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The auditoriued open As one, the audience turned

Tully stood there, looking like she'd just left the Graaer She wore a stunning forest-green silk dress that hung from one shoulder and nipped in at her still-small waist

Whispers overtook the audience Tallulah Harteven prettier in personNo one was listening to Miss Parker's introduction

"How does she stay looking so good?" Moery and a battalion of hed at that and squeezed her hand as if to re at the Mularkeys, Tully walked to an empty aisle seat in the front row and sat down

The house lights diie Levine, dressed as the blue fairy, danced onstage Her sister, Cleo, and the rest of the girls followed, pirouetting and prancing in as supposed to be unison The little ones watched theevery awkiness only ical It was all Kate could do not to cry; then Johnny reached over Lucas and held her hand just as Marah twirled onstage Halfway through her routine she saw Tully and stopped right in the hter rippled through the audience when Tully waved back

When the perforirls took several curtain calls, then giggled and ran for their faode and landed in Tully's arraphs and introductions All the while, Marah beamed with pride

When the swar the an arm around Kate's shoulder and used her other hand to hold on to Marah "I have a surprise for led and jumped up and down "What is it?"

"You'll see," Tully said, winking at Kate In a pack, the family moved up the aisle and went outside

There, parked at the curb, was a pink stretch limousine

Marah screa me?"

"Isn't it cool? You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find Coet in, everyone" She opened the door and they all piled into the plush black interior Tiny red and blue lights illuled close to Tully, held her hand "This is the best surprise ever," she said "Did you think I was good?"

"You were perfect," Tully said

They stayed in the car for the entire ferry ride; not once did Marah stop talking to Tully

On the Seattle side, the car started up again and they were driven around the city as if they were tourists on vacation, then they pulled into a brightly lit porte cochere, where a hotel doorreet them He opened the door and bent down "And which of you lovely ladies is Marah Rose?"

Marah instantly raised her hand, giggling "I ale pink rose from behind his back and handed it to her

Marah looked awestruck "Wow"

"Say thank you, Marah," Kate said more sharply than she'd intended

Marah threw her an irritated look "Thank you"

Tully led theigantic suite where all kinds of kid-type play stations had been set up--bouncing rooirls from the recital were already there with their families In the center of the rooe tiered pink cake adorned with tiny frosted ballerinas

"Aunt Tully," Marah screa her "This is awesoo play with your friends"

Everyone stood there for aWillia her?"

"I wanted to get a pony, but I thought that would be over the top"

Moie, Johnny," he finally said "Let's check out the bar"

When Kate and Tully were alone, Kate said, "You sure kno toabout this for years"

"Too much?" Tully asked

"Perhaps just a bit"

Tully gave her a bright snized the pretense "What's wrong?"

Before Tully could answer, Marah ca with joy "We all want a picture with you, Aunt Tully"

Kate stood there, watching her daughter practically swoon over her godh she hated to admit it, she felt a pinch of jealousy This was supposed to have been their night; hers and Marah's

Tully sat in the lihter's silky black hair

Across froainst Johnny, who also had his eyes closed A sside each of them They looked like the Hallmark version of family perfection