Snow Blind-J Collins 4 (47 page)

“I’d never do that.”

“I know.” He buried his mouth in my hair.

“What’s really on your mind?”

“I’ve been thinking. You talked about permanence. I want that. I’m tired of living apart. I want to exist in the same space, all the time, not just three nights out of seven.”

Silence.

Way to throw your needy self out there, Julie.

“Say something, dammit.”

“It’s about fucking time.”

I smiled. “There’s no reason for me to live here anymore. I don’t work for the county. I’m making a permanent break with the Collins family. I’m tired of the drive. You and all my friends live in Rapid.” I turned my head to look at him. “I don’t suppose we can live at Casa Martinez full-time?”

“Not possible. It’s gotta stay off the radar, because it’s the one place I feel completely safe. It’s the one place I feel I can keep you safe. It’s the one place where we can truly be alone.”

“So I guess I’ll live above the goddamn strip bar if it’s an issue of your safety and if you’re concerned about mine.”

“A temporary fix, I promise. We’ll find someplace in town that’s ours. That’ll work for both of us. Might 495

take a few months.”

“I’m okay with that.”

As I leaned into Martinez, I saw the sky was clear.

No snow, giving me the perfect view of Bear Butte. It was funny, how long I’d hated that chunk of rock. How long I’d lived in its shadow. Now that I’d finally made peace with it, I’d be moving away from it. For good.

I deserved a fresh start. And I’d go into it with my eyes wide open.

496

Three weeks later . . .

Page 29

The Senior Citizen News

(Rapid City)—Prime Time Friends COO Brad-

ley Boner, and Rory Linderman, CEO of Linderman Properties Limited, announced the appointment of Amery Grayson as the new executive director of the senior volunteer organization. This is following the dismissal of Luella Spotted Tail, former director, who was released from her duties last week, amidst (unconfirmed) rumors of financial mismanagement.

In her first official statement, Ms. Grayson confirmed her grandfather, the late Vernon Sloane, had left five million dollars to the organization “for the betterment of all seniors.” Ms. Grayson has stated her intention to create a friendlier senior volunteer organization, dedicated to the mental health and safety of the elderly, especially those afflicted with Alzheimer’s, after the tragedy in February that claimed her grandfather’s life.

The newly minted director hopes to expand Prime Time Friends, a not-for-profit organization, beyond the current facility, Prairie Gardens Assisted Living Center, and other LPL properties, into every elderly healthcare facility in town, and eventually across the state.

497

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• Front Cover
  
• Copyright
  
• Contents
  
• Chapter One
  
• Chapter Two
  
• Chapter Three
  
• Chapter Four
  
• Chapter Five
  
• Chapter Six
  
• Chapter Seven
  
• Chapter Eight
  
• Chapter Nine
  
• Chapter Ten
  
• Chapter Eleven
  
• Chapter Twelve
  
• Chapter Thirteen
  
• Chapter Fourteen
  
• Chapter Fifteen
  
• Chapter Sixteen
  
• Chapter Seventeen
  
• Chapter Eighteen
  
• Chapter Nineteen
  
• Chapter Twenty
  
• Chapter Twenty-One
  
• Chapter Twenty-Two
  
• Chapter Twenty-Three
  
• Chapter Twenty-Four
  
• Chapter Twenty-Five
  
• Chapter Twenty-Six
  
• Chapter Twenty-Seven
  
• Chapter Twenty-Eight
  
• Chapter Twenty-Nine
  
• Chapter Thirty
  
• Chapter Thirty-One
  
• Chapter Thirty-Two
  
• Chapter Thirty-Three
  
• Chapter Thirty-Four
  
• Chapter Thirty-Five