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"For the last feeeks, Ive tried to read it a bunch of times and I couldnt "

"Its okay—"

"And I figured out why We all need it " She reached over to the end table and picked up the paperback copy of The Hobbit Kate had given her It felt like a lifetihter, passed it on A lifetio, and an instant

"Yippee!" Williaonna read to us "

Lucas elbowed his brother "Shut up "

Kate put an arhters earnest, beautiful face "Okay "

Marah leaned back, settled in close to Kate, and opened the book Her voice was only a little wobbly at the start, but as the story took hold, she found her strength again "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit"

August ended too quickly and melted into a lazy September Kate tried to experience every moment of every day, but even with a positive outlook, there was no way to avoid the ugly truth: she was fading

She clung to Johnnys ar One slippered foot in front of the other; keep breathing She was so tired of being wheeled around in her chair, or carried like a child, but walking wasones that sometimes left her winded and unable to res around her

"Do you need your oxygen?" Johnny asked, bending close to her ear so the kids wouldnt hear

"I sound like Lance Ar the Tour de France " She tried to smile "No, thanks "

He got her settled on the deck in her favorite chair and tucked the wool blanket around her "Are you sure youll be okay while were gone?"

"Of course Marah needs to get to rehearsal and the boys would hate to ue And Tully will be home any minute "

Johnny laughed "I dont know I can produce an entire docurocery-shop for one meal "

Kate s a lot of new skills "