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"What can I do? I'll go back in the morning and see what she's up to. She's not going to want to take responsibility for her children, if she can help it. That's my bet and my hope. I would rather Rodney and I went on the road,"

"Your granny wouldn't agree to your mother moving in with her now anyway, right?" Jade asked

"What choice does she have?" Star asked with a shrug. "Rodney and me, for that matter, are still her legal children. You're always playing the lawyer, Jade. You know all about that stuff."

"Let's just wait and see," Misty offered. "Everything has a way of working out in the end."

Star shook her head and looked at her.

"You sure you haven't got a head full of bubbles instead of brains, Misty?"

"I'm just trying not to be depressed," Misty cried defensively.

"Yeah, well, that's easy for you Beverlies at the moment:'

"It is not. You don't know anything about anything:' Misty accused.

"I know you have a comfortable, warm place to sleep tonight," Star muttered, "and you can get your parents to give you practically anything. Just like Princess Jade who's getting a new car from Daddy."

"And I told you where he can put that car," Jade said. "Yeah, but you'll take it anyway," Star said dryly. Jade didn't deny it.

"You just don't know everything, Star. You just don't know all about us just because you heard stuff in the therapy session," Misty insisted, her eyes glossing over with hot tears.

"I know enough:' Star insisted.

"No, you don't!" Misty screamed. Her hands were clenched into little fists that she pounded against her thighs. "My daddy is marrying his girlfriend Ariel Air- head this Saturday and he wants me at the wedding. My mother is very upset about it and doesn't want me to go. I feel like tearing myself in half and sending one half to the wedding and another t

o ...to hell!"

We all just stared at her, too shocked to say anything. She wiped the tears from her cheeks with quick flicks of her hands.

"You know that this month was supposed to be their twentieth anniversary. They were going to redo their vows. We were all going to be a happy little family forever and ever. Well, Daddy's going to take vows all right, only with a new bride."

"I'm sorry," Star said softly.

"Damn, damn, damn," Jade chanted. She looked up at the ceiling. "One thing after another! When does it stop?"

"It doesn't." Star said. "Don't you get it? It doesn't stop until we turn our backs on them and walk away. ...completely."

Misty sniffled and nodded.

"Let's make some coffee and think," Jade declared. "We've got to find ways to help each other otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Star asked.

"Otherwise," she said looking at me, "there was no point in burying Geraldine."

With our heads bowed, we paraded silently down the stairs to the kitchen, me holding up the rear with my hobble. When I started to make the coffee, Star interceded.

"Sit down, Cat. I'll do it. The Beverlies expect to be waited on," she added. We couldn't tell if she was being serious or trying to lighten the mood.

"You know, I'm sorry your mother came bursting in on you, Star, but taking it out on us isn't going to help," Jade said.

"Yes, thank you for your advice, Doctor Marlowe," Star replied with a smile, letting us know she wasn't mad.

I looked across the table at Misty whose eyes were bloodshot. She stared at the wall as if she didn't see or hear anything. Look at us, I thought, we're crumbling. Whatever made us think we could help each other? Geraldine was right. Sick people can't help sick people.

For a while, no one spoke. The silence was heavy. Then Misty snapped out of her daze and looked at me sharply.