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yet.” Jessica wasn’t sure how she felt about going to a chiropractor. The experience would be new for her and no doubt an expensive one.
    When she had paid her hospital bill yesterday, she had used up all her funds except for twelve dollars and some change in her purse. She certainly hadn’t thought through her financial situation before taking off. She had no possibility of coming up with more money until after her first paycheck, which probably would be two or three weeks away. The reality of her financial situation had sunk in, and she realized she was in a horrible mess. How was she going to buy food, let alone pay for a chiropractor?
    “Mrs. Dane, I’m afraid I can’t—”
    Ida waved her to silence and spoke cheerfully into the phone. “Becky, dear, I have a new patient for you, and I wanted to know if I could bring her right over. She’s my tenant at the oldhouse on Marigold. Her name is Jessica Morgan.”
    Morgan!
Jessica froze. Mr. McGregor had given her real name to Mrs. Dane, and now somebody named Becky at the chiropractor’s office knew it, too.
    “In twenty minutes? Perfect. See you then, dear.” Ida hung up and turned to Jessica with a thumbs up sign. “Get dressed, Jessica dear, and we’ll go right over.”
    “You’re awfully kind, but I can’t, I mean I don’t….” Jessica wasn’t sure what to say. She had never been out of money before. In the past, a drive through her bank ATM would replenish her money supply. Now she had no checking account to draw from and no ATM to drive through. The realization was numbing, and she didn’t know how to explain this—especially to the owner of her home, who might change her mind about renting this cottage to Jessica if she knew the truth.
    “Go on now. No excuses! Do you need any help upstairs?”
    Jessica gave up. “No, I’ll be down in a few minutes.” She decided she could always stall. She could leave her purse at the house and tell the chiropractor she didn’t have any money with her. Then she could ask if he would bill her.
    Dressing took longer than she expected. Pulling on her jeans and slipping on her favorite blue Eddie Bauer shirt over her stiff neck took considerable effort. Now her head was really pounding. Maybe, if this chiropractor actually helped, it would be better than living in misery for days. Jessica pulled on her huaraches and spent a few minutes in the bathroom with a brush. Once again, the effort to apply makeup seemed pointless. She emerged at the bottom of the stairs with a weak smile, feeling slightly faint.
    “You poor dear,” Ida said, waiting by the front door. “I just realized you probably don’t have a bit of food in the house. You must be starving. Why don’t we stop for lunch afterwards? Mytreat. You can tell me all about yourself. Hugh told me so little about you.”
    Jessica allowed this sweet woman, who bordered on the side of busybody, to drive her to the chiropractor’s office, where Jessica went through a series of X-rays followed by a consultation. Dr. Dane showed her where the accident had jarred her spine out of alignment and recommended a series of adjustments and massages beginning with three office visits a week.
    In the privacy of his closed office, Jessica tried to find the words to graciously turn down his recommendation. “I must be direct, Dr. Dane. I don’t have any insurance, and at this time I’m afraid I can’t pay for the services up front. Perhaps I can begin the treatment after school starts, once I’ve received my first paycheck.”
    Dr. Dane looked thoughtful before closing her file on his desk. “You definitely need the treatment now. The problem will only persist and most likely will become worse the longer we wait. Why don’t we call your first month of treatment my little gift to welcome you to Glenbrooke?”
    Once again, Jessica was caught off-guard by the generosity of another Glenbrooke resident. “If you’re sure that’s okay. I feel that’s an awful lot for