“I’m glad you have lots of work, but please tell me you’re not working twenty-seven hours a day.”

“I’m not working twenty-seven hours a day,” Unity told her, knowing it was true. She was working closer to eighteen. Painting was quiet, so the other people in the building didn’t mind if she stayed late and started early.

Work was safe, she thought, knowing that was something else she wouldn’t share with Ellen. Work kept her from feeling unsettled and confused and lonely. She didn’t like where she was in her life, but she also didn’t know how to change. And even though she knew she’d done the right thing, she missed Thaddeus. A realization that made her feel sick to her stomach—as if she’d somehow betrayed Stuart—something she knew wasn’t true, but couldn’t make herself believe, and once she went down that rabbit hole, she just wanted to curl up in a ball and sob her heart out.

“You doing anything fun?” Ellen asked. “Have you found a new pickleball league?”

“I haven’t been looking but I probably should. After the rock climbing fiasco, I know I should stick to sports I’m good at.”

“You could start swimming again. You were good at that.”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“Do more than think. Go join the club or whatever it is. I’d tell you to have sex, because it’s the best, but I don’t think you’re ready.”

There was a muffled noise in the background. Ellen sighed.

“I have to run. Keith is calling for everyone to get on the bus.”

“Where are you?”

“Close to Monterey. We’ll be there in a couple of hours, then we go to the aquarium tomorrow. After that, Stanford. Yikes, he’s honking the horn. That man. Love you. I’ll call tomorrow.”

“Love you, too.”

They both hung up.

Unity scrambled to her feet. She missed Ellen and Cooper. She needed some hugging and Cooper had always been a great hugger. She wanted to hang with Ellen, talking and laughing until everything felt right again. As that wasn’t likely to happen until her friend was back from her road trip, lunch was next on her list.

Unity wrapped her paint roller and tray in plastic, put the lid on the can, then turned out the lights. After making sure she didn’t have any paint on her shoes, she stepped out into the hallway, then made her way to her van.

Fast food called, but she knew it would make more sense to go home. She could make a sandwich and then bring food back for dinner, so she could work straight through until nine or ten o’clock that night. If all went well, she would be too exhausted to think when she finally fell into bed.

At the stop sign at the end of the street, she saw a notice for an open house. Hesitating only a second, she made a quick left turn and followed the arrows until she parked in front of a small duplex. The yard was full of flowers, there was a big bay window and an open front door.