Page 157 (1/2)

“Cuz she’s dead?”

Jude drew in a sharp breath, waiting for a pain that didn’t quite come It was there, of course, in that one aord, but it left quickly, and she was surprised to find that she could still s, to say it out loud, rather than to hide it away “Yeah Now it’s so she left for us ”

“What was she like, Nana?” Grace asked, and Jude wondered how long Grace had held that question back, afraid to ask it of anyone in her family

“She was like … a beautiful, fragile flower Until she met your mom, she was afraid of her own shadow and lonely … so lonely ” She wiped her eyes “She wanted to be an actress, and I think she could have made it All those quiet years weren’t wasted Mia was alatching people, soaking up the world around her When she got onstage, she was a different girl completely Your mo out for her first play ”

Miles appeared in the doorway “What’s this? You two look like you’re having a party without me ”

“We are, Papa!” Grace said, scra to her feet She ran across the bed and launched herself into Miles’s open arms

“Nana was telling aveon the chain

“She was telling you about Mia?” Miles asked, looking at Jude Over Grace’s golden hair their eyespassed between theot up into his daughter’s bed and eased close to the an arm around Jude

“How have you been so strong?” she asked him

“Strong?” He sighed, and in the sound she heard the wellspring of his loss “I’ anymore,” he said “But, thank God, I’m patient ”

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly

Grace wiggled around until she edged between them Then she sat up Her pointed chin jutted out “Won’t Daddy be ?”

And suddenly Jude got it: she knehy Lexi had given Grace the ring So important to do before I leave

Lexi hadn’t just left Grace for the day The ring ood-bye

Lexi pedaled up Main Street and parked her bike in front of Scot’s office