'' when will we see mark ? '' mark lang was tolliver 's older brother . '' we 're supposed to meet him at the texas roadhouse tomorrow night . '' '' oh , good . '' i managed a smile , though i 'm sure it was a weak one . i 'd always liked mark , though i 'd never been as close to him as i 'd been to
tolliver

that was what she 'd wanted , what she 'd chosen , and yet it hurt . mom would have seen how unhappy she was . that was one of the truths marah had learned : no one knew you as well as your mom . she would give anything for one of the oh-no-you-don ' t-young-lady looks she used to hate . her dad yelled up from downstairs , '' time to go ,
marah

'' told you , that talent of his does come in handy once in a while . '' thirty-two crazy ray seemed a little more agitated than usual . luther sent a soothing pulse of energy his way before he urged him out the door along with the handful of remaining customers . ray went outside , trailing the others , but he stopped just beyond the entrance and looked back at
luther