i next to Demola as the

rif

ar old dad once she got there. He was dead. Gone. Buried. But his ghost would be there. Not the see-through kind, of course. But she would be staying in his house. She would be surrounded by hi

she was up to si

he helpless kids of the world. She knew the desperation people with major health problems and no ins

mind jumped directly to the other new item in her life. Adenuga.

damn

ough oxygen into her system, trying to calm her nerves. But there wasn't enough air in

, pe

y was Demola making her feel things that had been safely in hibernation for the past three years, but anger and despair over her father's betrayal were already building

Tried to ignore the anger simmering

many kids you can help

she was sick and suffering and needed help while her father had turned a blind eye and built his damned ranch. Surprise and sympathy knitted his brow. "No, I didn't. I knew she wa

about her mother secret. Her state of poverty. Her disease. Her desperate requests for money. Which helped explain Demola's loyalty to him. S

g his face, "She didn't have enough m

to buy food half the time. And that was before she got sick. After. . ." H

then a wheelchair; finally she couldn't get around at all. Memories of standing over her bed and giving her aspirin

the

jobs she could get as a high school student and even later as a high school graduate only paid minimum wage. Not nearly enough to

tless families in the last few years collect money for medical crises. Why hadn't i

lled over her lashes and looked out the

so hard, Tomilol

pless anymore. She shrugged and tipped her chin up. "I don't

f your father had onl

inside her. "I can't count the number of times my mother

ever told you, did he? That he had a wife and daughter who needed his help?" She shook her head in disgust

expression intense. "Tomi

ou dare defend my father to me or I'll get out of thi

n over her warning. But then he shut his mou

rther do we

at had been getting steadily closer fo

e wanted out

d gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. "Hang in there. Beginnings

aked up his brief touch, appreciating the suppor

a one-lane road, and then it was only a matter of minute

verywhere. It looked like a little city. She swallowed t

t her anymore. But after only a moment of hesitation, he gave his head a gentle

to Tomi, "Do you want me to give you a short tour, introduce you to some of the hands? Or do you wa

the new person was. She closed her eyes, blocking out their expectant faces. She couldn't meet them now. She couldn't possibly sh

to the

were wea