“I love this car,” Holly said. “I’m surprised Daniel let’s you borrow it. What’s he driving then today?”

Sabrina gave her a sideways glance. “He borrowed his dad’s Mercedes and is running errands with Tim. I told him I’d drop you off at the Maidstone Country Club around lunch time before I go shopping in East Hampton, so you can have lunch with the guys.”

“You’re going shopping after the fitting? Why would you drop me off for lunch then? I don’t need food as much as I need to go shopping.”

Sabrina laughed. Of course Holly would react like that. “Sorry, honey, but that’s one shopping trip I’ll be making alone.”

“But why?” Holly fidgeted in her seat.

“Don’t ask.”

“Come on,” Holly insisted. “Why can’t I come? You know how much I love shopping.”

Sabrina sighed. “You can’t come, because I’m buying a present for you.”

“A present? For me?” Holly firmly jumped up and down in the passenger seat.

Sabrina laughed. “You’re like a little child before Christmas!”

“Oh, you know how much I like presents. You’re the sweetest friend ever!” Holly put her hand on Sabrina’s forearm and squeezed. “I really don’t deserve you!”

Sabrina chuckled. “Yes, you do. Without you, I wouldn’t have met Daniel. And I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now.” At the words, she felt tears well up and pushed them back down. She was getting so sentimental lately. And this wasn’t the first time in the last couple of weeks that she was getting teary-eyed without a reason.

“Yeah, that was quite something, wasn’t it?” Holly turned her head and looked outside, but the sad sound in her friend’s voice hadn’t escaped Sabrina’s attention.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot the last few days,” Holly started.

“About what?”

“You, the wedding, your life. Happiness in general. You know.”

“If you’re thinking about happiness, then why do I get the impression that you’re sad?” Sabrina took her eyes off the road for a moment and glanced at her friend.

Holly turned to face her. “I’ve been thinking about getting out of the escort business.”

“Oh my god, really?” Equal measures of surprise and joy shot through Sabrina. While she’d never judged her friend because of her choice of occupation, she’d always secretly hoped that one day Holly would leave the world of escort services behind and start fresh.

Holly smiled a tentative smile. “I mean, it’s just a thought. I don’t really know yet how. I mean, I don’t have that much money saved up, and I’m not really sure what else I can do, but I think it’s time to change my life.”

“Holly, that’s great! I’m so happy for you. Not that I would have ever judged you, I mean—”

“I know that,” Holly interrupted her. “That’s why our friendship has lasted so long. But it’s also because of you that I want out.”

“Because of me?”

Holly nodded. “I see what you have. Happiness and a future with a man who truly loves you no matter what. I want that. I want a man like that. But what man would love me? You know.” She shrugged.

Sabrina tried to protest, but Holly cut her off immediately.

“Don’t. We both know it’s the truth. No man can respect me if I continue to do what I do. It was fine for a while. It paid the bills. And there were times when I really enjoyed what I was doing. I don’t regret it. But I want to move on now.” She waved to the houses they passed along the highway. “I want this. I want a home, a husband, kids. I want to be respectable.”

Sabrina gave her friend a warm smile. “And you’ll get it. You will. Because I know you. Once you’ve set yourself a goal, you’ll achieve it. You’re strong. Stronger than I.”

Holly chuckled. “I don’t know about that. You’re pretty strong. And resilient.”

“So are you.”

Sabrina slowed the car and set the blinker, turning at the next intersection. Half a block farther, she pulled to the curb and parked the car in front of a small store whose window displayed a seamstress’s mannequin wearing a partially finished dress.

“We’re here.”

“This is not where you bought the wedding dress, right?” Holly asked.

“Of course not. But I didn’t want to go back to New York for the fitting, so I found somebody local to make the final alterations. She’s really good. Raffaela recommended her.”