If It's Free, I Can't Afford It - 9610

American Fiction Awards Finalist; 5 Star Readers' Favorite review: "A lovely novel with a lesson in it for all readers," as a young woman learns that cost is not always measured in dollars. When Natalie’s rent goes up and work hours go down, Grandpa suggests she move into his spare room at the new seniors-only complex until she gets back on her feet. But before the last box is unpacked, Grandpa goes missing on a kayaking trip. With the sheriff certain he’ll turn up wet and embarrassed, Natalie keeps the disappearance to herself. At first, tricking the wrinkled relics is as easy as getting two cups of coffee from the lobby and mentioning one is for Grandpa. A rumor that he’s sick brings a dozen casseroles to the door and provides free rein for three weeks. Most residents are wonderful and accept the meticulously fabricated excuses without question, but Angie is suspicious, and Moose is no help with his untimely barking, frequent need for walks, and an unusual taste for plastic oxygen hoses. As weeks turn into months, hope for Grandpa’s return is long past, and the “just visiting” charade has turned into a complicated scheme that’s tearing Natalie up inside. She realizes the seniors fill a void left by her grandpa, but these new friends come with old problems. She sits for a man who has Alzheimer’s, endures odd stories from a seemingly demented resident, and can only watch helplessly as a new friend prepares to die. Her priest is no help, providing cryptic advice that requires more effort to figure out than dealing with the problems on her own. As Christmas approaches, Angie is hot on her heels forcing Natalie to develop a complex plan that raises her deceit to a new high and drops her self-respect to a new low. She finds herself faced with the hardest decision of her life—the apartment is free, but can she afford it?
ASIN: B0C9S4VKYM
VSKU: BVV.B0C9S4VKYM.VG
Condition: Very Good
Author/Artist:Jones, J.
Binding: Paperback