“I was,” I said.

“And you stayed right here in town?” she asked.

“I live ten minutes down the road,” I said, picking up my coffee cup.

“My home is right where it’s always been.”

Brenda wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her wrist and set the check down beside her register drawer.

“You take care of yourself, Claire,” she said softly.

“I will,” I said, turning the brass door handle and stepping back out into the bright autumn afternoon.