Firefly Lane

Kate delivers a baby girl and names her Marah Rose. Tully stays for a couple of days, but she quickly realizes she’s not needed. When Kate tells Tully to come back when Kate is more mobile, Tully tries to hide the relief she feels in leaving.

As Tully leaves, she stops to talk to an overwhelmed Johnny. He tells Tully that they will be moving to the suburbs and he’ll be taking a job as a producer of political and international stories. When Tully says that none of that sounds like him, Johnny reminds her that she doesn’t really know him. Tully questions whether Johnny really wants to give up the life of a war correspondent. Johnny explains that love changes your priorities, which Tully would understand if she’d ever been in love. Tully is hurt by the comment, but Johnny tells her to go out and “cover the world” (234). When he says it, Tully notes that there is something in his voice, but she is not sure if it’s “regret for himself or sadness for her” (234).

Two weeks after Tully gets back to New York, a snowstorm blankets the city. Many people call out sick, but Tully bundles up and walks to work at her regular time.