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"Probably tient"

Doht Ty's eyes in the hts "You let , okay? Wouldn't want you to drop three hundred pounds on your ribs"

Ty appreciated Do for the showers It was time to take care of some overdue business

All Julie wanted was a quiet evening at ho to brew a pot of tea, put on her most comfortable sweats, and sit on the couch with her computer on her lap until she'd cleared out her inbox She'd just put the kettle on when her cell phone rang

She wasn't going to answer it, but when her mother's private nu flew out theHer mother called for only one reason: because she was sick fro to help her

"Oh Julie, I'ain Estella can't stay the night"

Julie heard her et back into bed, Carol"

ThirtyThe lights had been dimmed and the room smelled like rum and vomit

The last time Julie had been in her parents' house, Ty had been with her He'd been so loving that night, so attuned to not only her embarrassment, but also the discomfort that wrapped around her whenever she set foot in this house

She didn't want to think about hiive him any credit--but if he'd been there for her when she needed him, ould he have turned on a scared little boy?

All week, an insistent little voice had been saying, Maybe you rong Maybe you should have listened to Ty's side of the story

Her"Julie, is that you?"

She sat down on the bed "How are you feeling?"

"Horrible I ain"

Julie nodded, even though she knew da whatsoever to do with her mother's predicament Everyone knew Carol was an alcoholic, but no one had the nerve to tell her to take hold of her life and get some help

Julie's heart squeezed tight in her chest as she finally faced a truth that had been nearly thirty years in coh to face her own personal demons, either

And yet she'd expected Ty to come clean and face all of his in the public eye

And he had Ty didn't lie about cutting ties with his alcoholic father, a h it would have been on Ty's dime

Sure, Ty had gotten swept up in thea pro athlete But at least he'd been honest about where he'd come from

Whereas she'd spent her whole life hiding behind the facade of perfection, in both her personal and business lives It wasn't right to expect Ty to change if she wouldn't step up to the plate and deal with her own big problems

Julie stood up and started opening the thick drapes one by one The sun hadn't yet set and the sky was a clear, beautiful blue

"Too bright!" her nored her

"Where's Daddy tonight?"

Her ot a late business "

Julie grabbed her phone out of her purse and dialed her father's cell "This is your daughter, Julie I'll be at your office in fifteen minutes You and I need to have a quick chat"

Carol sat up in bed, knocking off several pillows "What are you doing?"

"What 1 should have done a long tireed to is none of oing to act like one You don't really have the stomach flu"

Carol went co about? Of course I do"

Julie moved to the bed and took herthis to yourself Drinking has never solved any of your problems Please, let me help you"

Carol's tears fell onto the back of Julie's hand "I don't know if can"

Julie s woman We both are"