Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane 1)

Tully was stunned at the sight of her friend. She looked tired and sick and smaller somehow, as if shed just taken a beating.

"Katie?" Tully said, worried.

"Thanks, Tully," she answered, giving her a wan smile.

"Aunt Tully said shed take us to the concert in her limo," Marah said. "And chaperone us. "

"Your aunt is a moron," Johnny snapped. "Her wacko mother dropped her on her head. Now get your stuff. Were going home. "

"But—"

"No buts, Marah," Kate said. "Get your things. "

Marah put on a real show—sighing, stomping, uttering, whining. Then she gave Tully a fierce hug, whispered, "Thanks for trying," and left the condo with Johnny.

Tully waited for Kate to say something.

"Dont promise her things without asking us, okay?" was all Kate said; her voice was a monotone, not even angry. "It just makes it harder. " She turned to leave.

"Katie, wait—"

"Not tonight, Tul. Im exhausted. "

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Tully was worried about Kate and Marah. For most of the past week, shed tried to figure out how to fix things between them, but nothing had come to her. Now she was at her desk, looking over her script notes for today.

Her phone rang. It was her assistant. "Tully. The McAdamses are here. From the rehab show. "

"Send them in. "

The couple that walked through her door on that icy November morning bore only the most surface resemblance to the people whod been on her first live show. Mr. McAdams had lost at least twenty pounds and no longer walked hunched over, with his head pulled down into his shoulders. Mrs. McAdams had cut her hair, put on makeup, and was smiling. "Wow," Tully said, "you two look great. Please, sit down. "

Mr. McAdams held his wifes hand. Together they sat down on the expensive black leather sofa that faced the windows. "Were sorry to bother you. We know how busy you are. "

"Im never too busy for friends," Tully said, giving them her PR smile. Hitching one leg over the end of her desk, she looked down at them.

"We just wanted to say thank you," Mrs. McAdams said. "I dont know if you know anyone with a drug or alcohol problem . . . "

Tullys smile faded. "I do, actually. "

"We can be mean and selfish and angry and resistant. I wanted to change. Lord knows, I wanted to quit every day, but I didnt. Until you put the spotlight on me and I actually saw my life. "

"You cant imagine how youve helped us," Mr. McAdams said. "We just wanted to say thank you. "

Tully was so moved by their words it took her a moment to respond. "Thats what I wanted to do with the live show: change someones life. It means a lot to me that it worked. "

Her phone rang.

"Excuse me. " She answered it. "What is it?"

"John is on line one, Tully. "

"Thanks. Put him through. " When he came on the line, she said, "Too lazy to walk fifty feet to my office? You must be getting old, Johnny. "

"I need to talk to you, and not over the phone. Can I buy you a beer?"

"Where and when?"