“Mrs. Keller, it’s Sloane.”

“Sloane,” she breathed, and it was a good thing I warned Asher I might be bawling my eyes out again because there I was two hours later unable to hold back the tears.

Brooklyn pried my fist open and threaded our fingers together. I had no idea what I wanted to say to Elise’s mom, so I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind.

“Elise loved you so much.”

I heard Mrs. Keller’s breath hitch and I didn’t know if that was good or bad, but I had more to say.

“Did you know she used to iron my sheets? She told me that you told her the best night’s sleep happened on ironed sheets, so the crazy girl would iron my sheets after I washed them. She used to tell me that the best part of growing up was having you and Mr. Keller as parents.”

I paused to catch my breath before I went on. “I loved her so much. She was a good friend, the best. You and Mr. Keller taught her that so thank you. Thank you for sharing her with me.”

“Sloane? Mr. Keller here. We want you to know something, too.” His voice was deep and full of emotion. “Our Elise, she loved you, too. She talked about you all the time. But you know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir, I know.”

Sadie pitched sideways and leaned heavily into my side. Letty scooted closer so her arm was brushing my shin. Surrounded. Totally surrounded by love.

My gaze lifted off my lap and locked onto Asher. His face was full of love and compassion. And if I was being completely honest, there was a healthy dose of annoyance in there, too. He wanted to be the one holding me close. But he stood back, giving me the gift of the girls’ friendship.

I loved him all the more for it.

“I hate to bring this up, but her room is how she left it. I’m out of town right now but when I get back to California would you like me to—”

“Keep it.”

“What?”

“You knew my girl best. What would she say about her stuff?”

This part hurt. This was the one thing I wasn’t sure I could give Elise.

“She’d say to throw it in the trash. Stuff is stuff and all it does is weigh you down.”

“We have all we need of her, Sloane. And if you think about it, so do you.”

But I wanted more.

“She gave me a lot,” I admitted.

“You keep what you want. Please donate the rest.”

I decided my best course of action was to agree and think about it later.

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you, Sloane.”

With that, he hung up.

I sucked back the last of my tears.

And since I needed something good, something to be happy about, something to celebrate, I announced, “I’m moving to Idaho.”

“Seriously?” Sadie asked and bumped my shoulder.