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“I don’t think alcohol is her best bet these days, do you? I mean, she doesn’t knohere the hell she is half the time ”

“But does she knoho she is That’s what I want to know If I could just get her to tell us the fairy tales—”

“Screw the fairy tales,” Meredith said, more sharply than she should have At Nina’s surprised look, she realized sheher things for the move next month I think she’ll be more comfortable there if she has her stuff around her ”

“She won’t be cory “It doesn’t anized you are You’re still putting her away ”

“You going to stay, Nina? Forever? Because if you are, I’ll cancel the reservation ”

“You know I can’t do that ”

“Yeah Right You can criticize but you can’t solve ”

“I’m here now ”

Meredith glanced at the sinkful of soapy water and the now-clean dishes in the strainer “And what a help you’ve been to et soe I’ll start in the kitchen You’re more than welcome to help ”

“I’ to pack her life into boxes, Mere I want to open her up, not close her away Don’t you get it? Don’t you care?”

“No,” Meredith said, pushing past her She left the house and walked over to the garage While she waited for the auto It swelled up in her, whatever the feeling was, until her chest ached and her ar a heart attack

She doubled over and sucked in air In and out, in and out, until she was okay She started into the darkness of the garage, glad that she’d controlled herself and that she hadn’t lost it in front of Nina, but when she turned on the light, there was Dad’s Cadillac The 1956 convertible that had been his pride and joy

Frankie’s his name, after Sinatra I stole my first kiss in Frankie’s front seat

They’d gone on a dozen faone north to British Coluon, always in search of adventure On those long, dusty drives, with Dad and Nina singing along to John Denver, Meredith had felt all but invisible She didn’t like exploring roads or as It had always see like pirates at every escapade

Who needs directions? Dad would say