“Of course you are. I think most women feel that way whether they’re alone or with someone. It’s a big change. And a big responsibility. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be great at it. And you will. And I will only ever be a phone call away.”

Nicole looked at her, the turmoil of the past eighteen months present in the room with them. “Do you mean that?”

How had she ever thought she could keep her distance? Whatever happened, the bond between them ran too deep to be easily destroyed.

“I’ll be with you every step of the way. I can lend you the books I used and recommend websites. But in the end you’ll do it your own way.” To hide the emotion she was feeling, she grabbed cutlery from the drawer. “Take this out to the deck, and I’ll bring the rest.”

She lifted the quiche onto a board, sliced it and plated it.

Then she covered the rest so that the flies wouldn’t descend on it while it was cooling and joined Nicole on the deck.

“This looks delicious,” Nicole said, and Milly took a sip of water and picked up her fork.

“I wish food didn’t make me feel better about life, but it does. What does that say about me?”

“It says you’re a good cook,” Nicole said as she savored a mouthful of food. “Honestly, who wouldn’t be comforted by this? It’s ambrosial. Although, if you really don’t want to comfort-eat, let me cook next time. There’s no way you’ll be soothed by anything I put on your plate.”

Milly smiled. “Maybe that’s what we need to do. The Nicole Diet. Then I wouldn’t feel so bad about myself.”

Nicole stabbed at her salad. “Why do you feel bad about yourself?”

“Uh . . . because I’m unfit and flabby, and looking in the mirror depresses me.”

“I think you look great. Do you work out?”

“There are never enough hours in the day.” She squirmed, because she wasn’t only lying to Nicole, she was lying to herself. “It’s an excuse, I know. But I hate the gym. All those mirrors and skinny people around you, most of them filming themselves on their phones. I’m terrified my flab might go viral.”

“You don’t need a gym to work out. You’re surrounded by hills and trails. You can run and climb.”

“I think you might be overestimating my basic fitness level,” Milly said. “I don’t run anywhere.”

Nicole put her fork down. “Okay, so it’s time for a review of our current situation. You’re unfit and feeling generally bad about yourself. I’m terrified to leave the house and am also terrified about the future. How are we going to fix this?” She leaned forward. “Strategy time.”