When she’d left the Outer Banks twelve years ago in her yellow Pacer, euphoria, fear, and nerves had tangled in her belly. But as she’d crossed the North Carolina line into Virginia, her resolve for a different life had frayed around the edges. Stubbornness had kept her going all the way through Virginia and Maryland and into Delaware. It wasn’t until she saw the New Jersey state line that she had her first panic attack. She pulled into a rest stop, ordered a burger and fries, and sat in her car, staring at her cell phone. Once the burger’s fat and carbohydrates had hit her brain, a little bravado returned. “If it sucks, I’ll call tomorrow.” She’d called the next day, told Ruth she had arrived safely and not to worry. If Ruth had heard the hesitation (which she always had), she’d said nothing.

And so it had gone for the next two months: panic attack, carbohydrates, and a call to Ruth to report good news only, no matter how dire. She’d never called Dani, fearing if she heard her friend’s voice, the guilt over leaving would break her.

“I was surprised you didn’t stay in town after Ruth’s funeral,” Dani said.

“I wanted to. But I had loose ends to tie up with my apartment and the restaurant. We get snarled in our lives, and it takes time to get free.”

“It must have been hard to quit the job.”

“In the end, leaving was easier than I imagined.” It still stung that Mama Leoni had cut her loose so easily. A dozen years, and the woman hadn’t batted an eye when she’d refused her request for leave. But again, she’d left her friends and family twelve years ago, leaving her own moral high ground shaky.

“New York has a vibe that’s nothing like here. And I know that restaurant is missing your cooking.”

“I’ve tried very hard not to check their social media page or any online comments about them.”

“But . . .”

Ivy shrugged. “Recent Yelp reviews haven’t been as great. I think they’re struggling.”

“Doesn’t that give you a little satisfaction?”

“Not really. Maybe a little. But I remind myself that Vincenzo’s hired me when I needed a job. I was at my wits’ end when they took me on a trial basis.”

“Don’t feel too sorry for them. They had their chance to help you out, and they blew it.”

“I had my chance to help you, and I blew it,” Ivy said.

Dani shook her head. “Your leaving hurt, but it made me stronger.”