Page 58 of The Lost Book of First Loves

June walked down the porch steps and headed over to the four-wheel-drive vehicle for a closer look.

“The Jeep is ancient, but it’s in great shape and it’s really fun to drive. I was thinking you might want to use it to explore the mountain. Though in retrospect, it’s probably not a good idea for you to take off on your own in an unfamiliar area. I would be happy to go with you when I’m not working at the bookstore.”

“Or studying.”

Ali made a face. She didn’t want to think about the bar exam, since it filled her with all kinds of conflicting emotions.

“Right. Or studying. Maybe we could study while we go. You could drive and I can go over case law.”

“Deal. Thank you! That is really thoughtful of you. I would like to at least go into town on my own. I need a few groceries and I would also love to check out your grandmother’s bookstore.”

“Want to take it for a spin?”

“Now?”

“Why not? It’s a beautiful evening. We have another fewhours of daylight. Though I guess I should have checked. Can you drive stick?”

June smiled. “The very first car I ever bought when I was in college was a really decrepit old Toyota with a manual transmission. I loved that car.”

“Great. Let’s go, then.”

June climbed into the driver’s seat, looking nervous.

“Where do you want to go?” June asked after Ali walked around the Jeep and climbed into the seat next to her.

“We can go anywhere. This thing can handle any kind of terrain. If you head out to the main road, I can show you some of the closest mountain tracks where you can head into the back country.”

June started up the vehicle, looking nervous at first as she worked the clutch and the gearshift into Reverse and backed out to the driveway then headed toward the ranch exit.

At first, she seemed uneasy, her shifting between gears slightly jerky, but she gradually relaxed.

“It feels good to be able to drive again. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it.”

“I have a friend from school who lost his sight from a congenital condition. He once said driving is like sex. You never know how much you need it until you can’t do it.”

“I don’t know. I think I’ve missed driving much more than I’ve missed sex.”

Ali grinned. “Then you obviously haven’t been doing it right.”

To her delight, June laughed out loud. “I can’t disagree.”

“How did your day go?” Ali asked.

“Pretty good. I stayed busy reading your dad’s journals. I’m very sorry I didn’t have the chance to meet him.”

“He would have loved meeting you, too,” she said quietly, earning a surprised sidelong look from June.

She shifted, suddenly uncomfortable at the secrets between them.

“Take the next right,” Ali said. “Ahead of this curve.”

June slowed down as she approached the turn then sent Ali a wary look. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. The first part is a little bumpy, but then it smooths out. Or at least it did the last time I came this way with Dad.”

The road was worse than she remembered, rutted and rocky, jostling them from side to side as they bumped along.

“I’m not so sure about this,” June said. “Maybe we should turn around.”

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