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the air conditioner replaced.” She turned her gaze down to her

plate, but the whole thing seemed unappetizing.

“Adalynn’s busy,” Cassia spoke up suddenly. “She films

everything, does all the editing, deals with getting it out there.

That’s how she’s made her living—photography and video.

I’m sure you all know that. Without it, how could she have

bought this house or afford to pay all of you? I know she’s

generous to a fault and incredibly loyal. Working for her is a

privilege and I’ve learned a lot. She doesn’t not eat with us

because she thinks she’s better than us. Most days she just

doesn’t remember to eat because she’s so busy.”

In the chair off to the left, Big George—as he’d introduced

himself and liked to be called—grunted. He was a big man, so

his nickname was apt, probably in his late fifties, with a thick

crop of graying hair and a permanent sunburn that his

weathered features wore quite nicely. “Well, ain’t that the

truth.” He raised a clear glass of iced tea. The guys kept a big

plastic juice cooler with a spout at the bottom. Each day it was

either iced tea or lemonade and they took turns bringing it.

“Here’s to Adalynn. May she quit working herself to death and

have lunch with us more often.”

Everyone raised their glasses in a toast and Adalynn went

from feeling sick and cold inside to basking in a warmth she’d

rarely felt before. Cassia came by her grace naturally. She had

an incredible knack for tact and was easy to get along with.

She wasn’t sure if Cassia had learned that through escorting,

or if she was always that easy going growing up. Her dad

probably kept her protected and sheltered, but at school she

must have had a ton of friends. Adalynn somehow doubted

Cassia had been very popular. She likely had many friends, but