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“Exactly. So, me and you? We can relax.”

“How are you?” her mother asked. “You’ve been sad. So sad.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Since Brynn.”

“Ah. Well, I haven’t seen her in a long time. She’s busy with the clinic, I imagine. I’m good.”

“No, you’re not. She’s sad, too.” Her mother closed her eyes, and Aster could tell that even this little bit of conversation took a lot of her energy. “We had her over for dinner with Sage and Tyler one night. Her spark is gone. Probably ran off with your spark. Can you hand me that water?”

Aster picked up the glass of water and placed the straw in her mother’s mouth. “Well, I wouldn’t know anything about that. She stopped writing me not long after she came to Boston. It’s been, what, close to two years.”

She swallowed and nodded. Aster returned the glass to the table. “She misses you.”

“Well, she knows where to find me and hasn’t.” Yes, there was a hard kernel of bitterness nestled in her chest. She’d screwed things up for them that weekend, but for Brynn to pull her friendship back entirely? Aster didn’t understand or sympathize. It had felt cruel and unusual. In her mind, they’d been so much more than just romantically involved. They’d been friends, confidants, therapists, everything. And Brynn had left it all by the wayside simply because she couldn’t forgive? “I think that’s a chapter in my life that’s now closed.”

“No. Don’t do that.” Her mother closed her eyes as she continued, gathering what energy she had to impart her advice. “People always bumble along. As humans, it’s what we do. Some find their meant-to-be person early. Some take the more scenic route. But you don’t close doors, do you hear me?”

Aster didn’t have it in her to argue. “I do. I will remember that.”

“You’re not convincing me, and I don’t have much time to make my points to you.”

She swallowed. Her throat hurt with emotion. She didn’t like that sentence at all, but it certainly got her attention. “I’m listening. I promise, I am.”

“You’ve always been my quiet child, Aster. It’s because you’re thoughtful. You like to hang out in your own head and stay out of other people’s way.”

She smiled through her tears, reflecting on how empty her life felt these days. She loved her job, her dog, but that was pretty much it. “Lot of good that did me. I really miss you guys.”

“Then maybe it’s time you come back home.”

She exhaled. She’d learned so much about the world since leaving this town. She was richer for it. But there had been a time to leave. Was there also a time to return? That tug was starting to pick up momentum. As she sat here now with her mom, Aster wondered about all that lost time with her family and friends. She’d missed the birth of Tori’s kids and Sage’s transformation from playboy to dedicated partner. The Lavender House had undergone a major renovation that her sisters had shouldered themselves. Ethan had sprouted like a weed. And now her mom was sick, and she’d never get that time back. Theidea that they’d always have the future to look forward to was now a somber lie.

“I do miss this place. Never in a million years thought I would say that. So much of me is here.”

“I don’t know where this life might take you, Aster, because you have so many wonderful possibilities. But let this place be your anchor. It will be here waiting for you when you’re ready for it. But above all, I want you to seize life by the throat, and don’t for one second let go. Do you hear me? If I have to leave this world, I’m not doing it without telling my kids what I know. Life is precious. It’s a joy if you find the things that are important to you.”

“I’m trying. It’s been hard lately.”

“I can tell just by looking at you.” There weren’t many people in Aster’s life who could do that. How was she supposed to do this on her own now? Her mom was her rock, the person she could always count on for a smile, or a warm hug, or a kind ear. She was a cheerleader for Aster, who very much needed her. “You’ve lost the spark in your eye. You’ve lost your hope. Get that back. And when you do, I want you to eat all the best tasting foods, and take walks in the rain without caring if you get wet.” She paused to cough, and Aster squeezed her hand. “You can always change clothes after. It takes five minutes.” That pulled a smile from Aster, who was memorizing every word. “See all the best movies, too. Lose yourself in a wonderful unravel of story. And not just science fiction, young lady. Expose yourself to all genres of storytelling.”

“I will. I promise.”

“And take care of your dad for me. He’s a good soul, but I’ve always been his navigator. He’ll need you kids now. He can cook but might need pointers. You can help with that.”

“I’m all over it.”

“And don’t leave old wounds with Brynn Garrett festering. I don’t know every detail of what went on between you two, but it feels like you’ve each lost something important, and maybe life would be better if those fences were mended.”

Aster exhaled slowly. That was a taller order. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You’re going to need someone to walk in the rain with. When you take that walk, know that I’m smiling.”

The tears filled her mother’s eyes, and that was Aster’s emotional dismantling. She laid her head on her mother’s shoulder and clung to her, crying without restraint. None of this was fair, and yet there was nothing to do but treasure this last little bit of time.

* * *

They lost her two days later on a rainy Monday.