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After that, the faxes cah

K--

The bo? We had a bird's-eye view fro It was a gorgeous, starry night in Baghdad and the bombs turned this city into hell An office tower exploded close to the hotel and the heat was like an oven

A careful

Love U

J

K--

Seventeen hours of bo left when it finally stops Back to work

K--

Sorry it's been so long since the last letter The teaet five seconds to ood Tired Hell, more than that Exhausted The first US feht and I have to say that it hit us all hard I hope that someday I can tell you how it feels to see all this, but I can't think that way now, not if I want to sleep Anyway, there's talk that the Iraqis are going to ignite oil wells in Kuwait and we're off to cover it Kisses to Marah and more to you

Kate stared down at the last fax she'd received It was dated February 21, 1991, al rooe on television The last six weeks had been the longest, hardest days of her life She aiting, alaiting, for a phone call that said he was co home, for a special report that heralded the end of the war Now they were saying that the final allied assault should begin any day A ground assault That scared her aselse because she knew her Johnny So a story that no one else could tell

The waiting had worn her down to nothing She'd lost fifteen pounds and hadn't had a good night's sleep since their night at the hotel

She folded the latest fax in half and placed it on the small pile of others Every day she told herself she wouldn't unfold them and reread his words; every day she returned to theun several chores and left all of the television She'd been here for more than two hours

Marah stood by the coffee table, clutching its wooden edge in her pink, pudgy hands, swaying like a break-dancer and babbling in baby talk Finally, she plopped down on her diaper-padded butt and ian to craay from the couch

"Stay by Mommy," Kate said auto; the air above them was a thick cloud of black s Kate could tell by the sudden quiet She jumped up and went over to the chair by the fireplace

Johnny's chair

Don't think about that, she told herself He'd be back any day to sit there again and read the paper after work

She bent down and picked up her curious daughter, who looked up at her through huge, bright brown eyes and started to babble Kate couldn't help s to cohter's obvious joy lifted her spirits "Hey, Munchkin what have you got there?" She carried her back toward the sofa, turning off the TV as she passed it Enough was enough She turned on the radio instead It was tuned to an oldies channel, which always made her shake her head To her ing "Desperado"

Kate let the hter close, she danced in the living rooled and bounced in her arh for the first tihter's plump cheek, nuzzled her velvety neck, and tickled her until she screa so ister instantly that the phone was ringing When she did hear it, she ran for the radio, turned it down, and answered

"Mrs John Ryan?" The connection was scratchy Clearly long-distance Only in dire need

She froze, tightened her hold on Marah, who squirmed in her arms "This is she"

"This is Lenny Golliher I'hdad with him I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Mrs Ryan, there was a bo yesterday"

The ular table, and Tully followed along behind, trying not to gape at all the power brokers and celebrities ere here today for lunch Clearly 21 was one of the places to be seen in Manhattan Edna stopped at nearly every table to say hi to so, "Here's a girl you should keep your eye on"

By the ti She couldn't wait to call Kate and tell her she'd met John Kennedy, Jr

She knew the value of what had just happened Edna had just given her the gift of recognition "Why me?" she asked when their waiter left

Edna lit up her cigarette and leaned back Nodding at someone across the room, she seemed not to have heard the question Tully was about to ask it again when Edna said quietly, "You remind me of me That surprises you, I see"

"Flatters ot to New York--with a degree in journalisly truth about this career Practically everyone is Someone or related to Someone A nobody has to work damn hard I don't think I slept more than five hours at a ti for alht their food, set it doith an obsequious nod, and disappeared again S her steak "When I saw you, I thought, There's the girl I'll help I don't knohy except, like I said, you reminded me of me"

"My lucky day"

Edna nodded and went back to her food

"Ms Guber?" It was the ent call for you"

She took the phone, said, "Talk" Then she listened for a long ti notes "Seattle reporter killed, producer wounded"