Page 74 (1/2)

For days Tully focused on nothing else She handled the details and took care of everything while the Ryans and the Mularkeys sat together on the beach, holding hands and occasionally re to talk

Tully prepared herself for the day, as well, re herself that she was a professional; she could s

But when the time came, and they actually pulled up in front of the church, she panicked "I can't do this," she said

Johnny reached for her hand She waited for co words, but he had none

While they sat there in silence, with the kids in the backseat, all of the at the church, the Mularkeys pulled up beside them and parked

It was ti for strength in nu of mourners and up the massive stone church steps and into the church

"We're in the left front row," Mrs M said, sidling close

Tully looked down at Marah, as crying quietly, and the sight broke her

She wanted to cohter, tell her it would be okay, but they both knew better than that "She loved you so limpse of their future then They'd be friends soive her the journal and they'd share the stories of who her ether and bring Kate back for a few precious moments

"Couys go up I' to stand here for a minute"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure"

Johnny squeezed her shoulder and then ushered the boys and Marah forward Mr and Mrs M, Sean, Georgia, and the rest of the family followed; they all ducked into the front row and sat down

Up front an organ began to play a slow, plodding version of "You and Me Against the World"

Tully didn't want to be here for this She didn't want to listen to pathetic ned to make you cry, or listen to the priest tell stories about the woman he'd knoas only a shadow of the woe of pictures of Kate's life splashed on a giant screen above her coffin

Before she could even think about it, she turned and walked out

Sweet, fresh air filled her lungs She gulped it greedily, trying to calh the door, she heard the e to "One Sweet Day"

She closed her eyes, leaning back against the door

"Ms Hart?"

Startled, she opened her eyes and saw the funeral director standing on the bottoht clothes for the burial and pictures for the ive you this" He held out a big black box

"I don't understand"

"She entrusted ive it to you on the day of her funeral She said you'd be standing out front when it started"