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While she was on my mind, I decided to call and let her know we were about to head out.

I grabbed my phone before pulling off and called her.

She answered on the second ring. “Hey, boo! Y’all on the road?”

“About to leave now.”

“Damn. It’s really happening.”

I sighed, glancing around the neighborhood. “Yes, girl.”

“Well, drive safe. And call me when you get there so I know y’all made it.”

“I will.”

“And don’t go back home acting like you found another best friend.”

I laughed. “Girl, please.”

“I’m serious. I better still be number one.”

“You’re my only friend. Relax.”

“That’s even better. Less competition. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

I ended the call and set my phone back in the cupholder.

Leaving still felt strange, but hearing Nyelle’s voice reminded me that moving home didn’t mean I had to leave every part of my old life behind.

I checked on Kaidence in the rearview mirror and took one final breath before backing out of the driveway.

Hallowridge, here we come.

Not even ten minutes into the drive, from the back seat, Kaidence leaned as far forward against his harness as he could. “How long we gotta drive, Mommy?”

“Don’t you mean how long I gotta drive?” I kidded.

“Well, yeah.”

I smiled. “A little while, baby.”

“How long is a while?”

“Long enough for you to take a good nap.”

“I’m not even tired.”

“You’ll be asleep in twenty minutes.”

“No, I won’t.”

He was dead to the world in nine.

I kept both hands on the wheel, letting the rhythm of the road steady my nerves.

For the first hour of the four-and-a-half-hour trip, the heavy traffic leaving the city demanded most of my attention. Brake lights flared ahead of me in waves, drivers cut between lanes without warning, and somebody in a beat-up Honda rode my bumper like getting there thirty seconds faster was going to change the course of his life.