It had taken a lot to talk Asher into taking me to Wilson’s condo. But after our heart-to-heart, Asher informed me the girls were waiting for me to call them and if I waited much longer before I reached out to them, they’d show up like they did the other day. Once again Asher was right. I called Letty and she informed me she and River were on their way over to Asher’s. The problem with that was Asher didn’t have any furniture. At the same time, Asher was on the phone with Wilson and he suggested everyone meet at his condo since it was centrally located. That was the part I had to talk Asher into. He didn’t want me to have to leave the house. But once I reminded him I was living my life to the fullest and that did not include me shutting myself away even on a bad day, he relented.

Now I was standing in front of a huge wall of windows looking out over Lake Coeur d’Alene admiring all the beauty before wondering how in the world this was my life. Asher stepped behind me and pulled me back, his arms went around me, and I remembered—Asher.

He was the reason I was now looking out over a beautiful lake surrounded by good people.

“You ready?”

He wanted to know if I was ready to call Mr. and Mrs. Keller. They were waiting on my call. That was the only detail he’d told me. And the more I thought about it, that truly was the only detail I wanted. I never, ever wanted to know the rest.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

He guided me to the couch fully prepared to catch me if I should stumble. But I wasn’t going to crumble. I was going to take everything Elise gave me over the years and hold on to it. I was going to find strength in memories.

I saw Letty and Brooklyn sitting close together on the loveseat, then I found Sadie sitting on the arm of the chair Reese was in.

It was then I realized I’d also find strength in new memories. None of them would ever replace Elise. But that was the beauty of friendship—you didn’t have to shift one out to bring one in, there was plenty of room. Brooklyn and Letty were proof. They’d been best friends since forever, but they’d made room for Sadie. And now they’d made room for me.

Another stitch.

I took the phone from Asher and fought an eyeroll when I saw he’d already punched in the number. All I needed to do was hit send.

I closed my eyes and remembered Elise pacing the apartment with her phone glued to her ear, gabbing with her mom. I remembered her reading me some joke her dad sent as she cracked up hysterically.

I opened my eyes and hit send.

Two rings later I heard, “Hello?”

My heart seized and my hands started shaking. Before I knew what was happening Brooklyn was off the loveseat and on her knees in front of me, Letty wasn’t far behind, and Sadie squeezed in next to me.