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Show 70 she could sense Jeanne turning over in her mind. Until Jeanne suddenly relaxed, releasing herself with a long tremble, and throwing her arms around Sharon, hugging her back. For a second they held each other. Until the door opened and Katie stepped in, her mouth set in a harsh line; she demanded, "What's the matter now?" "I was just feeling bad," Jeanne said hesitantly, wiping her tear-stained face, "about Marty." "He'll be all right," Katie said with that hard edge in her voice, "David's with him now, putting on his pajamas. Now tell me," a rising ugliness swept her face-a terrible ugliness, twisting her features, "just what happened down there?" "Daddy told Marty to get to bed," Jeanne said slowly, "and when Marty just ignored him, well, Daddy grabbed him by the hair, the next time Marty ran by. So Marty would listen to what he was saying." "That bastard." "It was an accident," Jeanne protested weakly. "Marty was running fast, and well, it was an accident. Really." Katie took a deep breath. Holding it-holding herself, in suspension. Her face reflecting an inner struggle. As if something were eating on her. Eating on the inside of her. And by holding her breath like this, she could control it. She could subdue it, could overcome it somehow. Slowly she released her breath, regaining herself. "Daddy looked funny," Jeanne ventured, "when he saw what he had done." "Good for him," Katie said bitterly, "good for him." |