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Tully smoothed the hair away from her face and opened the door

A s a foil-covered casserole dish Electric-blue eye shadow accentuated her brown eyes, and rose-hued blush—applied with too heavy a hand—created the illusion of sharp cheekbones in her round face "You her soirls voice, full of enthusiasm, and it matched the sparkle in her eyes "I, but your line has been busy "

Tully pictured the phone by her mothers bed off the hook "Oh "

"I brought you and your ine she doesnt feel o, so I know the drill " She soing to invite me in?"

Tully froze This is going to be bad, she thought "Umsure "

"Thank you " Mrs Mularkey moved past her and went into the house

Cloud lay on the sofa, sort of spread-eagled; she had a pile ofblearily, she tried to sit up and failed The failure h The whole house reeked of pot

Mrs Mularkey caie from next door," she said

"Iain to sit up "Its cool to meet you "

"And you "

For a terrible, aard moment, they just stared at each other Tully had no doubt at all that Mrs Mularkeys sharp eyes saw everything—the bong under the end table, the bag of Maui-ie on the floor, the overturned, elass, and the pizza boxes on the table "Also, I wanted to let you know that Im home most days, and Id be happy to drive you to the doctors office or run errands I kno chemo can make you feel "

Cloud frowned blearily "Whos got cancer?"

Mrs Mularkey turned to look at Tully, anted to curl up and die

"Tully, show our cool neighbor with the food where the kitchen is "

Tully practically ran for the kitchen In that pink hell, junk food wrappers covered the table, dirty dishes clogged the sink, and overflowing ashtrays were everywhere; more evidence of her pathetic life for her best friends mother to see