"Excellent idea. We haven't been totally toasted in years."
"Like, fer sure." Kate laughed.
"We have massages in thirty minutes, though, so we'll have to wait a while."
"Massages." Kate looked at her. "Thanks, Tully. I needed this."
It wasn't enough by a long shot. Tully could see that now. Katie needed real help, not a few shots of tequila and a mud wrap, and she needed her best friend to find the answer. "If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?"
"Marah," she said softly. "I'd get her to talk to me again."
Like magic, Tully knew what to do. "Why don't you come on my show? You and Marah. We'll do a mother-daughter segment. Live would be best so she knows there's no editing. She'll see how much you love her and how lucky she is."
Hope took ten years off Kate's face. "You think it would work?"
"You know how badly Marah wants to be on TV. She'd never let herself look bad in front of the camera. She'd have to listen to you then."
That tired desperation finally left Kate's eyes. In its stead was a bright anticipation. "What would I do without you, Tully?"
Tully's smile felt too big for her face. She could help her friend through all this, maybe even save her life. Just like they promised all those years ago. "We'll never have to find out."
"Will your makeup people hide my wrinkles?"
Tully laughed. "Believe me, when they get done, you'll look younger than Marah."
"Perfect."
Kate returned from the spa with a new attitude. The moment she walked into the house, Marah started in on her, complaining about some event she couldn't attend because of her curfew, but for once the words were arrows that found no target and clattered uselessly to the ground.Soon,Kate thought, smiling to herself,soon we'll find a way back to each other.
She put her clothes away, took a nice long bath, then gathered her boys into her arms for a story. They were just falling asleep when Johnny poked his head in.
"Shh," she said, closing the book. Kissing each little forehead, she tucked the boys into bed, then went to her husband.
"Did you guys have a good time?" Johnny said, pulling her into his arms.
"Great. Tully has a plan—"
Downstairs, the doorbell rang. Marah's voice followed: "I'll get it!"
Johnny and Kate frowned at each other. "It's Sunday night," Kate said. "She's not allowed to have kids over on a school night."
But when they got downstairs, they saw Mom and Dad in the living room, carrying suitcases.
"Mom?" Kate said. "What's going on?"
"Tully sent us over to watch the kids for a week. The car outside is going to take you two to the airport. Tully said to pack bathing suits and sunscreen. That's all you get to know."
"I can't leave work," Johnny said. "We've got Senator McCain on."
"Tully's your boss, isn't she?" Dad said. "I guess if she says you're taking a vacation, you're taking a vacation."
Kate and Johnny looked at each other. They'd never taken a vacation away from the kids.
"It might be nice," he said, smiling.
For the next hour, they ran through the house, packing, making lists, gathering telephone numbers. Then they kissed the kids—even Marah—thanked Mom and Dad, and went out to the waiting limousine.
"She doesn't do anything halfway," Johnny said, sliding into the plush, dark interior.
