“Shiloh was my best friend,” Amy said. “We moved to San Francisco about the same time and didn’t know anybody else when we met at a Zumba class.” She smiled nostalgically. “We hit it off immediately and later found out that we lived only two streets apart. I’m an interior designer, so I helped decorate her house, and she dragged me into all of her do-good schemes, like saving the feral cats in the neighborhood. I’m still doing that, by the way,” she added for Seth’s benefit.

Seth was too quiet, but Tia ignored that. She just had to get through the next few minutes without making a scene, she told herself.

“Are you an artist, too?” Serge asked Tia.

“No. I’m an actress. Or...I used to be.”

“You’re not Tia Beckett...”

At this point, she was grateful they’d recognized her because it swung the conversation in a more bearable direction—and that said a lot. “Yes.”

“I saw Expect the Worst,” he said. “It was wonderful.”

“Oh, I loved that movie!” Amy added. “I think it should win an Academy Award.”

Tia felt no warmth from the compliment. It was almost as if she was standing to the side, watching what was going on at the table instead of participating in it. “I guess we’ll find out in January if I’m nominated or not.”

Amy turned to Seth. “So...how did you meet a movie star?”

When Seth hesitated, Tia couldn’t help jumping in. “We were introduced by a mutual friend just after my accident.” She figured that explained it simply enough.

“You were in an accident?” Amy asked.

“Yes. That’s what happened to my face.”

“Oh! I’m so sorry. I hadn’t heard.”

“No problem,” Tia said. “Bad things happen sometimes. I’m sorry you lost your best friend. Shiloh was obviously an incredible person.”

“She was,” Amy agreed. “So special.”

“No wonder Seth can’t get over her,” Tia said. “If you will excuse me, I have to use the restroom. Why don’t the two of you sit down and join us?”

“Really?” Amy said.

Seth’s gaze cut to Tia—it was obvious he didn’t want that to happen—but she didn’t back down. “Of course. We’d love it!”

“Okay,” Serge said, and Tia slid out so they could take her side of the booth.

“I’ll be right back,” she promised. But she didn’t go to the restroom. She walked out of the restaurant and into the jumble of tourists crowding the wharf.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she hurried along. She’d left her coat behind. But she couldn’t feel the cold. She couldn’t feel anything.