beranup,holdingthetinykitten,aballofpaleorange,inheraroothedherhair,sling”can”sheasked
”no,”carolinerepliedasshealdorosallergic”””phoebeplained,butsheycake”
”oo,”dorosaid,puttingonearroundphoebesshoulders”ioingonatrip,dontforget,soitsothersandalsbecausetheyvebeenrriedfiveyears””ingonthetrip,”phoebesaid
”oh,no,sethisisagroeandtrace”
phoebesexpressionentasaercurial,quicksilverontheworld”hey,sightlikesocrea
shefoughtasleandthengavein,nodding,distraontfroerloss”great,”alsaid,takingherhand,caroline
”donttakethatcatinside,”carolinewaed
shefilledatrayovedangherguests,stillrvelingshepson,therofphoebe,thetidansshetuedtolookatthehouse,thepalebriiledatheextthought,strangelyapropos:ifirdsandraatesfliutedbythelaughingvoiontcarolinestoodstill,thinkingofal,hishandsreachingforherinthedarknessofthenighttoethisishappiness,shetoldherselfthisiseansthepartylasteduntilelevendoroandtracelingeredafterthelastguestshadleft,carryingtraysofcupsandleftovercake,vasesoffloulated,overehdorosleaving,hgreatheavingsobsthatleftherbreathless”dontdoanyre,”carolinesaid,stoppingdoroatthetopofthesteps,brushingpastthedense,suppleleavesofthelilacsshehadplantedthishedgethreeyearsago,andnoorroustbeeagertobeoff””ia”dorosaid,hervoieivespente,ixcitedtobegoing””youcanaleback,”carolinesaid,fightingasuddensotion”ihopeiorethanavisit,anyeon,”shesaid”letsgositontheporch”theyovingbyontheparkores,bigasplates,flutteredagainstthestreetlights”youissthetraffic,”carolinesaid
”no,thatstrueitusedtobesoquiettheyusedtoclosetheiddleoftheroad,righthere”beringthatlongagonightoonlightfloodedthelasandheronsrisingfrohefieldsofdoroschildhoodthescreendoorseppedout
”ready,doro”
”justabout,”shesaid
”illgogetthecar,then,andbringitaroundfront”heetothisdoor,phoebeaninfantinherarshehadstoodrighthere,ingtoseewouldhappen”eisyourflight”sheasked
”earlyateightoh,sightfly”
”illssyou,”carolinesaid”phoebeoo”
doronodded”iknoeverywhere”
headlightspoureddoinginawave
”itsthecalloftheroad”heshouted
”beylifeallthoseyearsago,youknow”
”honey,yousavedoo”doropulleda”itsyourhouseno”andthendorohesteps,heresercatchinginthehecarandwavinggoodbye;shewasgonecarolineergeontothecrosstoeouthdrinks,pushingthedooropenhhisfoottheysatdoheswing”so,”alsaid”niceparty”
”itexhausted”
”haveenoughenergytoopenthis”alasked
syeeringtheedallionhadglintedintheldlightofalscabandhoonthslater,phoebestinyhandhadcaughtit”itsbeautiful,”shesaid,pressingthesothheartagainstherofhand””iightbekindofhokey,butthisressiknoihopeyoudo””ido,”inhis”igotsothingforyoutoo”shehandedhislleto”heopenedtheboxandtookoutanewbrasskey
”sthis,thekeytoyourheart”
shelaughed”noitsakeytothishouse”
”helocks”
”no”carolinepushedatthesto
