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Kate shrugged "A little blue maybe"

Marcia made a note in the chart "It's been almost exactly twelve o"

"You know us Catholic girls Rule-followers"

Marcia sloves "Okay, Kate, we'll start with the pap smear Slide on down to the end here"

For the next few nities that ca, the sa All the while she and Dr Silver made stilted, impersonal conversation They talked about the weather, the latest show at the 5th Avenue Theater, and the approaching holidays

It wasn't until nearly thirty minutes later, when the exam hadchitchat "How long have you had this discoloration on your breast?"

Kate glanced down at the quarter-sized red patch beneath her right nipple The skin was slightly puckered like an orange peel "Nine months or so Maybe a year, co bite My faht it was an infection and put me on antibiotics It went away for a while and then came back Sometimes it feels hot--that's how I know it's an infection"

Marcia stared down at Kate's breast, frowning Kate added: "I hadwas clean"

"I see that" Marcia went to the wall phone, punched in a nuet Kate in for a breast ultrasound Now Tell the up and turned around

Kate sat up "You're scaring , Kate, but I want to be sure, okay?"

"But what--"

"Let's talk e knohat's going on Janis will take you down to radiology Okay? Is your husband here?"

"Should he be?"

"No I'm sure it's fine Oh, here's Janis"

Kate's ain and being shepherded up three floors and down the hall There, after an inter and frowning, and an ultrasound

"I always do my self-exams," she said "I haven't felt a lump"

Above her, as she lay in the dark rooed a look

"What?" Kate said, hearing fear in her voice now

When the ultrasound was over, she was again shuffled out of the exa rooazines, trying to concentrate on rando except the results of the ultrasound

It'll be fine, she told herself whenever the worry crept through Nothing to worry about Cancer wasn't so that crept up on you; certainly not breast cancer There arning signs and she watched for theiously It had already struck her failant One by one, the other women left; still Kate waited

Finally, a plump, doe-eyed nurse came for her "Kathleen Ryan?"

She stood up "Yes?"

"I' to do a biopsy on you"

"Biopsy?"

"Just to be sure Come on"

Kate couldn't see her purse, she sturaular self-exams, too"

She wished suddenly that Johnny were here, holding her hand, telling her everything was going to be fine

Or Tully

She took a deep breath and tried to control her fear Once, several years ago, she'd had a bad pap s for results, but in the end she'd been fine Re in cold, turbulent water, she followed the silent nurse to the office down the hall The sign by the door read: THE GOODNO FOUNDATION CANCER CARE CENTER

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Tully akened by the phone ringing She ca She reached over and answered "Hello?"

"Is this Tallulah Hart?"

She rubbed her eyes "Yes Who is this?"

"My name is Lori Witherspoon I'm a nurse at Harborview Hospital We have your mother here Dorothy Hart"

"What happened?"

"We're not sure It looks like a drug overdose, but she was pretty badly beaten up, too The police are waiting to question her"

"Did she ask for me?"

"She's unconscious We found your naht there"

Tully got dressed in record ti lot at the hospital and went to the desk

"Hello I'm here to see my mother, Cl--uh, Dorothy Hart"

"Sixth floor, Ms Hart Go to the nurses' desk"

"Thanks" Tully went upstairs and was directed to her e nurse's uniform