Free Healing Trace by Debra Kayn

financial troubles. A man would distract
her from everything she needed to do.
    Not
that he found her interesting. The man was a rock, cold, unmoving, and
stubborn.
    Inhaling
deeply, she groaned. Even the fresh earthy scent of the land reminded her of
Trace. She opened her mouth, deciding it would be best not to breathe through
her nose. This was her day, the day she had to call Katie and update her on
where they were at on getting her back home.
    Joan
walked and walked. She didn't know where she was going. Not paying attention to
the landscape or how far her steps were taking her, she continued on her stroll
long after her legs grew tired.
    She
outran her fears, her feelings, and the loneliness of having the only person
left in her life hundreds of miles away from her. And wishing she could talk to
someone who'd understand what it felt like to fail someone who depended on her.
    When
she stopped, she found herself beside a stream. What was she going to do now
that her options had blown up with her car? How could she have been so distracted
with her problems that she let the vehicle insurance lapse?
    She
was relying on the extra money from taking care of Trace, plus the insurance
money, to afford another car. After she paid her rent, utilities, and the final
payment to the funeral home for her father's casket and burial, she wouldn't
even be able to afford a bus ticket to bring her sister home.
    Katie.
    Her
seventeen-year-old sister was growing up too fast. She sank down in the grass
and crossed her legs. She'd failed her father, her sister, and even worse,
herself. She'd promised Katie she'd only have to stay with Aunt Sharon for nine
months. Only long enough for Joan to finish college and find full time
employment. She knew without getting her nursing degree, she never would be
able to support both of them working in town on minimum wage.
    Nine
months had passed, and she was no closer to keeping her word. Working for Trace
gave her experience, but the job was temporary. What she needed to do is travel
out of the county to the area hospitals, and apply for a permanent nursing job.
Without a car, she was stuck and her promise to bring Katie back for her senior
year of high school would be a lie.
    Oh,
Dad. I should have known you were in bad health. The signs were there. I was
just too blind to see them.
    John
O'Hanlon's doctor had urged him to cut back on fatty foods and give up smoking.
Joan brushed the tears off her cheek. Her dad had a do-it-tomorrow attitude
when it came to his health, and probably thought he had more time to change a
lifetime of bad habits. Who expects to die of a heart attack at fifty years
old?
    Her
dad had put everyone else first. His family, the police station, and all his
community service had taken up all his spare time. He had lived life selflessly.
    She
leaned to the right, removed her cell phone from her pocket, and called Katie.
She couldn't let her sister build her hopes up any longer.
    The
ringing in her ear stopped, and she cleared her throat. "Hey sis."
    "Joanie!
It's about time you called. I've left text messages for you the last three
days. What's going on? Are you still working for that one man? Did you find
another job?"
    She
squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. "I'm still doing in-house care for
Trace…the one who broke his leg. I only have three more weeks here."
    "That's
good though, right? Oh my God, I still can't believe you're really a nurse.
That is so cool. I can't wait to tell Aunt Sharon you're almost done. So, when
can I come home?"
    She
swiftly inhaled. This was the most excited she'd heard Katie in a long time,
since before finding their father lying dead on the bedroom floor. She pinched
the bridge of her nose. Katie was too young to worry about car troubles or
where the next paycheck would come from.
    Katie
should be going out with her friends, learning to drive, and floating around
experiencing the joys of having her first boyfriend. She understood how hard it
was living