Holly was proofing copy for the 6pm newscast when her phone rang. As it did, Amelia burst in. Holly held up a finger and grabbed the receiver.

"Hello?"

She couldn't hear anything but static.

"Hello?"

A pause, then "Holly?"

"Michelle? I can barely hear you."

"It's my mom. She was in a car accident."

"Were you with her? Are you okay?"

Holly looked over at Amelia, who looked like she was about to start crying.

"She died. I didn't know who else to call. Dad's not okay."

"Okay. I'm on my way."

She grabbed her purse and moved toward the door.

"I'll drive you," Amelia said.

"No, that's not necessary."

"Holly…"

"I don't have time to fight about it," she snapped. "If you're coming, we have to go now. I'm not making Michelle deal with this alone for a second longer than I have to."

Amelia nodded, grabbed her own purse and scurried behind Holly.

"How did you know?" Holly asked once they were in her car.

"It crossed wires. We were afraid you'd see it that way."

"When did it happen? The accident, I mean."

"A few hours ago."

Holly stared out the window. "I can't believe this."

"She always seemed like such a nice lady. God, her poor daughter."

"What do I even say to Michelle?"

"I don't think there's anything you CAN say," Amelia replied. "`Everything happens for a reason'? `It'll be okay'? Everything we say to grieving people is a condescending lie. Just tell her the truth. It's awful and it's never going to be fine that her mom's dead. It's always going to be wrong. She's 12, Holly. Tell her the truth. No one else will. She needs to know there's someone in her life that she can trust."

Holly fought tears back.

When Amelia pulled into the driveway, she passed Holly the keys. "I'm getting a ride back. But call me if you need anything, or if I can help here at all."

"Thanks," Holly said quietly. "I'm probably not going to be at work tomorrow."

"I don't think you should be," Amelia said. "Gilly and Roger can handle everything."

Holly nodded and walked inside.

Blake was in the kitchen. There was no sign of Ed or Michelle. Holly realized it was the first time she'd seen Blake since that day at the beach.

"What are you doing here?" Blake asked.

"Michelle called me. She asked me to come. Where's Ed?"

"At the funeral home. Ross is with him."

"Where's Michelle?"

"Upstairs, I think."

"And it didn't occur to you to see if she's okay? Or even make sure that's where she is?"

Blake looked away. "She barely knows me, Mom. I'm not who anyone wants to be around when they're having a crisis."

"It's not about you, Blake. It's about a little girl knowing that she's not alone in the world, even though I bet she feels like she is."

"Oh, and you know what to do with her, how to make her feel better? Since when are you mother of the year?"

"No, I know I'm not…but I'm at least willing to try. I owe Maureen that much."

Holly trailed off, realizing that she had was resting a hand on her stomach. She put her purse down on the counter, checking to make sure the prenatal vitamins weren't visible.

"I'm going to find Michelle."

Blake made a go ahead gesture and Holly swallowed a biting comment.

She found Michelle in her room, lying face down on the bed. She knocked lightly on the open door.

"I'm so sorry about your mom," Holly said, coming in. She started toward the bed, her hand outstretched to touch Michelle's back. Then she thought better of it and walked over to lean against her desk. She picked up a baseball and idly tossed it from one hand to the other.

Michelle didn't say anything or even turn over to face her.

Holly remembered Amelia's advice. "There's no percentage in getting older. The only good thing is that you get to make your own decisions. But the rest of it? Just practice in losing people…left and right, it seems. So you get good at keeping your voice steady and never letting people know when they've hurt you. Only crying when no one can see."

She paused. "But this is different. You only lose your mother once and there's no way to be good at that. It might help to know that this is the worst thing that will happen to you. You're going to survive it and nothing else will ever hurt this much. But it's such a heavy load to carry, Michelle. I'm so sorry you have to. I wish I could do this for you, but you have to do it on your own."

Michelle rolled over onto her back but looked at the ceiling, not at Holly.

Holly started to say something else but Ed yelled from downstairs.

"Michelle? Can you come down, please?"

"We'll be right down," Holly called back.

They went downstairs, Michelle trudging behind Holly.

They walked back into the kitchen. Holly went over and hugged Ed.

"I'm so sorry," she said softly. "Maureen was…God, Ed, I'm just so sorry."

There was a knock at the back door and Blake said, "I'll get it."

Ed was still holding on to Holly, who was trying to gently step back.

"Daddy!" Blake said and Holly froze. Ed finally let her go, but now Holly tried to subtly position herself between the two men. She saw Roger register what she was doing and his face hardened for a second.

"I wanted to pay my respects," Roger said. He was holding a tray of food. "Maureen was the kindest woman I've ever known, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Yours too, Michelle," he said, nodding at her.

"Thank you," Michelle said. She went over to take the food. Ed grimaced as Michelle moved closer to Roger.

After she put it on the counter, Roger gave her a hug. Ed stiffened and said, "Michelle, why don't you go back upstairs, honey?"

Michelle rolled her eyes and started to leave. Holly could see her deliberately moving slowly, but everyone else was watching Roger and Ed.

"Thanks for stopping by, Roger, but you need to leave right now," Ed said, his voice cold.

Holly put a hand on Ed's arm. She was about to warn him that Michelle was still there, but Roger scoffed.

"Must be nice that you don't have to pretend anymore."

"What are you talking about?" Ed said.

"You and Holly. A love story for the ages. But now you can stop pretending to be friends."

"Get out of here, Roger," Ross said.

There was a crash. The food Roger brought had fallen to the floor, taking Holly's purse with it.

"Is that true?" Michelle asked.

"No," Holly protested. "Your dad and I are friends. He loves your mom. I couldn't compete with that, not even if I wanted to."

Michelle looked like she didn't believe her, but she knelt to pick up the things that had fallen out of Holly's purse anyway.

"Time to leave, Roger," Ed said.

"Let's go, Dad," Blake said softly. "You've more than made your point."

She'd almost gotten Roger out the door when Michelle swore softly.

"Watch your mouth, Michelle," Ed said.

"You lied to me," Michelle said. Holly couldn't see what Michelle had in her hands but she had a feeling she knew what Michelle had found.

Michelle threw it at Holly, who was too stunned to move. The pill bottle hit Holly in the chest.

"Apologize," Ed roared.

"You apologize!" Michelle yelled back.

Roger looked on with interest and Blake stopped pushing him toward the door.

"I know what prenatal vitamins are!"

Everyone turned to look at Holly.