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She took another sip of her , she saw the barest outline of Bainbridge Island Moonlight painted the forested hills silver She wanted to look away but couldnt It had been three weeks since the broadcast Twenty-one days Her heart still felt cracked beyond repair The things Kate had said to her kept running on an endless loop through her et, she saw theazine or on the Internet Her own mother didnt even love hertheres your icon: a wo, shes probably never said I love you to another hu

How could Kate have said that? And then not called to apologizeor to say helloor even to wish her a happy birthday?

She finished the drink and set the e out across the black expanse of water Behind her, she heard the phone ring She knew it! She ran back into the condo, pushed through the people crowded in her living roo the door shut behind her

"Hello," she said, a little out of breath

"Hey, Tully, happy birthday "

"Hey, Mrs M I knew youd call I could coht now We could—"

"You have to ht with Katie "

She sat down on the end of her bed "I was only trying to help "

"But you didnt help Surely you see that?"

"Did you hear the things she said toto help her and she told all of America" She couldnt even say it That was how y "

There was a long pause on the other end, then a tired sigh "Oh, Tully "

She heard the disappointain in the police station No words came to her, for once

"I love you like a daughter," Mrs M finally said "You know that, but"

Like a daughter There was a whole sea in that single word, an ocean of distance

"You have to see how you hurt her "