“Have these people no respect?” Chloe said, her voice almost shaking. The toy box that was still at the end of my bed had been dumped out and my beloved stuffed animals were askew. I hadn’t slept with them in years, but still. I picked up Bunny, my favorite, now one-eared lovey from when I was little, and hugged her to me.

Inside the walk-in closet, I shut the door behind us. Then I turned on the light. “This has to be okay,” I said. “It’s not like anyone can see us in here.”

“It’s pretty much perfect in here,” Dabney said. “They must have gotten bored with your lack of raidable items.”

I nodded in agreement as I walked over to my dresses section and gathered them in my arms, hugging them to me. “My girls. My best friends.”

“Hey!” Chloe protested.

“Shhhh,” Dabney said. “She’s having a moment with her true loves. Don’t interrupt her.”

We all giggled. “Dabs,” I said, “you’re in charge of shoes. Take enough that I can get by but not so many that it looks obvious.”

She saluted me.

“Chlo, as much as I hate to waste prime duffel bag real estate on them, I mostly need uniforms. And you do jeans too. I’ll handle everything else.”

We all started rifling through my things quickly and efficiently. More than once I stopped to smell a piece of my clothing. It smelled so good. It smelled like home. So much so that it overwhelmed me, and I had to sit down on the pink plush carpet.

“You okay?” Dabney asked.

I nodded sulkily.

“We should have brought the rest of the champagne,” Chloe said. “I assume it’s kind of hard to be in your old house trying to grab pieces of the life you left behind—or, I mean, sober, anyway.”

I nodded, tears coming to my eyes.

“But here’s the thing,” Dabney said, “this is just temporary. You’re going to be back here before you know it.”

“How do you know?” I asked, trying not to cry, clearing the lump in my throat.

“We just know,” Chloe said.

I nodded and took a deep breath, trying to be brave, and, for a reason I could not explain, feeling somewhat reassured by her saying that, even though she offered zero explanation. “Okay. It’s funny, you know. I spent half the time I was here wanting to be back in New York, and now I wish I could close my eyes and curl up on my own pillow tonight.”

Chloe smiled and widened her eyes. “But you can!”

“We can’t stay here,” I said.

“No, but we can take your pillow!”

That was a really sweet thought.

“Hey, can I get your Miss Dior from your bathroom?” Dabney asked. “I really miss sharing that with you.” She made air quotes when she said sharing.