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When the holidays caht of their treasured collectibles would soain and make them the family theyd been before

During the girlfriend hour, while she sipped her glass of wine and told Aunt Georgia and Mo up well, she started to cry

Mom took her hand "Its okay, honey Let it out "

But she was afraid to do that "Im fine," she said "Its been a difficult year, thats all "

The doorbell rang

Aunt Georgia got up "Thats probably Rick and Kelli "

It was Tully Standing on the porch, wearing a winter-white three-quarter-length casheous There were enough presents in her arirlfriend hour without me If you did, youll have to start it over "

"You said you had to go to Berlin," Kate said, wishing shed dressed a little better and put on some makeup

"And miss Christmas? Hardly " She set the presents down beneath the tree and pulled Kate into a hug

Kate hadnt realized how ht then

Tully turned the quiet girlfriend hour into a party At one oclock, long after they were supposed to have put the turkey in the oven, Mo to ABBA and Elton John, singing at the top of their lungs

Kate stood by the tree The room seemed lit from within suddenly Hoas it that Tully could be the life of any party so easily? Maybe it was because she didnt do any of the scut work—no cleaning or cooking or laundry for Tully

Johnny ca "Hey, you," he said

"Hey "

All around the "The Tiirlfriend, and Uncle Ralph Mo to the music with Marah in her arms