," was the woman's only answer "Are you nearly ready?"

She placed the stack of Kate's letters in her suitcase, closed the lid, and snapped it shut Since she couldn't actually forrabbed the suitcase, then slung her uess so"

"Good," the wo for the stairs

Tully took one last, lingering look around her bedroos she'd overlooked for years: the lavender ruffled bed linens and white twin bed, the row of plastic horses--dusty now--that lined the sill, the Mrs Beasley doll on the top of the dresser, and the Miss America jewelry box with the pink ballerina on top

Gran had decorated this rooirl who'd been duo Every item had been chosen with care, but now they'd all be boxed up and stored in the dark, along with theit would be before she could think of Gran without crying

She closed the door behind her and followed the woh the now-quiet house, down the steps outside, to the street in front of house, where a battered yellow Ford Pinto was parked

"Put your suitcase in the back"

Tully did as she was told and got into the passenger seat

When the lady started up the car, the stereo ca level It was David Soul's "Don't Give Up on Us" She i, "Sorry about that"

Tully figured it was as good a song to apologize for as any, so she just shrugged and looked out the

"I'randmother, if I haven't said that already"

Tully stared at her weird reflection in theIt was like looking at a negative version of her face, colorless and insubstantial The way she felt inside, actually

"By all accounts she was an exceptional woman"

Tully didn't answer that She couldn't have found much of a voice anyway Ever since the encounter with her mother, she'd been dry inside Empty

"Well Here we are"

They parked in front of a well-kept Victorian hon out front read: BAKER AND MONTGOMERY, ATTORNEYS AT LAW

It took Tully a et out of the car By the ti s your suitcase"

"I'd like to, thanks" If there was one thing Tully understood, it was the i

The worass-veined concrete ay to the white front door Inside the overly quaint space, Tully took a seat in the lobby, close to the e-eyed kids lined the ornately papered walls At precisely four o'clock, a pudgy et them

"Hello, Tallulah I'm Elmer Baker, your Grandmother Hart's attorney"

Tully followed him to a small upstairs rooany desk littered with yellow legal pads In the corner, a standing fan buzzed and thu toward the door The social worker took a seat by the

"Here Here Sit down, please," he said, ant desk

"Now, Tallulah--"

"Tully," she said quietly

"Quite right I recall I you preferred Tully" He put his elbows on the desk and leaned forward His buglike eyes blinked behind the thick lasses "As you know, your mother has refused to take custody of you"

It took all her strength to nod, even though last night she'd practiced a whole ue about how she should be allowed to live alone Now, here, she felt s

"I'entle voice, and Tully actually flinched at the words She'd come to truly loathe the stupid, useless senti her hands at her sides

"Ms Gulligan here has found a lovely family for you You'll be one of several displaced teens in their care The excellent news is that you'll be able to continue in your current school placement I'm sure that makes you happy"

"Ecstatic"

Mr Baker looked momentarily nonplussed by her response "Of course Now As to your inheritance Ima left all her assets--both homes, the car, the bank accounts, and stocks--to you She has left instructions for you to continue with the randmother believed it was the best and only way to keep track of her Dorothy has proven to be very reliable at keeping in touch when there's " He cleared his throat "Nowif we sell both homes, you won't have to worry about finances for quite some time We can take care--"

"But then I won't have a home at all"