Tully sat onstage, in the cream-colored chair that was hers. The pale color made her look more vibrant, larger than life. She leaned forward to talk intimately with both the audience and the camera.
Kate was instantly hooked. While she watched Tully reveal her makeup and hair secrets to the rest of America, Kate paid bills and dusted the Levolor blinds and folded laundry. After the show, she clicked off the television and sat down again to work on her Christmas list. She was so engrossed in this project, it took her a moment to realize her phone was ringing. She glanced around, saw the cordless phone on the floor under a pile of Legos, and answered it. "Hello?"
"Kate, is this you?"
"Yes. "
"Thank goodness. Its Ellen, from Woodward. Im calling because Marah isnt in her fourth-period class. If you forgot to sign her out, thats—"
"I didnt forget," Kate said, realizing how sharp she sounded. "Sorry, Ellen. Marah is supposed to be in class. Let me guess: Emily Allen and Sharyl Burton are absent, too. "
"Oh, boy," Ellen said. "Do you know where they are?"
"I have a pretty good idea. When I find them Ill call you. Thanks, Ellen. "
"Sorry, Kate. "
She hung up the phone and glanced at the clock: 12:42.
It didnt take an advanced degree to figure out where the girls were. Today was Thursday, the day the new movies opened at the Pavillion. Coincidentally, that new teen queen—Kate couldnt remember her name—had a new movie out.
Kate grabbed her purse and headed out, pulling into the Pavillion lot at just before one. Trying not to be royally pissed took some real effort, and by the time shed spoken to the manager, walked through the darkened theaters, found the girls, and herded them back into the lobby, she was losing the battle.
But her anger was nothing compared to her daughters.
"I cant believe you did that," Marah said when they reached the parking lot.
Kate ignored the tone and said tightly, "I told you you could see the Saturday matinee with your friends. "
"If my room was clean. "
Kate didnt bother to answer. "Come on, girls. Out to the car. Theyre waiting for you at school. "
The girls climbed quietly into the backseat, murmuring how sorry they were.
"Im not sorry," Marah said, slamming her door and yanking her seat belt into place. "We only missed dumb old algebra. "
Starting the car, Kate drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road. "You are supposed to be in school. Period. "
"Oh. Like youd never take me out of class to see a movie," Marah said. "I must have dreamed I saw Harry Potter on a school day. "
"In the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished category," Kate said, trying not to raise her voice.
Marah crossed her arms. "Tully would understand. "
Kate pulled into the circular drive in front of the middle school and parked. "Okay, girls, theyre waiting for you at the office. "
Emily groaned. "My moms gonna flip out. "
When they were alone in the car, Kate turned to her daughter.
"Dad would understand," Marah said. "He knows how much movies and modeling mean to me. "
"You think so?" Kate pulled out her cell phone and hit the speed-dial list, then handed it to Marah. "Tell him. "
"Y-you tell him. "
"I didnt skip school and go to the movies. " She held the phone out.