Summary

(untitled chapter) – Mimi believes in love at first sight. When Clifton is four, she brings him out to see the cows as she always does. Local volunteers and fire companies are up in the mountains, putting out a wildfire. On his way up to the mountain, Tom swings by in his pickup truck. With him is Stevie, who Tom calls a good guy. Mimi instantly falls for Stevie, though she prefers to call him Steven.

(untitled chapter) – Mimi interrupts the narrative to explain that Steven Sawicki would come to be her first for most things, from French-kissing to having sex. Mimi then returns to the narrative. Steven is almost seven years older than her, works construction, and is well-muscled. He is also the first person to express genuine interest in Mimi’s project about the valley. She explains that she willingly gave herself sexually...