Page 122 of Under the Ink

At the first stop sign, she braked a little too hard—but a lot of what she’d learned several years ago was coming back to her. Although she’d never thought she was any good behind the wheel, she suspected if she drove just a little more, she could pass a driving test.

She’d just never had enough practice to feel confident. Not that today’s journey was going to help.

As she followed the map app’s directions, she realized she wouldn’t be going into the heart of Winchester, so she glanced at the dash. The car had three-quarters of a tank of gas, so Naomi figured that would be fine—and she’d fill it full after today as a thank you to Ginny for letting her borrow it in the first place.

At the end of another road that started to wind up a hill, she flipped on the turn signal to the main highway. Once she knew for certain she could pull out safely, she did—but she wasn’t ready to go the posted speed of fifty miles per hour.

Maybe she could work up to that.

As the car kept rolling, she mostly looked at the road itself, but when she passed the Roughin’ It RV Park, she knew this was the road she and Sage had been on in July—so she knew she was definitely on the right path.

Still nervous, though, she turned off the pop music coming through the speakers, letting the rhythmic sound of the tires on the asphalt soothe her with its gentle simple cadence. And she had to ignore the occasional vehicle on her bumper until they’d grow impatient and pass her. After a while, she had to turn off the highway onto a county road. Was this really familiar or was she imagining it?

Could she trust the app with the soothing voice?

One thing shedidknow was that this road wasn’t as well maintained as the highway she’d just exited.

But it didn’t matter. Nothing was going to stop her now.

And at least there weren’t as many other drivers riding her butt. Her knuckles were starting to ache from the way she gripped the wheel.

Soon, she turned on another county road and began a steep ascent up the pass.Thiswas familiar. One thing she remembered for certain was that this part of the drive would be the most challenging part. But there were trees beside the road here at least, so she wouldn’t die or go over the edge, would she?

The only thing that helped her not completely panic was the lack of traffic.

When she got to the top, though, she pulled over to the side of the road—which didn’t have a lot of space if two other cars were wanting to go over the top at the same time, but she suspected she wouldn’t have that issue.

Still, she needed some time to regroup.

Putting the car in park, she wondered if she needed to get out and stretch or simply power through.

Because there would be no going back.

CHIPETA SPRINGS, COLORADO

SEPTEMBER 13, APPROXIMATELY 8:30 AM

“Yousureyou just want to stay here?” Sue asked, her voice sweeter than usual.

“Yeah. I need more coffee.”

“We could get you coffee on the way there, son.”

No way. Sage’s dad was far too perky this morning—something Rayneverwas. And Sage had slept for shit last night.

Hell. Who was he kidding? He hadn’t slept well for days now…and he knew why.

But he didn’t want to becheered upby clubbing a little pebbly white ball around an unnatural lawn.

He wanted alone time.Realalone time, something he hadn’t had in a long time. Even if his parents were only gone for a couple of hours, he planned to relish every minute of it.

He needed time alone with his thoughts.

“Thanks, but I’m just gonna chill.”

“We’ll get lunch after,” Sue said, her voice singsongy as if trying to coax him.

“Maybe next time.”

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