Kate took a last bite of cake and set her plate down on the table. “Excuse me,” she said to her friends.

“Is there somewhere we can talk?”

“Come on upstairs.” Kate led her mother through a maze of boxes to the far end of the second floor.

Clare tried not to wonder which of the closed doors led to the bedroom Jack shared with Andi.

“Sorry about the mess,” Kate said. “We put all our energy into downstairs to get ready for tonight.”

“I can’t believe how much you’ve all gotten done in just over a month.”

In Kate’s room, one last suitcase lay open on the floor. Clare marveled at how quickly Kate had managed to put her unique stamp on the room.

“All ready?” Clare asked as it set in that she wouldn’t see her middle daughter again for some time.

“Just about.” Kate sat next to her mother on the bed. “Thanks for coming tonight. I know it wasn’t easy for you.”

“It was a lovely party.”

Kate smiled. “Andi did it up.”

“Yes, she did. I’ll miss you, Kate.”

When Kate leaned over to rest her head on her mother’s shoulder, Clare realized the girl was crying.

“What, baby?” Clare gathered her daughter into her arms, wishing she could turn back to the clock to when Kate was little and relied on her for everything.

“I just feel bad leaving right now.”

“Because of me?”

Kate nodded.

Clare ached at the pain she saw on her daughter’s face. “Honey, listen. I’ll be just fine. I want you to go to Nashville and have this big adventure and enjoy every minute of it. I don’t want you to spend one second worrying about me, okay?”

Kate nodded again and wiped her face. “Okay.”

“Promise?” Clare tipped up her daughter’s chin so she could see her lovely blue eyes.

“I promise.”

“I want you to call me all the time. I want to hear all about what you’re up to. No detail is too small for your mother.”

Kate chuckled. “You got it.”

“I love you, Kate. We all do. And we’re so proud of you for having the courage to do this.”

“I love you, too. I wake up every day and feel so grateful to have you back.”

“I’m here for you any time you need me, no matter where I am.” Clare hugged her again. “Walk me back down?”

Kate brushed away the last of her tears. “Sure.”

Downstairs, Clare found her mother sitting with Jack’s parents.

“Ready to call it a night, Mom?” Clare asked.

“Whenever you are.”

Madeline and John got up to hug them both.

“So great to see you, honey,” John said.

“You too.”

Maggie came over to them. “Are you leaving?”

“I think so. Want to come home tonight?”

“Let me ask Dad.” Maggie dashed off to find Jack.