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.She puts them in scrapbooks.” I pulled onto the highway and tromped down on the accelerator.The moving truck drove like a slug, taking forever to get up to speed.“She saves everything—postcards, newspaper clippings, ticket stubs—everything.She has books and books full of it all, going back to when we were kids.”Alice put away the postcards and stashed the bag behind the seat.“I tried scrapbooking once.I ended up with a box full of stickers, fancy paper, hole punches, glitter and glue.I kept it on a shelf in the hall closet until I faced up to the fact I wasn’t the crafty kind and gave the whole lot away to Goodwill.”“Frannie tried to get me interested in scrapbooking with her, but I didn’t care for it,” I said.“I guess I’m just not the sentimental type.”“What about when you were a kid?” Alice asked.“Did you have any hobbies, like collecting stamps or troll dolls or anything like that?”I shook my head and pulled out to pass a slow-moving VW bug.“I never liked having a lot of stuff around.”“Dust catchers, my mother always called them.”“Something like that.” I was distracted by a bright reflection in the rearview mirror.About that time, I heard a siren wail and recognized the flashing as the blue-and-white strobe of a highway patrol car coming up fast on my rear bumper.“Shit! Are you speeding?” Alice leaned over to check the speedometer.My heart hammered and my hands shook so badly I could hardly flip on my blinker.I hit the brake and guided the truck onto the shoulder, numb.Stay calm, I told myself.You haven’t done anything wrong.Still shaking, I managed to roll down the window.When the officer walked up to the truck, I had the impression of clean-cut good looks behind mirrored sunglasses.But he could have been Elvis himself for all the difference it made to me.“Good afternoon, ma’am.May I see your driver’s license and registration, please?”“Th-they’re in my purse,” I stammered.I groped on the floorboard for my bag, then dug through it, light-headed and dizzy.Where was the damn license?Finally, Alice reached in and handed me my wallet and the envelope from the glove compartment with the registration.“Calm down,” she whispered.“It’s just a speeding ticket.”I shoved the identification at the officer and stared straight ahead out the windshield, clutching the steering wheel as if it was a life preserver.“Ms.Lawrence, do you know how fast you were going?”I shook my head.“I guess I wasn’t paying attention.” A warm breeze gusted in as an 18-wheeler zoomed past.My whole body felt clammy with sweat and I had to keep reminding myself to relax.“You were doing seventy-five in a fifty-five zone.” The officer scribbled something on his clipboard.“May I see some identification, ma’am?” he asked Alice.“You can see anything you like, Officer.” I gaped at her as she gave him a wide smile and handed over her license.Leave it to Alice to flirt at a time like this!The officer remained stone-faced.“I’ll be with you in just a moment,” he said and left us.I watched in the mirror as he walked back to his patrol car.The urge to turn the key and drive away was so strong I took my hands off the steering wheel and sat on them.Alice was watching the cop, too, in the side mirror.“Isn’t he a hottie?” she said.“There’s just something about those tight pants and those boots…” She squirmed.“Talk about a fantasy come to life.”“Stop it,” I snapped.“There’s nothing sexy about this.”“Don’t you think?” She grinned.“With those handcuffs and those dark glasses.” She checked the mirror again.“And that gorgeous ass.”I shut my eyes.I didn’t care about the cop’s ass or his boots or anything but getting out of here as soon as possible.I’d never felt less sexy in my life.In fact, I felt like throwing up.He came back to the truck and returned our licenses.“Where are you ladies headed?” he asked.My throat was so dry I didn’t know if I’d be able to answer, but I didn’t have to.“We’re going to Ojai, California,” Alice said.“I’m moving there from Virginia.Ellen lives in Bakersfield and agreed to help me make the drive.We’re taking our time, seeing the country.” She all but fluttered her eyelashes, sending the message that she’d like to see more of him.He was immune to her charms.“Are you carrying any drugs in the vehicle?” he asked.“No!” I blurted.Did I look like someone who carried drugs? Me?“Are you carrying any weapons in the vehicle?”“No.” I shook my head [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]