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I peeled the packaging off the Band-Aid and wrapped it gently around Tania’s toe, which she was holding out toward me like an injured child In many ways, I felt she was an injured childan injured child as carrying a child inside of her in h "Does that feel better?"

"Yes, thank you I’h her tears "I’m sorry I’m so sorry for what happened to Jared It was allGary, I should have believed hi to hurt so hi you?"

"Not blackmail," Tania said quickly "Alimony Well, sort of ali pop into o all the way

Take me to court

It’ll make my day

So sueShe’d not only written it herself, she’d lived it

Frankly, I didn’t think she owed hi, but apparently a New York divorce court disagreed

"--but mostly I’m sorry for what I did to you, Heather, with Jordan," she went on "I knerong I knew Jordan ith you, but it was like I couldn’t control et away from Gary somehow, and I couldn’t do it on my own, and I knewI don’t know It was like a part of me knew you’d always be okay?" Tears dripped off her pointed chin "I don’t ood excuse, but that’s why I did what I did I’ I’m so sorry--"

"Shhh," I said to her "It’s okay" She was starting to sob hysterically Nothing she said h toat her toe until it bled, for notlove, one of the basic hu with her, so broken, and yet she was one of the most successful women in the music industryat least for the moment I couldn’t help wonder what her fans--what anyone--would think if they knew the truth about Tania Trace

No wonder she was so desperate to hide it

"Listen, all of that’s in the past," I said, desperate to get her to stop crying "I forgive you And I’"

"Are you sure?" she asked Baby had cla her tears, but Tania paid no attention "That makes me feel so much better Pluswell, I really do love Jordan As soon as we started singing together, I knew Our voices blend I don’t know if you’ve ever heard his song ‘Triple A,’ but I sing backup on it I heard that ringing sound in , just like I used to with my old choir"

"You mean with Gary," I said

"Gary?" She looked confused "Gary and I never perfor I’d heard, "you told ot a first in Statethat he led you there"

"Of course," she said "Because Mr Hall was the conductor He was the greatest teacher I ever had"

"Wait a un to creep over me, sort of like one of the cockroaches Tania had erator, it was skittering down h school choir teacher?"

She nodded "Yes," she said "Did I not mention that?"

Chapter 18

I Don’t Care

I don’t care

About the time you won the race

I don’t care