Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane 1)

"Well tell them youre staying at my house across the street. Your mom will believe Cloud is back for a day. "

"If I get caught—"

"You wont. " Tully saw how worried her friend was, and she knew she should stop this plan right now. It was reckless, maybe even dangerous. But she couldnt stop the train. If she didnt do something drastic, shed sink into the gooey darkness of her own fears. Shed think about the mother whod so often and so repeatedly abandoned her, and the strangers with whom shed soon live, and the grandmother who was gone. "We wont get caught. I promise. " She turned to Kate. "You trust me, dont you?"

"Sure," Kate said slowly.

"Great. Then were going to the party. "

"Kids! Breakfast is ready. "

Kate was the first one to sit down.

Mom had just put a plate of pancakes down on the table when there was a knock at the door.

Kate jumped up. "Ill get it. " She ran for the door and yanked it open, feigning surprise. "Mom, look. Its Tully. Gosh, I havent seen you in forever. "

Mom stood near the table, wearing her zip-up, floor-length red velour robe and pink fuzzy slippers. "Hey, Tully, its good to see you again. We missed you on the camping trip this year, but I know how important your job is. "

Tully lurched forward. Looking up, she started to say something, but no sound came out of her mouth. She just stood there, staring at Kates mom.

"What is it?" her mother said, moving toward Tully. "Whats going on?"

"My gran died," Tully said softly.

"Oh, honey . . . " Mom pulled Tully into a fierce hug, holding her for a long time. Finally, Mom drew back, put an arm around Tully, and led her to the sofa in the living room.

"Turn off the griddle, Katie," Mom said without even looking back.

Kate turned off the griddle and then followed them to the living room. She hung back, standing in the curl of the archway that separated the two rooms. Neither of them seemed to care that she was there.

"Did we miss the funeral?" Mom asked gently, holding Tullys hand.

Tully nodded. "Everyone said they were sorry. I officially hate those words now. "

"People dont know what to say, thats all. "

"My favorite part was the ever popular shes in a better place. As if dead is better than being with me. "

"And your mom?"

"Lets just say she doesnt call herself Cloud for nothing. She came and went. " Tully glanced at Kate and added quickly, "But shes here for now. Were staying across the street. "

"Of course she is," Mom said. "She knows you need her. "

"Can I spend the night there tonight, Mom?" Kate asked; her heart was beating so hard and fast, she was sure her mom could hear it. She tried to look completely trustworthy, but since she was lying, she expected her mother to see through it.

Mom didnt even look at Kate. "Of course. You girls need to be together. And you remember this, Tully Hart: Youre the next Jessica Savitch. You will survive this. I promise. "

"You really think so?" Tully asked.

"I know so. You have a rare gift, Tully. And you can be certain that your gran is in Heaven watching out for you. "

Kate felt a sudden urge to butt in, to step forward and ask her mother if she believed she could change the world. She even went so far as to move forward and open her mouth, but before she could form the question, she heard Tully say,

"Ill make you proud, Mrs. M. I promise I will. "

Kate paused. She had no idea how she could make her mother proud; she wasnt like Tully. Kate had no rare gift.