My imagination goes wild as I think of all the reasons why Gram would have a journal written in another language. Olivia and I groom our horses in silence for a few more minutes before Max shows up.

“Thanks. I’ll take it from here,” he says. “Your grandmother feeling better, Lulu?”

Heat floods my cheeks, and I avoid Olivia’s questioning look. “Yes. Thanks for your help.”

“Help?” Olivia squeaks. “What help?”

Max takes in my wide eyes for a second before turning to Olivia. “I hear you might enter the next jumping competition. I think you’ve got a good shot at placing. Let me know if you want extra time in the arena.”

Olivia’s mouth opens and closes. “Sure, okay, thanks.”

Max nods before heading toward his dad’s office. He knew exactly what to say to distract Olivia. She’s completely forgotten to be mad at him and chatters excitedly about the competition while we wait in front of the barn to be picked up.

I’m also sort of surprised that Max kept quiet about Gram. He could have made fun of her—of me—but he didn’t.

“I bet if I add another lesson on the weekend, it would totally help me get ready. What do you think?” Olivia asks.

Before I can answer, Piper stomps out of the barn and drops her bag so close to my foot, the strap whips my leg. “Ugh, I can’t believe the babysitter drove her own clunker when my mom told her she can drive the Audi. So apparently it broke down and I have to, like, wait. Can I just catch a ride, Olivia?”

Olivia glances at me from the corner of her eye. “Um, sure!”

Piper flashes me a tight smile. “Seems like Max had it out for you today. Give people power and they turn into complete jerks, right?”

“He was just doing his job,” I say, the words tumbling out of my mouth. Since when do I defend Max Rodriguez?

Piper sniffs and turns her back on me to face Olivia. “I was wondering if we can stop off at this little shop on the way to my house? Their ice cream is so completely amazing. It will change your life.”

Olivia laughs as if Piper is the funniest person in the world. “I love ice cream!” She leans around Piper so she can see me. “What about you, Lulu? You want to get some ice cream with us?”

I try to return Olivia’s smile. “If you’re talking about the ice cream shop on the corner of Fourth Street, they’re closed for the next two weeks. They go out of town this time every year.”

“They were just open yesterday,” Piper says, whipping her head around to give me her famous glare.