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"Tallulah Hart?"

She sighed, disappointed "This is she"

"I'm Fred Rorbach You may remember me"

"Of course I remember you KILO-TV I sent you a résuh school, and then I sent you tapes in college How are you?"

"I' the evening news"

"Congratulations"

"Actually, that's why I' We're probably not the first station to call you, but we feel certain we'll make the best offer"

He had her full attention now "Oh, really?"

Kate slid off the bed and stood next to Tully, : What's the buzz?

Tully waved her off "Tell me about it"

"We want to do whatever it takes to make you part of the KLUE news family When can you co discharged right no about tomorrow? Ten AM"

"We'll see you then"

Tully hung up the phone and shrieked "That was KLUE-TV They want to hireup and down "You're going to be a star I knew it I can't wait to--" She stopped in the middle of her sentence; her smile fell

"What?"

"Chad"

Tully felt so twist deep inside her She wanted to pretend there was so to think about, a decision to be made, but she knew the truth, and so did Kate

"You're going to be a huge star," Kate said firmly "He'll understand"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kate pretended to focus all of her attention on driving Tully's car, but it wasn't easy Ever since she'd picked her up fro out the old little-girl dreaet an anchor spot, I'll make sure they hire you as a reporter

Kate knew she should put the brakes--finally--on this dual future of theirs She was tired of following Tully, and besides, she didn't want to quit her job She had a reason, finally, to stay where she was

Johnny

How pathetic was that? He didn't love her, but she couldn't help thinking that one, she'd have a chance

It was ridiculous, and e, but her drea Not that she could ade-educated woher positions on the corporate ladder and running the very companies that had refused to hire their mothers Husbands were to be avoided in the pre-thirty years There was always tie and children; was the coive up you for them

But what if you wanted theular, powerful you? No one ever talked about that Kate knew that Tully would laugh at such thoughts, say Kate was stuck in the fifties Even her hted word: regret She'd parrot the words that filled the pages of Msjust a mother was a waste of talent Her mother wouldn't even notice how sad she looked as she spoke, as if the life she'd chosen had been for nothing

"Hey, you missed the turn"

"Oh Sorry" Kate turned at the next block and circled back, pulling up in front of Chad's house "I'll wait here I've got The Talisman to finish"

Tully didn't open her door "He'll understand why I can't marry him yet He kno much this reed

"Wish ot out and walked up to the front door

Kate opened her paperback and dove into the story It wasn't until un to rain

Tully should have come back by now, told her to drive on hoht with Chad Kate closed the book and got out of the car As she walked up the ce

She knocked twice, then opened the door

Tully was in an e

Tully handed her a piece of paper that was splotched with tears "Read it"

Kate sat back on her heels and looked down at the bold black handwriting

Dear Tully,

I was the one who recommended you to KLUE, so I know all about the job you've come to tell me about, and I'm proud of you, baby I knew you could do it

When I took the job at Vanderbilt I knehat it meant for us I hopedbut I knew

You want a lot from this world, Tully Me, I just want you

It ain't exactly lock-and-key perfect, is it?

Here's what ht the world on fire

It was signed siht he loved me," Tully said when Kate handed her back the letter

"It sounds like he does"

"Then ould he leavethe distant echo of all the times Tully had been abandoned by her mother "Did you ever tell him you loved him?"