But it's bad. Real bad. Her mother disappeared when she was thirteen. Saralinda has no idea if she's alive or dead, but she feels abandoned by the onl... person who ever loved her. Her father and stepmother have been abusive and controlling. And there's been violence. Sexual violence, even. Things came to a head the night you found her, but I haven't really gotten her to say all what happened that day."She should almost certainly be on antidepressants. I'd have some idea of the nature of her. Why?”“Why?”“I need a ‘responsible adult.” “You’re it.”“Won’t...?”“He’s not here,”“How about...?”“Nope ... you KNOW she’s not responsible.” “Come on ... they’re waiting.”I backed out.She jumped in, “Wait...” She looked in the backseat, “You need your satchel. I’ll fetch.”She left her door open. She was gone a very long time. She brought my bag ... I looked. It was a disaster.“Where is your chequebook?”“What?”“Cheque book ... moneybags.”“Why?”“I didn’t apply for scholarships.”“Alice ... you’re. .. but I thought you were..." He couldn't continue."You thought I was a rich man's mistress?" Nita finished. Well, Mom and Dad are pretty rich, and I live here at home so I guess you were pretty close." Then turning to Kelly she said, "How about a quick workout and a swim?" Great!" Kelly replied.Bill was dumfounded to see the elegantly-attired Nita scamper off with the beautiful young woman she referred to as her baby sister.As amused as Andy was by the situation — she knew exactly what had. Once you got the basics down, it was just keeping a straight line. After a few days, I began to think of Jess as I was driving. I would see her just in front of the combine as I was driving. That was the hard part.I lived in an apartment over the barn. It was clean, comfortable, and free. Joy had a boyfriend named Charley, sort of, and he wasn't too happy with me living and working so closely with her. I had never thought of Joy as anything but a hard worker and a friend. Joy and I had become.