A FEW MORNINGS LATER, while Mary was vacuuming out broken glass from the rug at the front of the store, she heard a loud banging on the back door. Her fingers went cold and sweat popped down her spine. She scurried immediately to the counter where the register lived. John’s friend Christo had installed security cameras on the exterior of the store, something she’d never had before, and the feeds fed directly to a small screen below the register. Mary let out a shaky, relieved breath when she saw it was just Estrella standing there, a picnic basket over one arm.

“I’m sorry I knocked so loud,” Estrella said when Mary swung open the door for her. “I’ve never used this big metal door before.”

Mary grimaced. “The front door is still out of commission, as you saw.”

She didn’t like thinking about the white spiderweb of cracks that rendered the glass door unusable.

Estrella stepped into the back room, her eyes on Mary, not on the mess that had been only partially cleaned up. She set down the picnic basket and simply held her arms out.

Mary went into the embrace without a second thought.

Estrella stroked Mary’s hair and called her a sweet love while Mary cried. It didn’t last for long, but it was one of those surprisingly potent cries, where each tear felt like it released a gallon of pent-up emotion. She’d barely realized how much she’d needed that, hadn’t even hoped for that kind of release. When she stepped back from Estrella, she felt a hundred pounds lighter.

“I’ve missed you, Estrella.”

“I’ve been keeping my distance over the last few weeks,” Estrella said, smoothing her jean skirt. “I think I owe you an apology for the blind date situation.”

Mary smiled. “It’s okay. You were just trying to find a happy ending for people you love.”

“I was being nosy and hopeful and we both know it.” She glared at Mary.

Mary burst out laughing. “It’s really okay.”

“Are you sure?” Estrella’s eyes searched hers. “Because you didn’t call me when all of this happened.” Estrella looked around at the store, and Mary was actually comforted by the pain that she saw on Estrella’s face. The woman loved this shop almost as much as Mary did.

“It was a really crazy few days. I didn’t really call anyone.”

“You’ve handled all of it on your own?”

“Actually...” Mary kicked some broken glass away from her feet. “John was here. He helped me through most of it.”

There was a telling beat of silence, but Estrella seemed to be committed to butting out of the situation. “Ah. I see. All right, well, I brought you good wine and good cheese and good bread. Let’s have a picnic.”

Mary laughed. “It’s 10:00 a.m.!”