Page 47 of The Lost Book of First Loves

She could vouch for that. She had always felt loved by Xander’s family.

When he opened the door, his eyes widened with surprise and delight. “Ali! Hey, you. This is a surprise.”

She returned his smile. “I had some free time this afternoon and I’ve been meaning to stop by and check on Sylvia. How is she doing?”

“So far it’s been a pretty good day. I know she’s hurting, but she refuses to complain.”

She picked up the tote bag she had brought along, emblazoned with the Bridger Books logo. “I thought she might be bored so I picked up some magazines, some adult coloring books and a few books of word puzzles for her.”

“She’ll love that. You know Aunt Sylvia. She’s never been much of a TV watcher, so all this enforced inactivity is tough on her.”

“I also picked up some sugar cookies at that new bakery in town. They’re so good. Have you tried them yet?”

She held out the lavender box that held a half dozen elaborately decorated cookies.

“I haven’t had a chance yet,” he admitted. “I’m sure Aunt Sylvia and her sweet tooth will enjoy them. Come in and you can deliver your basket of goodies yourself. She’ll be pleased to see you.”

When she walked in, she was immediately thrust back to her childhood and the many happy hours she spent here. Sylvia and Robert lived exactly halfway between the elementary school and the middle school/high school complex, so it was natural for her to walk here after school to hang out with Xander and his sister until Ali’s mom was done with work at her law office and could pick her up to take her back to the ranch.

So many happy memories. She hadn’t been here in years, but it all felt like yesterday.

“It hasn’t changed much, has it?”

He gave a rueful smile. “Not much. Sylvia says she likes it this way. Every chair is apparently broken in to her butt now. She doesn’t see any point in wasting money on fancy new furniture and then having to make it all comfortable again.”

“She does have a point.”

How many hours had they spent studying here, rehearsing lines for the plays they had both been in together, hanging out playing Mario Kart in the basement family room or D&D with their friends?

They found his aunt in the sunroom off the kitchen, with her leg stretched on the sofa and a book across her lap. Her features lit up. “Alison. Darling. It’s been too long.”

Ali crossed the room, set the tote bag and the cookies on the low coffee table and leaned down to hug the woman. For a moment, she felt as if she were hugging her own mother. Sylvia and Sarah Wells had been close friends and involved in several civic and church committees together, though Sylvia was nearly twenty years older than her mother.

“It really has been too long. What have you done to yourself?” She gestured to Sylvia’s leg.

“Somehow, when I wasn’t looking, I turned into an old lady. It sucks.”

“You’re not old. Merely well seasoned.”

Sylvia laughed. “I’m old. Simple as that. So old, all my parts are starting to wear out. Good thing they have come up with replacement parts these days, though they will never be as good as the originals.”

“Maybe it’s because of all that hiking you’ve done over the years.”

“You could be right. If that is the case, I would have to say even a lousy hip replacement, as painful as this has been, is a small price to pay. It’s all been worth it. I’ve seen the whole state of Wyoming, nearly every inch. And a big part of Idaho, Montana and Utah, as well.”

“Only last summer, you hiked Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park,” Xander reminded her.

“I did. Gorgeous hike. Wish I could do it all over again, but I’m afraid my hiking days might be over.”

“I’m sure they’re not,” Ali said, taking the chair next to Sylvia. “As soon as that hip heals, you’ll be back at it.”

“I don’t know about that. It’s not the same without my dear Robert there to walk the trail with me.”

Robert had died the previous year. Ali had missed his funeral, to her deep regret, because she had been out withCOVID at the time and hadn’t wanted to spread the joy to the other mourners.

“I’ve told you a hundred times that I’m happy to go hiking with you,” Xander reminded his aunt.

“I could go with you, too,” Ali offered.

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