Page 48 of The Lost Book of First Loves

“That is so sweet of you both, but you’re busy with your own lives. As you should be. This is the first time since high school that you’ve both been in the same place at the same time, isn’t it? You should plan some outings together!”

“We’re talking about riding up to Hidden Lake,” Ali told her.

“Oh, you should. I love that place. Did I ever tell you about the time Robert and I ran into a mountain lion up there? It was right on the trail, just staring at us. I thought for sure we were going to be cougar chow, but he only looked at us for a minute and then sauntered away like he had no cares at all.”

“Oh, wow. I hope we avoid the mountain lions while we’re there,” she said

“Make sure you take bear spray. It’s effective for cougars as well as bobcats and bears.”

“Good to know.”

“Aunt Sylvia,” Xander said. “Ali brought you a few distractions.”

“How kind of you!”

“It’s not much. Some adult coloring books and colored pencils, some puzzle books, a few magazines. Oh, and a new book release my grandma said is by one of your favorite authors.”

She held it out and Sylvia’s wrinkled features brightened. “I can’t wait! I’ve been wanting to get this one.”

“She also brought you some sugar cookies from the new bakery,” Xander added.

Her eyes sparkled. “Delicious! Sugar and books. You know the way to my heart. You may have noticed that I’m not very good at sitting still. It will be lovely to have something to keep me from expiring of boredom. That is so thoughtful of you.”

She didn’t necessarily consider herself thoughtful, though her mother always had been. Sarah Wells seemed to invariablyknow when a neighbor or friend needed a visit or a phone call or an invitation to lunch. Her kindness and generosity had been legendary around town.

“I’m glad you don’t already have the book.”

“I can’t wait to read it.”

They sat in the sunroom chatting while the summer breeze poured through the screened windows, sweet and fresh from the climbing roses outside.

“What have you been up to while Sylvia recovers?” Ali asked Xander.

“He’s always doing something. He’s like me in that way. He doesn’t stop unless he’s asleep,” Sylvia said with a fond smile to the great-nephew she treated more like a son.

“I had some video editing to do, a newsletter to write and a few updates to the website,” he answered.

“How’s the room cleaning going?” Ali asked.

He sighed. “I can’t believe I kept so much crap. I still have spelling bee ribbons from sixth grade.”

“That was a big deal,” she said. “I still can’t believe you beat me. Spelling was kind of my thing, whereas you were good ateverything.”

“I can’t help that I knew how to spelldelinquentand you didn’t.”

She scoffed, which only made him laugh.

“It’s hard to part with things,” Sylvia said. “I get it. I’ve been working on clearing out my bedroom of Robert’s things since he died. It takes me a week to go through a single drawer and then I feel like I have to recover for another few weeks before I can clear out something else.”

Xander touched her hand and his great-aunt gave him a warm, if watery, smile. It made Alison grateful all over again that Loretta had stepped in to clear out Sarah’s clothes, about six months after she died. Alison’s grandmother had made a wedding-ring quilt for her out of material taken from Sarah’sfavorite clothes. It was on her bed at the ranch and she felt close to her mother every time she looked at it.

“Need a hand?” she asked. “I don’t have any other plans this evening. I could help you.”

He looked skeptical. “You’re telling me you really don’t have anything better to do than sort through books I haven’t read and clothes I haven’t worn in a decade?”

“Sure. Why not? The two of us can get the job done in half the time.”

“Or it might take twice as long because we’ll be so distracted talking,” he said.

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