"Come on, Im taking you home. "
"But . . . " Kate glanced at the window at the far end of the school. "One of them might need me. "
"Theyre going into kindergarten, not open-heart surgery, and youve got things to do. "
Kate sighed, wiping her eyes. "I know its stupid. "
Tully squeezed her hand. "Its not stupid. I remember my first day of school. I was so jealous of the kids who had moms that cried. "
"I really appreciate you being here for me today. I know how hard it is for you to leave the studio. "
"My producer gave me the day off," she said with a smile. "I think he has the hots for my best friend. "
Together, they walked down the tree-lined sidewalk to their parking spot. Kate climbed into the drivers seat of her new blue SUV and started up the engine.
Tully immediately leaned forward in her own seat and popped a CD into the stereo. Rick Springfields voice blared through the speakers, singing "Jessies Girl. "
Kate laughed. By the time theyd driven out of the school lot, stopped at the coffee stand drive-through for their lattes, and arrived back home, she definitely felt better.
In her messy, toy-strewn living room, she collapsed into Johnnys favorite overstuffed chair and put her feet up on the ottoman. "What now, fearless leader? Are we going shopping?"
"In the ridiculous three hours we have, not likely. You should have put them in the all-day program. "
Kate had heard it before. "Im well aware of your opinion on that. I happen to like my kids around me. "
"Actually, I have a better plan, anyway. " Tully flopped down on the sofa. "Were going to talk about your writing. "
Kate almost dropped her latte. "M-my writing?"
"You always said you were going to start writing again when the boys were in school. "
"Give me some time, will you? They just started. Lets talk about the show instead. Johnny tells me that—"
"I can see through your feeble tactics. You think Ill forget everything else if you talk about me. "
"Its usually true. "
"Touché. So, what will you write about?"
Kate felt exposed suddenly. "Its an old dream, Tully. "
"Well, youre getting old, so its perfect. "
"Has anyone ever told you that youre a coldhearted bitch?"
"Only the men who date me. Come on, Katie. Talk to me. I see how tired you are all the time. I know you need something more in your life. "
This was the last thing that Kate would have expected; that Tully, as on top of the world as she was, would notice her depression. At the realization, the fight went out of her. In truth, she was exhausted lately by the pretense, anyway. "Its more than just that. I feel . . . lost. What I have should be enough, but somehow it isnt. And Marah is wearing me down. Everything I do is wrong. I love her so much and she treats me like last years shoes. "
"Its the age. "
"That excuse is wearing a little thin. Maybe I should let her take the modeling class shes so jazzed about. I just hate to think of her in a world like that. "
"P. S. : Were talking about you, here," Tully said. "Look, Katie, I dont know what youre going through, but I know about wanting more. Sometimes you have to fight for the thing that will complete you. "
"Says the woman who has to borrow my family when she needs one. "
Tully smiled. "Were quite a pair, arent we?"