Every day Milly left for work and every day Nicole watched the time pass minute by minute, waiting for the moment when her friend came home again. She had far too much time on her hands. Too much time to think. She’d started to write a script for something to do, but her heart wasn’t in it. And sooner or later she was going to have to expand her world again. Good mothers didn’t hide away in the house, did they? She needed to start carving some sort of new life for herself.

“If you’re sure,” she said, “then, I accept.”

And now she was wondering if perhaps he hadn’t meant it. If he’d only said it because he knew she’d say no.

But Joel smiled. “I’m sure.”

“But not in the back of your van, please!” Milly rolled her eyes. “Just sit in the front and wear a hat.”

“We can decide that part later.” Joel checked his watch. “I need to go. The fridge in Aspen needs some attention, and it’s my first job of the day. Enjoy the rest of your run.”

He took off down the path, and Milly and Nicole finished their loop of the lake and headed back to the boathouse.

“Are you really planning to go with him?” Milly paused for breath at the bottom of the steps. “You surprised me when you said yes.”

“I surprised myself. But I’ve been enjoying our runs, and I need to get out more. We both know I can’t carry on like this.” She paused, second-guessing herself. “Do you think it’s a stupid idea?”

“No. Joel is completely trustworthy. Also, he knows this area well. He’ll take you somewhere off grid where you’re unlikely to see anyone except serious climbers.”

But now she was regretting her decision. What had possessed her to even say yes? She’d been disappointed and betrayed by the people closest to her, so what was she doing trusting a stranger?

She didn’t trust strangers, but she did trust her instincts, and they were telling her that Joel was everything he seemed to be. A decent human being. And if a small part of her was reminding her that she’d trusted her instincts about Justin too, then she ignored it.

Still, the doubt niggled. “Would you come too?”

“If you want me to, then of course.” Milly didn’t hesitate. “But you’ll be fine with Joel. It will do you good to have a conversation with someone who isn’t me.”

“I love talking to you.”

After so long apart having her friend back was a comfort she knew she never wanted to do without again.

They headed indoors and found Zoe already up and in the kitchen, earphones in place, listening to something as she made coffee and scrambled eggs. A bowl of fresh berries sat on the countertop.