wedged between her knees. She watched the landscape change from the manicured lawns

for the fare to The Sanctuary, with maybe five

ty nursing home for the wealthy and unwanted. The plac

he rain had stopped, leavi

esk. Betty, the reception

e lowered. "Your father called an hou

ch dropped. Ric

lease. I have medical proxy. He can't revoke that w

bly had a judge in his pocket

my job," Bet

ched up your son's chin in the parking lot so yo

ed the door. "Ten minutes. If the admi

nk y

mell of antiseptic and lavender air fres

04. She pushed the

indow, staring at a dead oak tree in the courtyard

ig

usually clouded with dementia,

y are you here? Did that little wi

r eyes. She rushed forward

t, Gigi. I refused

with age, cupped Aurelia's cheek. "Good. Never sign y

n of her wheelchair. She pul

uffles. I hid them from the nurse.

the most precious thing she had ever been given. She buried her face in

r voice steeling. "Tears are fo

hinks because I'm in here, he controls the voting s

Aurelia said, wiping her ey

aid. "That's why we n

t op

," Genevi

linked. "

" Genevieve scoffed. "The real pow

toward the adjacent building in the complex. It

evieve said. "Avery

ackburn Capital? I thought he was... incapacit

y grin appearing on her face. "But I hear things.

din

" Genevieve gripped Aurelia's hand. "Marry him. The Blackburn name trumps the

a stranger. And rumor says

use than a father who eats

ws of the courtyard shrubbery, a