“I think I’ve protected him from knowing most of what was going on, but he’s getting old enough now that he needs friends. This year he should start some sort of preschool. And he doesn’t understand why we had to leave the house we loved,” Maggie continued. “I had hung train tracks around his room, and he loved to watch the little caboose go around as he went to sleep. I haven’t been able to do that anywhere else. We’ve moved too much.”

“That’s so sad.”

“Yeah, it was. But once I knew he’d been in there, it felt tainted. As though he’d marked it with his scent that no amount of bleach could clean away. But that’s only a tiny bit of the aftermath. I also had to change careers, because mine depended on social media and put me in the public too much. Now that I don’t have to worry about him breathing down my neck, I can finally work on setting up a new life and making new memories for Charlie.”

“Where do you plan on living now?” she asked Maggie.

Maggie sighed. “I really don’t know. I’m hoping my impromptu holiday from Charlie in this peaceful place can help me figure that out. And it really depends on where I can get work. I can’t keep supporting my son on waitress tips. It’s time to move forward and break up with the past.”

Quinn couldn’t imagine how hard it was for Maggie to go from making an executive-level salary to waiting tables. She had a new respect for her friend, who was definitely someone who would do what it took to survive.

Maggie stood. “On that note, we should probably get back. Decide what you’ll wear.”

Quinn joined her and brushed off her hands. “Are you sure you’ll be okay sleeping with me? It’s not too late to go to the hotel.”

“Oh, shut up. When haven’t I been okay sleeping with you? What, have you become a massive snoring machine now? Do you fart in your sleep? Do you sleep naked now? Or is there something else you need to tell me?”

Quinn laughed. She’d forgotten how much she loved Maggie’s sense of humor and her ability to turn every sad moment around. “Fine, but I don’t care if you are company—I call the shower first. I remember how you don’t clean your hair out of the drain.”

Maggie was bent over picking up the blanket and wiggled her butt at Quinn before standing and facing her. “Yeah, well, you’d better cut it short, sister. We all know how you like your bathroom time to make sure you look perfect before even going to bed. How long does your nightly regimen take these days? An hour?”