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Show 237 Billy's face flamed redder now, his eyes blazed: he was growing angry, that she would not forgive him. Sharon tried to think of something to say, without offending Billy-but at that moment, thank god, Robbie came sweeping into the room with the drinks. Sharon and Lynn hopped up, making sudden conversation, so that it would all pass off. With his natural flair Robbie handed the glasses around for a toast, he called Peggy and Carla in from the kitchen. Peggy held back for a moment, disappearing back into the recesses of the kitchen, and then coming out with a shot glass of brandy. "Here," Peggy said to Granny, "this will warm your old bones up." Granny took it in both her hands, smiling up at Peggy from her rocker, and then smiling at the rest of them-even Billy-a child's delight in her wrinkled face. They drank to the year, to the year coming, and then to Billy and Carla-the engagement. There was not enough room for them all to sit, so Robbie and Billy stood talking in the doorway. Peggy came over and sat beside Sharon on the couch, she put her arm around her and hugged her tightly. "God, it's good to see you," Peggy said. "I can't believe it: everyone here. And healthy." "It's been a long time," Sharon said. "God-hasn't it?" Sharon absorbed the life of the room into herself-the clan closeness of it, breathing it into herself. Oh, how she needed this! Oh, how she loved them! She turned away from Peggy, so Peggy could |