I half wanted to laugh. When Ellie, Davis, and I had gone hiking in the Poconos, we’d never signed in or out, and we definitely didn’t have a flashlight, let alone one with extra batteries – but I suppose there were plenty of things I had yet to adjust to in my new life.

A girl pushed a brunch menu at me, printed on brown craft paper and warped from overuse. She was young, must have been in college, but even at a glance, she was striking. Copper hair, smooth as corn silk, skin creamy and freckled, dark eyeliner rimming her eyes, and stud earrings crawling up her ears. She looked as if she’d stepped off a boat from early twentieth-century Ireland and immediately stopped at the mall for accessories. ‘We’re out of the kale bake,’ she said, voice huskier than I’d expected. ‘And the vegan sausage. But we have chicken apple links instead. I know it’s not the same, but –’ She shrugged. ‘You want something to drink?’

‘Coffee, please.’ I glanced over the menu. ‘And I can go ahead and order. I’ll take the eggs Benedict – and a side of sausage,’ I added, suddenly hungry.

‘Great.’ She tore off a sheet of paper and walked to the kitchen, pinning it among the line of orders. She returned with a coffee and handed it to me, then leaned against the bar. ‘Food will be out in fifteen or so.’

‘Thanks,’ I said, taking a sip of coffee. It was extra-hot and smooth, just like I liked it. I glanced around. She was the only waitress here, but almost all the tables were empty – she must not’ve been too busy. ‘Do you know, is there a gallery in town?’

‘The JV Gallery?’ she asked.

JV. John and Vera. I nodded.

‘Sure, it’s just a few blocks down, across from the bank.’ She crossed her arms, tilted her head slightly. ‘Not sure if it’s open, though. They cut their hours pretty drastically.’

‘Oh yeah?’

She wiped down the counter with a dingy rag, then looked up at me, as if sussing out the situation. ‘Why do you ask?’

I ran my finger along the handle of the coffee cup. ‘I heard about it, thought about checking it out.’

The girl raised an eyebrow. ‘You must be up for the weekend, then?’

I hesitated, briefly considered lying, just in case. But if I liked this spot, I’d be back – there were only so many restaurants in town – and lying would only draw attention to me. Besides, this was my fresh start. There was no reason to think Davis would figure out I was here. None at all.

I shook my head. ‘No, actually, I just moved to town.’

‘So how did you hear about the gallery?’ she asked. ‘Only because most people who live here – they don’t really go to that place.’