“Yes, thanks to Nicole.” Zoe gave Nicole a grateful look. “She spoke to the whole cast about what it is really like making a career of being an actor. She said, ‘The parts you get will come and go, but if you’re lucky the friendships you make will last forever,’ and Cally got this weird look on her face, and then she asked if she could talk to me, and she said how ashamed she was and how she is never going to let anything come between us again.”

“That’s good to hear.” Milly was sure that at some point something would challenge their friendship because that was just life, but for now she was just relieved that everything was back to normal. She glanced at Nicole, intending to thank her, but Nicole was laughing at something Joel had said and didn’t even notice.

“Oh, there’s Dad! I should go and talk to him, and to Avery.” Zoe paused. “Is that okay?”

“Of course it is. This is a family event.” Milly watched her speed across the grass to her father and saw Avery hesitate and then hug Zoe and make what appeared to be a great big fuss of her.

And Milly realized that she no longer felt anxious or sick at the thought of sharing Zoe, and she decided that as long as Avery was kind to her daughter, then she was going to be grateful for that, and they would make this work.

“So here we are.” Nicole appeared by her side and slid her arm into Milly’s.

“Here we are.” Milly moved closer to her friend. “Thank you for everything you did for Zoe.”

“It was nothing. It was fun working with them. It reminded me how much I love acting. And I’m glad things are better with Richard.” Nicole raised her hand to gently fend off a bee that had taken a wrong turn on its hunt for pollen. “He apologized to me, by the way.”

“Good.”

“You seem much better about it all. Happier. I’m assuming that’s all the sex with Brendan.”

Milly half gasped and half laughed. “Could you speak a little louder? I think only the north of England heard you. You’re worse than Nanna Peg.”

“I do hope so. It’s a definite life goal of mine.” Nicole’s gaze rested on Nanna Peg, who was deep in conversation with Brendan once again, and then on Connie. “Who is that guy with your mother? The tall one with dark hair.”

“That,” Milly said, “is Brian.”

“That’s Brian?” Nicole tilted her head to one side. “He actually is hot, for an older guy. Do you think they—”