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“Would you like a drink?” she said “We can, you knowtalk ”

“I’ve got a killer headache I think I’ll just take a shower and crash ”

She knew she could ree course He’d sit doith her and they’d begin this thing that so frightened her

She probably should force it, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he had to say anyway And what difference would a dayin spades She could show him how much she loved him later “Sure,” she said “Actually, I’m tired, too ”

They went up to bed together, and she snuggled close to him For the first time in months she fell into a deep and dreamless sleep

At five forty-five, she akened by the phone Her first thought was So

She grabbed the phone and said, “Hello?”

“Meredith? It’s Ed I’m sorry to bother you so early ”

She flicked on the bedside laainst the headboard “What is it, Ed?”

“It’s your mother She’s in the back of the orchard Field A She’suhdragging that old toboggan of yours ”

“Shit Stop her I’ll be right there ” Meredith threw back the covers and got out of bed Running around the roo to put on

“What the hell?” Jeff said, sitting up

“My eighty-so She doesn’t have Alzhei ”

“Yeah, right ”

“I’ve told Jim ” She found a pair of sweats on the floor of her closet and started dressing “He’s seen her three times in the last e He says it’s just grief She saves her crazy for me ”