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Ten

For the next few days, Jude felt a little unsteady, adrift A bullet had been dodged, there was no doubt about that Lexi had soh on the plans that had been made It should have been a more than satisfactory conclusion, and it was, but like all co had been lost by everyone There was a fissure in this house now, a resentment that was new Jude couldn’t rery at her Zach, her pliable, lovable boy, had becoer who slouched in his chair and mumbled his sentences He was pissed at his sister and his mother—and maybe at Lexi, who knew?—and he wanted everyone to know it

Jude had tried to give him space In the days since the blowup, she’d walked carefully around hierated care, but the price to her was high She si on the outs with her children Last night, she’d hardly slept at all for worrying about it Instead she’d lain in bed, staring up at the ceiling, envisioning one conversation after another In her i about their differences … and he rededicated himself to USC and his sister So we are, Madre, don’t worry so much, it’s cool, thanks …

Now, she stood at her bedroo fell across the water

Tonight was the last big high school party of the year—the grad barbeque Truth be told, she didn’t want to let thes to discuss, but she knew nothing would be solved tonight And if she denied theain But toh all this draether; she’d be daers

“Mo it wide “Can I talk to you?”

That was fast becoerous sentence Jude turned, forced a smile “Of course, honey ”

Mia looked beautiful in the bright late-afternoon light She was dressed for the party in a pair of ragged, cutoff jeans with carefully placed holes, a tight white T-shirt, and a vintageoff her slim shoulders Her hair had been drawn back from her face in a loose ponytail; several red metallic baby barrettes held the tiny wisps out of her eyes “You look sad ”

“I’m fine ”

Mia caainst her Side by side, supported by each other, they stared out the“He loves her, Mom ”

“What does that—”

Mia turned, tilted her face up “He loves her ”

Jude fell silent For the first time, the words actually resonated Love All this tie She’d told herself they were too young to understand their own lives But it was true, their love; it ht not last, but it was real

“I’o to school with me, and you knohat the worst part is? They’ve stuck with me ”

Jude touched her daughter’s cheek, seeing the pain in Mia’s eyes This daughter of hers was so sensitive “Of course they have They’ll always be there for you ”