Page 21 of The Lost Book of First Loves

She sighed. “I know. I feel like the past six months have been a total blur. Losing Dad so unexpectedly, then still having to power through so I could finish my classes when I was numb with grief. And on top of that, I found out about Juniper. It’s been a roller coaster on steroids. I could really use a moment to catch my breath, you know?”

“I get it. But you can’t spend so much time catching your breath that you throw away all your hard work. Your dad would never forgive either of us if I don’t push you to follow through.”

She knew he was right. Her father had been thrilled when she was accepted into law school and never let a conversation go by without telling her he was proud of her.

“I’ll study, I promise,” she said as Beck pulled up in front of the house.

“In other words, stop nagging.”

She shot him a grin. “Something like that.” She opened the door to the pickup truck. “Thanks again for the airport run. I know it’s not your favorite duty, but I really appreciate it. And thanks also for not telling Juniper she’s my half sister. I’ll tell her when the time feels right.”

He shook his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing, but I will respect your wishes. I’ll let you break the news in your own time.”

“Thanks, Beck. You are the actual best.” She gave him a hug across the seat then waved goodbye before hopping out of the truck and hurrying into the house.

When she walked inside, the only creature who came to greet her was one of the Siberian cats her father had loved.

Hemingway had his famous polydactyl cats, whose six-toed descendants still wandered around Key West. Carson Wells had his Siberians, with their unique coats and blue eyes.

“Hi there, Chaucer,” she said. He was named after one of her father’s characters, as were all the ranch cats. Not that her father necessarily approved, but Ali and her grandmother—and Ali’s mother, Sarah, before that—had picked the names of the three cats who lived in the house and the half dozen more in the barn and other outbuildings.

She thought perhaps she had been the one to name Chaucer, but she couldn’t precisely remember. She didn’t have time to give the cat more than a quick pet when a tall, willowy older woman with trendy short gray hair and glasses walked into the foyer. Her features lit up when she spotted Ali.

“Oh, my girl. There you are. I saw your luggage in the hall and couldn’t figure out why you didn’t seem to be with it. It’s so good to have you home.”

Ali hugged her grandmother, feeling a little as if she were a lost and frightened teenager again after her mother died.

“We stopped about twenty minutes ago to drop off my suitcase and I assumed you were in town.”

“I was. I’ve only been home five minutes. I barely had time to start looking for you before I heard you come inside and start talking to that silly cat.”

“He’s not a silly cat. He’s an amazing cat. Aren’t you, Chaucer?”

The cat purred loudly, rubbing his head against her leg. She smiled and reached down again to pet him as two other cats shot into the room, looking for attention, as well.

“Now you’ve done it,” Loretta said with a rueful smile. “You’ll be here all night being greeted by one cat after another.”

“I don’t mind. I love them all. Hi, Louie. Hi, Mabel.”

“Did you get your boss all settled at the cabin?”

Ali schooled her features into one of casual nonchalance. She had not told her grandmother yet about the genetic connection she had found to June Connelly. She still wasn’t sure how Loretta would handle finding out she had a thirtysomething-year-old granddaughter she had never known about.

What if shehadknown?

That might be one of the reasons Ali hadn’t brought it up with Loretta. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk to her about it yet. If her grandmotherhadknown about Juniper, that would meanCarsonhad known he had another daughter.

“Yes. She’s settled.” She gave a bland smile. “Bringing her here to the ranch to recover seemed like a great idea at the time, but I have to admit I’m not all that crazy about leaving her down there at the cabin all by herself.”

Concern furrowed her grandmother’s brow. “I hope she knows she’s welcome to stay here at the house. We have plenty of room.”

“I think she would be more comfortable on her own. She’s a pretty independent person and doesn’t like to be anyone’s responsibility. And she was a big fan of Dad’s.”

“I’ll admit while I’m happy to have her here, I’m still not quite sure why you brought her back with you. I get that you saved her life, but that does not mean the two of you are bonded for life.”

She deliberately didn’t meet her grandmother’s sharp-eyed gaze. She hated keeping the truth from her, but she suspected if she did tell Loretta, she would instantly rush down to the cabin to smother her newfound granddaughter with love.

“It seemed like the right thing at the time. She doesn’t have anyone else and I feel like it’s something Dad would have wanted me to do.”

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