Fly Away by Kristin Hannah FIC Han

About five years ago I read Firefly Lane.  I couldn't have told you today what it was about but I do remember that I liked the book.  As I listened to the audio book there were references to things that had happened in the past and my memories of the first book came back.  This book begins thirty years after Tully and Kate became best friends.  Kate was married to a great guy, had three children and always, always her friend Tully.  After a terrible childhood, Tully was driven to succeed at her career.  No meaningful relationships with men, Tully was content to rely on Kate's family for some warmth in her life.

When Kate is dying from breast cancer (not a spoiler, you know on the second page that she is gone!), Tully abandons her career to be there.  She promises to look out for the children - especially 16-year-old Marah, her goddaughter.   This is an emotional book.  It takes you into the lives of people who are devastated by a death.  Grief is such a personal thing.  This story shows how difficult it is to share.

Another important part of the book is the story of Tully's mom.  Dorothy, aka Cloud, was a druggy who never took care of Tully and rarely saw her.  Now she wants to come into Tully's life.  Tully's life is spiraling out of control and the only thing that can save her is her dead friend's soul.