Edge (Gentry Boys #7) Read Online Free

exactly.  We provided transitional housing with access to medical and childcare as well as career counseling.   For the overwhelming majority of our families a few months of gentle assistance was all they needed to get back on track.  
    Sure, my job didn’t pay much but that didn’t mean the rewards weren’t rich.  My father couldn’t seem to understand that.  I’d already learned the sad uselessness of money when it came to the worst things that could happen.  Money couldn’t save the ones we loved from tragedy. 
    Or bring them back. 
    My fingers flew to the chain around my neck and I pressed the small shape just above my breasts.  Countless people had commented on it over the years, wondering out loud why I wore it so often, what it meant, what it was worth.  There were no easy answers to any of those questions. 
    I wore it because it was given to me by the best friend I’ll ever have. 
    I wore it because it reminded me that she’d been real, that she’d lived, that she could never be forgotten. 
    I wore it because it was the most valuable thing I owned, but only if you’re speaking in a language more basic than money.
    That was all so personal though, too personal to share with most.  Typically I would just shrug at my inquisitor and say the crystal at the end of my necklace had been a gift from a friend.  It wasn’t nearly the whole story but it usually satisfied them. 
    Mary Agnes Bustamante was waiting by my desk when I returned.  She was my boss and had served as the director of Homestead for three decades.  There were rumors she’d been a nun when she was young but that was a piece of gossip she wouldn’t confirm or deny.  I’d been working for her for nearly a year and had never heard her discuss personal matters even once. 
    “New family is all settled into forty two,” I told her, “I’ll get the paperwork over to Phyllis before I leave today.” 
    “Good,” said Mary Agnes.  She had a clipped way of speaking that made every word sound like a whizzing bullet.  “Ninety six will be vacant next week. Mr. Juarez was promoted from busboy to cook at that restaurant by the ballpark where you put in a good word for him.  He just signed a lease on an apartment on Central Avenue and will be moving his family over the weekend.” 
    “That’s terrific,” I said, sitting down and pulling out a heavy, tabbed binder.  “You want to go over the waitlisted applicants now?”
      “Monday would be better,” Mary Agnes said decisively.  Her sharp, black-eyed gaze lingered on me for a moment.  Mary Agnes was a difficult person to categorize.  She’d dedicated her life to helping ease the burdens suffered by others but there was little hint as to what went on in her head. 
    “Thank you, Roslyn,” she said and the uncharacteristic warmth in her voice made me look up in surprise.  “You work hard. You care about our families.  It hasn’t gone unnoticed.” 
    She turned on her flat heel and started to walk away.  “Please make sure unit forty two receives their welcome package,” she called without turning around. 
    I didn’t want to sound smug so I didn’t answer back that I’d already taken care of it.  Mary Agnes wasn’t waiting for an answer anyway. 
    For the rest of the day I worked on completing volumes of obnoxious paperwork so I could turn it all in to Phyllis, the sixty year old administrative assistant who was sweet as cake and had lost her right leg to diabetes complications six months ago. 
    “Hey girl!” She beamed at me as I approached her desk.  Phyllis had a knack for making it seem like no matter who you were, there was no one she’d be happier to see. 
    “Hi, gorgeous.”  I waved the file folder I was holding.  “Sorry to dump this on you so late but I’m sure the boss won’t mind if you wait until Monday to tie up the loose ends.” 
    Phyllis reached for the folder with a soft grunt of exertion.  “That’s all right,