Kate shrugged, but scooted to the left to make room for her mom.
"You know, Katie, life is—"
Kate couldn't help groaning. Not another life-is speech.
Mom surprised her by laughing. "Okay, no more speeches. Maybe you're too old for that." She paused at the altar on the dresser. "You haven't made one of these since Georgia was in chemo. Who needs our prayers?"
"Tully's mom has cancer and she was ra—" She snapped her mouth shut, horrified by what she'd nearly revealed. For most of her life she'd told her mother everything; now she had a best friend, though, so she'd need to be careful.
Mom sat down on the bed beside Kate, just as they did after every fight. "Cancer? That's quite a load for a girl your age to carry."
"Tully seems cool with it."
"Does she?"
"She seems cool with everything," Kate said, unable to keep the pride out of her voice.
"How so?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"I'm too old, huh?"
"I didn't say that."
Mom smoothed the hair off Kate's forehead in a touch that was as familiar as breathing. Kate always felt five years old when her mom did that. "I'm sorry you thought I was judging your friend."
"You should be."
"And you're sorry for being so mean to me, right?"
Kate couldn't help smiling. "Yeah."
"I'll tell you what: Why don't you invite Tully over for dinner Friday night?"
"You'll love her. I know you will."
"I'm sure I will," Mom said, kissing her forehead. "'Night."
"'Night, Mom."
Long after her mother had left and the house had gone quiet for the night, Kate lay there, too wound up to sleep. She couldn't wait to invite Tully for dinner. Afterward, they could watchI Dream of Jeannie,or play Operation, or practice putting on makeup. Maybe Tully would even want to spend the night. They could—
Tap.
—talk about boys and kissing and—
Tap.
Kate sat up. That wasn't a bird on the roof or a mouse in the walls.
Tap.
It was a small rock, hitting the glass!
She threw the covers back and hurried to the window, shoving it open.
Tully was in her backyard, holding a bike beside her. "Come on down," she said, much too loudly, making a hurry gesture with her hand.
