Page 112 of A Secret Escape

“True.”

“And talking of sex, how is it going with Joel?”

“You’re getting ahead of yourself. My situation is a little bit complicated, if you remember. But I admit I like him.” Nicole sighed. “I like him so much. He’s brilliant in every way, which is why I’m taking it slowly. I thought I might rent a place nearby while I look for somewhere permanent, but he suggested I stay with him for now. Not make any quick decisions.”

Milly decided that Joel was possibly an even better person than she’d always thought. “That’s good. He’s your built-in security.”

“Yes. But it’s more than that. The scary thing is that he seems to really know me and understand me.”

“Why is that scary?”

“Because I haven’t been me for a long time. I’ve spent most of my life not being me.”

Milly was one of the few people who was able to understand the truth in that statement. “Then, this should be a refreshing change.”

They both watched as Joel brought Connie and Nanna Peg another drink.

“I like being with him. I’m terrified of messing it up,” Nicole said, “the way I have messed up every other relationship I’ve ever had.”

“You’re not going to mess it up.”

Nicole turned to look at her. “How can you be so sure?”

That was easy to answer. “Because this isn’t like any other relationship you’ve ever had.”

Nicole stared at her for a long moment and then smiled. “That’s true. It isn’t.”

They were both silent for a moment, watching the crowd, enjoying each other’s company.

And then Nicole tightened her hold on Milly. “If you could have three wishes—”

“That’s easy. I only need one.” Milly smiled as Zoe sprinted across the grass to Connie and Nanna Peg, the flowers that had been carefully wound into her hair now trailing down by her shoulders. “I would wish that for five minutes life could stay as it is right now. No changes. No challenges. Nothing traumatic to deal with.”

“That would be good.” Nicole pulled her closer. “But when things do change, because they will, at least we’ll have each other.”

And Milly knew that was true.

Through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the challenges, arguments, hugs, laughter, gossip, support—through the whole bumpy journey of friendship, they’d be there for each other.

“I’m glad you’re staying.” Although she knew now that their friendship would survive no matter what, she was honest enough with herself to admit that she would have missed Nicole if she’d left. “You haven’t changed your mind?”

“Why would I change my mind? At Joel’s suggestion, I made a list of everything I’d like to have in my life. And it turns out that all of it is right here. Including you.”

Milly’s heart felt full. “That’s interesting, because if I were to make a list of everything I’d like to have in my life, all of it would also be right here. Including you.”

Nicole pressed closer, and Milly stood with her friend and watched her family together, then met Brendan’s gaze across the crowded gardens and marveled at how life could seem so hard and impossible one minute, and yet so exciting and full of possibilities the next.

Change could be difficult, particularly when it was forced on you, but it could also be positive.

You had to keep going, she thought. No matter how tough things were. You had to keep going because you never knew what might be around the next corner, and you had to believe it might be something good.

“About you staying—”

“Mm?”

“Are you going to give up being a drama queen?”

Nicole laughed. “Never. That’s one thing that is never going to change. You can be sure of that.”

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