“That would be good.” Nicole pulled her closer. “But when things do change, because they will, at least we’ll have each other.”

And Milly knew that was true.

Through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the challenges, arguments, hugs, laughter, gossip, support—through the whole bumpy journey of friendship, they’d be there for each other.

“I’m glad you’re staying.” Although she knew now that their friendship would survive no matter what, she was honest enough with herself to admit that she would have missed Nicole if she’d left. “You haven’t changed your mind?”

“Why would I change my mind? At Joel’s suggestion, I made a list of everything I’d like to have in my life. And it turns out that all of it is right here. Including you.”

Milly’s heart felt full. “That’s interesting, because if I were to make a list of everything I’d like to have in my life, all of it would also be right here. Including you.”

Nicole pressed closer, and Milly stood with her friend and watched her family together, then met Brendan’s gaze across the crowded gardens and marveled at how life could seem so hard and impossible one minute, and yet so exciting and full of possibilities the next.

Change could be difficult, particularly when it was forced on you, but it could also be positive.

You had to keep going, she thought. No matter how tough things were. You had to keep going because you never knew what might be around the next corner, and you had to believe it might be something good.

“About you staying—”

“Mm?”

“Are you going to give up being a drama queen?”

Nicole laughed. “Never. That’s one thing that is never going to change. You can be sure of that.”

* * * * *

Want to read more from Sarah Morgan? Keep turning the pages for an exclusive sneak peek at her upcoming new Christmas book . . .

Acknowledgments