“No, overreacting is what I did when he walked into the kitchen.” Nicole wished she’d never agreed to run with Milly, but it was too late to hide or turn back or do any of the other things that entered her head because she heard the sound of feet hitting the trail and then Milly’s cheerful greeting.

“Hi, Joel!”

“Hey there. You two are up early.” He flexed his shoulders and scanned Milly’s gear with interest. “Never seen you running before, Milly.”

“This is the new me. I’m going to dazzle everyone with my fitness.” Milly took advantage of the rest to take a mouthful of water from her bottle. “Also, it was the only way I could tempt Nicole out of the house.”

“Is that right?” He smiled at Nicole. “It’s good to see you out and about. I’ve been concerned that you were trapped indoors.”

He made her sound like a butterfly who kept smashing itself against the window in a bid for freedom.

“It’s nice to be out.” She noticed that he was barely out of breath despite the fact he’d been running fast when they’d spotted him. “We haven’t seen you running here before.”

“I run every day, but usually in the evenings.”

Milly glanced along the trail. “Did you see anyone else on your run?”

“You mean, are you likely to see another human?” He shook his head and glanced back the way he’d just come. “No. Gets busier at six thirty. Most people are here to relax and enjoy themselves, remember.”

Nicole wondered how that must feel. To wake up in a cabin by the lake and be able to do anything you wanted with the day. “Lucky them.” The moment she said it she was embarrassed because she knew that she’d had a great deal of good fortune. And she was grateful for it. But people felt that her success somehow made her immune to all of life’s blows, and of course that wasn’t the case.

But Joel was looking at her with concern, not judgment. “So you leave the boathouse once a day at dawn? I suppose it’s better than nothing. But just in case you find that a little limiting, my offer stands.”

Milly put the cap back on her water. “What offer?”

“I offered to sneak Nicole out of here in the back of my van. I thought if I took her somewhere the tourists avoid, she could have a proper walk. Get out and enjoy the scenery. Nature. Forget about things for a while.”

“In the back of your van?” Milly gave him a look. “That sounds super creepy, Joel. I’m not surprised she didn’t accept.”

“I accept.” The words rushed out of her before she could change her mind.