"Thank God you're here." Tully hit the button on her bed control until she was sitting up
"Of course I'm here, you idiot. Everyone is here. Chad, Mutt, Mom, Dad. Johnny. He and my dad have been playing cards for hours and talking about the news. Mom has made at least two new afghans. We've been so worried."
"Was I good?"
Kate laughed at that even as tears spilled down her cheeks. "That would be your first question. Johnny said you kicked Jessica Savitch's ass."
"I wonder if60 Minuteswill want to interview me."
Kate closed the distance between them. "Don't scare me like that again, okay?"
"I'll try not to."
Before Kate could say anything, the door opened and Chad stood in the doorway, holding a pair of Styrofoam coffee cups. "She's awake," he said quietly, putting the cups down on the table beside him.
"She just opened her eyes. Of course, she's more interested in her chances of winning an Emmy than in her recovery." Kate looked down at her friend. "I'll leave you two alone for a minute."
"You won't leave, though?" Tully said.
"I'll come back later, when everyone else has gone home."
"Good," Tully said. "'Cause I need you."
As soon as Kate was gone, Chad moved closer. "I thought I'd lost you."
"I'm fine," she said impatiently. "Did you see the broadcast? What do you think?"
"I think you're not fine, Tully," he said softly. "You're farther from fine than anyone I know, but I love you. And all night I've been thinking about what my life would be without you and I don't like what I see."
"Why would you lose me? I'm right here."
"Marry me, Tully."
She almost laughed, thinking it was a joke; then she saw the fear in his eyes. He really was afraid of losing her. "You mean it," she said, frowning.
"I got offered a job at Vanderbilt in Tennessee. I want you to come with me. You love me, Tully, even if you don't know it. And you need me."
"Of course I need you. Is Tennessee a top forty market?"
His rough face crumpled at that; his smile faded. "I love you," he said again, softly this time and without the kiss to seal the words and give them weight.
The door behind him opened. Mrs. Mularkey stood there, arms akimbo, wearing a cheap jean skirt and a plaid blouse with a Peter Pan collar. She looked like an extra fromFootloose. "The nurse said five more minutes with visitors and then they're throwing us all out."
Chad bent down and kissed her. It was a beautiful, haunting kiss that somehow managed both to bring them together and highlight how far apart they could be. "I loved you, Tully," he whispered.
Loved?Had he saidloved? As in past tense? "Chad—"
He turned away from the bed. "She's all yours, Margie."
"Sorry to kick you out," Mrs. Mularkey said.
"Don't worry about it. I think my time was up. Goodbye, Tully." He walked past her and left the room, letting the door bang shut behind him.
"Hey, little girl," Mrs. Mularkey said.
Tully surprised herself by bursting into tears.
Mrs. Mularkey just stroked her hair and let her cry.
