Anna Jeffrey

You must learn to read well, Marisa. As long as you're a good reader, you can learn anything, do anything.

How the hell would she support herself and her mother if Agua Dulce__ new owner built one of those mega service stations right next door? Or worse yet, right on top of them.

Instinct caused a woman who had once been so attractive to still attempt makeup and hairdos, Marisa guessed, but more often than not, the effort came off with Mama looking like a clown. Seeing it broke Marisa__ heart, but she didn__ interfere. Her mother didn__ know the difference and these days, it was rare for anyone but Marisa to see her. What little family they had seldom came and Mama__ friends in Agua Dulce, out of respect, were reluctant to gawk at her decline.

But Marisa already knew the answer and it was too late for recrimination. The chance of even a rational discussion of the problem was forever shut out of Mama__ brain. A brutal bastard was steadily sucking the intelligence and the very life from the mother who had once been witty, wise and loving. The scourge had a name Marisa had come to equate with hell: Alzheimer__ Disease.