We chatted until it grew dark and the mosquitoes found us, and then moved inside.

Life partner. Longtime companion. Cherished friend.

Such beautiful words.

Love didn’t have to be romantic to encircle you in its arms. It didn’t have to make your heart race or your toes curl. Love could be just this, the sound of laughter on a warm night, the absolute comfort of being exactly who you were with the person who knew you inside and out.

CHAPTER FORTY

Juliet

She’d thought she would hate being the one in charge of the details, the legalities, the administration. She was wrong. It was completely different when it was a thing of your own.

Frost/Alexander opened three weeks after Juliet quit, the week before Memorial Day. Arwen and Juliet might never be friends, but they were a good team—Arwen giving the firm some buzz, Juliet backing that up with her reputation. They hired three other architects on a trial basis and already had six clients. Smaller projects than airport wings and Dubai skyscrapers, but they were just getting started.

The offices were in Mystic, so Juliet could be closer to home. DJK Architects had been housed in a sleek and stark building; Frost/Alexander occupied a four-story Victorian with stained glass and beautiful bookcases. She hired Noah to put in new windows and fix the front porch, but they were already working there. Arwen was moving from her loft in New Haven, and Juliet had recommended a real estate agent. Kathy was spending two weeks in Napa before starting.

“Kathy is a little miffed that you’re senior partner,” Arwen had told her over dinner. “But so be it. We needed your experience. And I have to be honest. You have balls, telling me your name goes first.” She raised an eyebrow. “I respect that.”

“Good,” Juliet said. “I respect you, too, Arwen, striking out on your own so young. You’re a very impressive person.”

“Let’s order a bottle of champagne,” Arwen said. “To celebrate ourselves and each other.”

“Maybe we should wait for when Kathy can join us.”

“We can order it then, too,” Arwen said. She waved the waiter over. “Bring us a bottle of your best champagne,” she said.

“Mind the budget,” Juliet murmured.

“Bring us a bottle of your cheapest champagne,” Arwen amended, and they laughed. And cheap champagne . . . hey. It’s not awful.

A few days later, Kathy showed up at Juliet’s house around dinnertime. “I need to talk to you,” she said tightly.

“Sure. Come on in and say hi to Oliver and the girls.” She led Kathy up to the kitchen.

“Hi, Kathy,” Sloane said, the friendlier child. So much like Sadie.

“Hi, Kathy,” Brianna echoed, barely looking up from her math homework. Just like I used to be, she thought, smiling.

“Kathy!” Oliver said. “How lovely to see you! Shall I fix you a drink, then?”