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Maksi “What?” He leaned even closer “I don’t understand”

“Thank you,” Nina said quietly to her mother

Mom leaned forward, kissed her cheek “My Ninotchka,” she whispered “Thank you You were the one ouldn’t let go ”

Nina should have felt pride at that, especially when she saw Meredith nodding in agree about me As usual I wanted your story, so I made you talk I never once worried about how much it could hurt you ”

Mom’s smile lit up her still-damp eyes “This is why you matter to the world, Ninotchka I should have told you this long ago, but I let your father be both our voices It is yet another of ht on hard times This is what your pictures do You do not let people look away from that which hurts I am so, so proud of what you do You saved us ”

“You did,” Meredith agreed “I would have stopped her story You got us here ”

Nina didn’t know until then hoord like proud could rock your world, but it rocked hers, and she understood love in a way she hadn’t before, the all-consu way of it

She kneould change her life, this understanding of love; she couldn’t iain And she knew, too, that there wasin Atlanta, if only she kne to reach for it Maybe torao to Atlanta? What if I said I wanted a different life than that, a different life than everyone else’s, but I wanted it with you? Would you follow me? Would you stay? What if I said I loved you?

But that would be tomorrow

“Hoill I go again?” she said, looking at Meredith and her mom “How can I leave you both?”

“We don’t need to be together to be together,” Meredith said

“Your work is who you are,” Mom said “Love makes room for that You will just come home more, I hope ”

While Nina was trying to figure out what to say to that, Maksi well ”

Mom pulled away from Meredith and Nina and went to the bed

Nina followed