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A knock on the door made Ellie pull the pillow over her face. Her head pounded and her throat was dry like she’d slept with a rag in her mouth.
“I got it,” Alison mumbled from the living room. Her friend had come over for lunch and the two of them had drank through dinner.
“Mrs. White. Hey. Come in,” said Alison.
Ellie sat up in bed. What was her mother doing here? She stumbled out of the bedroom, stopping in the doorway.
“Ellie, your Mom’s here.” Alison grabbed her pillow from the couch. “I’m going to sleep while you two talk.”
“Mom? What are you doing here?”
“Alison texted me last night.”
“Alison?” She wanted to strangle her friend.
“Seemed like a good idea at the time. You wouldn’t listen to me.” Alison squeezed past her into the bedroom. “I need sleep.” She shoved E
