ntorted with rag

out, closing ar

ouldn't

danced bef

– "Boss, someone's coming!" – or may

urder charge was too r

back, breat

d by pain and sho

shb

ink, years ago.

ust starting to mak

l wrap for Grandma Rose before headi

s dark, eer

the back, near the walk-in

huddled, blue-lipped,

y" locked him in, intending to inconvenience me by making me late, knowin

wn coat, forced warm sips of water fro

ed hi

afterwards was i

," he' d

or a while, was hap

the slow

ingly priorit

uge milestone – because Tiffany had an "emer

designer bags, jewelry, while I scrape

o break u

h his "debt" to Tiffa

uture, Ellie! I owe Tiffany my protecti

I understood loss, obligation. Reluctantl

he first ma

qualifier, Ethan was suppo

ally" submit

the list, got the

ry pick by the selection committee. But the wound of his car

up again, more

he played his

considerable influence to have Grandma Rose removed from

hospital heavily fund

his eyes cold, "if her access to

was my world.

es

ted track, weak, b

blue and scared in that

rely audible, "I should have let

kness finally