“It’s all yours. I reckon you can get in any time you want. It’s fully furnished and it’s got an icebox and a stove. Anything gets broke over there, you call on over to the contractor, Roane-Anderson, and they’ll get someone over there to fix it in a jiff.”

“Broken, not broke.” Out loud, she replied, “Okay. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Back in her room, Rosalie and Betty sat on the bed as Nora packed up her things.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving us,” Betty said.

“At the very least, you could take us with you,” Rosalie teased. “What are you going to do with all that space to yourself?”

“Enjoy taking a shower for more than two minutes.”

“Jealous.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“I’m going to miss you girls.”

“We’re going to miss you,” Betty said.

“Knowing you, you’ll never come out of that place except to go to work and back,” Rosalie added.

“Hyperbole doesn’t suit you.”

“High, what?”

Nora laughed. “Don’t exaggerate.”

“Oh, why didn’t you say it in plain English?”

“Because she’s a Yankee, that’s why.”

It was an ongoing joke between the three of them. “I really will miss you two hooligans.” And she meant it. “How about if I cook dinner one night next week?”

“Yeah.” Rosalie brightened. “We could have a housewarming celebration.”

“That’s a great idea,” Betty agreed.

Nora took one last look around the place. “I think that’s everything.” It felt odd to be walking out of this place with the same amount of stuff she’d come with, but there it was.

“Are you sure we can’t help you move in?”

“There’s really nothing to help with. I can carry my own suitcase. Apparently, everything else I need is already there.”

Rosalie stood up and smoothed her skirt. “Then I guess this is it.”

“I guess it is.”

“You be sure not to hide yourself away too much.” Betty hugged her.

“And remember to eat properly. You’ve lost too much weight,” Rosalie said.

“Yes, Mother-May-I.” She hugged Rosalie. “I love you girls.”

“We love you too. We’ll see you around. Don’t be a stranger.”

Nora hefted the suitcase and followed her friends into the hallway. She glanced over her shoulder one last time and then quietly closed the door. She wouldn’t be sorry to leave this room behind, but she would miss her friends. Imagine that. You’ve got real friends.

She breathed in the chilly evening air. The weight of the suitcase made her short uphill journey that much harder. The night sky was inky black now, and she struggled to read the house numbers. 101. 103. 105. There it was. She paused outside, taking in the old-growth trees that still dotted the land around the box-like structure. Home. This was her new home.