"Where and when?"
"Virginia Inn?"
She laughed. "God, I haven't been there in years."
"Liar. Come to my office at three-thirty."
She hung up the phone and turned her attention back to the McAdamses, who were standing now.
"Well," Mr. McAdams said, "we've said what we came to. I hope you can help other folks like you've done for us."
She went to them, shook their hands. "Thank you. If you don't mind, can I schedule a follow-up show for next year? To show America your progress."
"Sure."
She walked them to the door, said goodbye, and went back to her desk. For the next few hours, while she made notes for tomorrow's show, she found herself smiling.
She'd done some good with her show. She'd changed the McAdamses' lives.
At three-thirty, she closed up the folder, grabbed her coat, and went to Johnny's office. Together, talking about ideas for the upcoming shows, they walked up the block toward the Public Market and turned into the dank, smoky bar on the corner.
He led her to the back wall, took a seat at one of the small wooden tables by the window. Before she even sat down, he flagged down a waitress, ordered a Corona for himself and a dirty martini for her. She waited until the drinks were delivered before she said, "Okay, what's wrong?"
"Have you talked to Kate lately?"
"No. I think she's pissed at me over the concert. Or maybe it's still the modeling thing. Why?"
He ran a hand through his unruly hair. "I can't believe I'm going to say this about my own daughter, but Marah's being a first-rate bitch. Slamming doors, yelling at her brothers, ignoring her curfew, refusing to do her chores. She and Kate battle all day, every day. It's wearing Kate out. She's lost weight. Isn't sleeping."
"Have you thought about boarding school?"
"Kate would never go." He smiled tiredly at his own joke. "Honest to God, Tully. I'm worried about her. Will you talk to her?"
"Of course, but it sounds like she needs more than a friendly talk. Should she see someone?"
"Like a shrink? I don't know."
"Depression is common in at-home moms. Remember that show we did on it?"
"That's what worries me. I need you to find out if it's something I should worry about or not. You know her so well."
Tully reached for her drink. "You can count on me."
He smiled, but it looked tired. "I know that."
On Saturday, Tully called Johnny first thing in the morning. "I've got it," she said when he answered.
"What are you going to do?"
"Take her to the Salish Lodge. Get her relaxed and massaged. That sort of thing. And we'll talk."
"She'll tell you she's busy and blow you off."
"Then I'll kidnap her."
"You think you can make it work?"
"Have you ever seen me fail?"
