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After an hour and a half of non-stop driving, Maye was about ready to concede a break. “I think we have some food and gas options coming up. You about ready for a quick stop?”

“Yeah, let me see what we got coming up,” Tracy said as she zoomed into the map app on her phone. “Hey!” she said quickly. “We’re near Millinocket!”

“Yeah? And?” Maye said.

“That’s where they have the Millinocket Marathon.”

“I guess that would make sense,” Maye said. “To have the Millinocket Marathon in Millinocket.”

“You haven’t heard of it?”

“I’m not super up-to-date on my marathon news, no. Care to fill me in?”

“Well, they hold a marathon in this tiny town every December since, like, 2015,” Tracy explained.

“A marathon? In December? In Maine? No thank you.”

“I know, right?” Tracy said. “Some runners just started planning it after a paper mill closed in town as a way to get some tourism and help the town get back on its feet. It still happens every year and I’ve always wanted to—”

Maye’s preempted laughter interrupted Tracy.

“What?” Tracy said.

“Don’t tell me you’ve secretly always wanted to run this marathon…”

“Heck no! I was going to say that I just always wanted to visit Millinocket, and we’re gonna drive right by it, so…”

“Well, let’s make it happen!”

“Great!” Tracy said. “I’ll look for some food.”

As they drove past the Millinocket sign along Main Street, the dense roadside trees made way for grocery stores, restaurants, regional banks, and two-pump service stations. Tracy had been quiet for a long time researching meal options for them.

“So,” Tracy said somewhat carefully. “I found a place to eat that looks really good. Lots of reviews, highly rated, affordable, and the menu sounds delicious.”

“Okay, what’s the problem? Are they only open on Thursdays, too?”

“The thing is,” Tracy said, “the name might throw you off. But I really want you to focus on all the other things I said. Promise?”

Maye could not conceive of a restaurant name that would offend her so much that Tracy would have to lay groundwork ahead of it time. How bad could it be? She thought. “If the food is good, I think I’ll be able to handle it,” she said.

Maye pulled into a parking spot in front of the address Tracy had told her. “Is this a joke?”

“Maye, I think this could be really good for you.”

“No. Absolutely not.” Maye turned to look straight at Tracy. “I am not eating at a restaurant named The Appalachian Trail Cafe.”

“Alright, Maye, I know this looks bad, but let’s not forget all the aforementioned good qualities. The aforementioned menu, the aforementioned affordability…”

Tracy could be right about this being some form of closure and it could be good for her. After all the work Maye had done grieving, this would be a good test.

“Let’s just try it,” Tracy continued. “If it’s unbearable, then we’ll find someplace else.”

Looking for another place to eat would put them even more off schedule, and Maye did not want this stop to take any longer than it had to.

“Plus,” Tracy said, “you got a parking spot right in front. You say that never happens to you. Maybe it’s a good sign?”

Maye sighed. “If I say yes will you stop saying ‘aforementioned’?”