"I'm being discharged right now. How about tomorrow? TenA.M."
"We'll see you then."
Tully hung up the phone and shrieked. "That was KLUE-TV. They want to hire me!"
"Oh, my gosh," Kate said, jumping up and down. "You're going to be a star. I knew it. I can't wait to—" She stopped in the middle of her sentence; her smile fell.
"What?"
"Chad."
Tully felt something twist deep inside her. She wanted to pretend there was something to think about, a decision to be made, but she knew the truth, and so did Kate.
"You're going to be a huge star," Kate said firmly. "He'll understand."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kate pretended to focus all of her attention on driving Tully's car, but it wasn't easy. Ever since she'd picked her up from the interview, Tully hadn't stopped talking, spinning out the old little-girl dreams.We're on our way, Kate. As soon as I get an anchor spot, I'll make sure they hire you as a reporter.
Kate knew she should put the brakes—finally—on this dual future of theirs. She was tired of following Tully, and besides, she didn't want to quit her job. She had a reason, finally, to stay where she was.
Johnny.
How pathetic was that? He didn't love her, but she couldn't help thinking that maybe with Tully gone, she'd have a chance.
It was ridiculous, and embarrassing, but her dreams centered more on him and less on broadcasting. Not that she could admit that to anyone. Twenty-five-year-old college-educated women were expected to dream of more money and higher positions on the corporate ladder and running the very companies that had refused to hire their mothers. Husbands were to be avoided in the pre-thirty years. There was always time for marriage and children; was the common refrain. You couldn't give upyouforthem.
But what if you wantedthemmore than you wanted a singular, powerful you? No one ever talked about that. Kate knew that Tully would laugh at such thoughts, say Kate was stuck in the fifties. Even her mother would say she was wrong and bring up that weighted word:regret. She'd parrot the words that filled the pages ofMs. magazine—that beingjusta mother was a waste of talent. Her mother wouldn't even notice how sad she looked as she spoke, as if the life she'd chosen had been for nothing.
"Hey, you missed the turn."
"Oh. Sorry." Kate turned at the next block and circled back, pulling up in front of Chad's house. "I'll wait here. I've gotThe Talismanto finish."
Tully didn't open her door. "He'll understand why I can't marry him yet. He knows how much this means to me."
"He certainly knows," Kate agreed.
"Wish me luck."
"Don't I always?"
Tully got out and walked up to the front door.
Kate opened her paperback and dove into the story. It wasn't until much later that she looked up, noticing it had begun to rain.
Tully should have come back by now, told her to drive on home, that she'd be spending the night with Chad. Kate closed the book and got out of the car. As she walked up the cement path, she had a bad feeling that something was wrong.
She knocked twice, then opened the door.
Tully was in an empty living room, kneeling in front of the fireplace, crying.
Tully handed her a piece of paper that was splotched with tears. "Read it."
Kate sat back on her heels and looked down at the bold black handwriting.
Dear Tully,
I was the one who recommended you to KLUE, so I know all about the job you've come to tell me about, and I'm proud of you, baby. I knew you could do it.
