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"This is exciting," Kate said, sitting in front of the giant mirror The makeup artist--a woman named Dora--immediately went to work on Kate's face

Marah sat in the chair beside her Another makeup artist went to work on her

Kate stared into the ed beside her: the wohter's nized a truth that had until now been hidden froauze of childhood Soon Marah would be dating, and then driving, and then going off to college

"I love you, Munchkin," she said, purposely using the nicknaone out of fashion with Winnie-the-Pooh lunch boxes and Tickle Me Elmo "Res?"

Marah looked at her For a second--just that--they were Moh it didn't last, couldn't last in the hurricane of the teen years, it filled Kate with hope that after today they'd coain, be as inseparable as they'd once been

Marah looked poised to say so, then she s her daughter, but that would never have the desired effect Physical contact, she had learned, was the surest way to put distance between them

"Kathleen and Marah Ryan?"

She twisted around in her chair, saw a young, pretty wo behind her "We're ready for you"

Kate reached out for Marah, as excited enough to take her hand They followed the woreenroom, where they were put to wait

"There's water in that fridge, and feel free to eat anything in that basket," the woman said Then she handed Kate a lapelpack that attached to her waistband "Tallulah said you'd knoork this?"

"It's been a while, but I think I can still e I'll show Marah Thanks"

"Great I'll coet you when it's time As you knoe're live today, but don't let that worry you Just be yourself"

And then she was gone

This was really happening It hter

An instant later there was a knock on the door

"We're ready for you, Kathleen," the woman said "Marah, stay here We'll come for you in a minute"

Kate headed for the door

"Mo i"

Kate looked back, sreat" Then she followed the woh the walls she could hear applause, even a se, the woman paused "When you hear your name, you'll walk out"

Breathe

Suck in your stoht

She heard Tully say, "And now I'd like you all to ood friend Kathleen Ryan"

Kate stu beneath the bright glare of the stage lights It was so disorienting that it took her a second to process her surroundings

There was Tully, standing center stage, s at her

Behind her was Dr Till

Tully swept over to her side, took her arm Beneath the swell of applause, she said, "We're live, Katie, so just roll with it"

Kate glanced over at the screen behind the at each other Then she looked at the audience

Johnny and her parents were in the front row

Tully faced the about overprotective oal is to get a dialogue going, to break up the logjaet these two talking again"

Kate actually felt the blood drain from her face "What?"

Behind her, Dr Tille "So type, actually daile psyches without ever really seeing what they're doing Children can be like flowers, trying to blossom in too small a space They need to break out,the that we can keep the hit Kate

They were calling her a bad ht here

She wrenched her ar?"