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Show Woodworth/15^ and she was in a coma. It was the day before she died." Again, Kathy pauses, and the four of them stare at the ground, into their drinks, at the pool. Over head, a group of sparrows dash freely across the sky, quick calligraphers against the pink/blue { • M M of evening. "But you know," Kathy says, her voice pulling them back, "I've always believed that she heard me, even though she couldn't answer- Mothers can hear anything. No matter whether it is said out loud, or just communicated without words. Or whether they are fully awake or in a coma. It's like, if a child was part of your body once, it always is. I always knew that she heard me." "Hey,"these people came to dinner, and we're letting them starve in the dark," Gray exclaims. His voice sounds uncommonly loud, and Ruth looks at Kathy to see if she is insulted by his attack on her mood. But she smiles at him warmly. "Do you think the coals are hot enough yet?" she asks him. "Hot yet? I'd be surprised if they are still burning. I put them on hours ago." "You're supposed to let them burn until they are practically ashes," Kathy says, standing up. "You never let them burn long enough.." "If I cooked things when you thought the fire was ready, It'd be breakfast by the time we could eat." "No, look." Kathy peers into the barbecue, and Ruth is acutely aware of Ned sitting beside her, both of them watching the Grayson's. He's avoiding her eyes. Kathy and Gray poke and probe at the fire. "See? It's practically ashes the way it is. And you only need to wait until the flame dies down, anyway," Gray says. |