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"I would have if I&039;d had the strength" As he recalled, Harry had made an effort to rouse his wife, to no avail Not that she could&039;ve helped him up or supported hiot to her feet "I can see you&039;re detero ahead and make that phone call," she said "We&039;ll both adjust You&039;re right, Harry If it was up to me, I&039;d put off theplans"

Relief washed over hi, Harry removed his wallet from his hip pocket - a procedure that left him short of breath - and took out the business card the adiven him

Elizabeth Goldsmith

He reached for the portable phone They had three phones in the house, thanks to Lorraine One in the bedroom, another in the kitchen and the third next to his recliner on the sh it was a Saturday, the administrator had promised him she&039;d be available

A woman with a pleasant voice answered the phone "Liberty Orchard," she said brightly "How ht I direct your call?"

"I&039;d like to speak with Elizabeth Goldsmith"

"One moment, please"

"Thank you" Harry closed his eyes, afraid that if Rosalie looked his way, she , despite the fact that he&039;d made the best decision The only decision

"Elizabeth Goldsmith," he heard half a minute later

"Harry Alderwood," he returned He didn&039;t understand why people felt they had to announce their names when they answered the phone He knehom he&039;d called and presumably Elizabeth kneho she was He&039;d noticed that it had become a common business practice in the last few years

"Ah, yes, we spoke recently, didn&039;t we?" Elizabeth said

"My wife, Rosalie, and I were by to see the facility a few days ago"

"Ah, yes You&039;re friends of Lucy Menard&039;s, aren&039;t you?"

"Yes"

Harry got right to the point "When we spoke, you confirmed that you had one unit open"

"Yes" Elizabeth paused "But - "

He continued to speak, eager to get this done "We discussedyou a check to secure that unit," he said

"Yes, I do recall that I urged you to ht away"

He ell aware of that and had thought of little else since their

"I mentioned that there was only one unit open, didn&039;t I?" she went on

"Yes" Harry was beginning to worry just a bit

"And I did mention that someone else had shown an interest?"

"Yes, you did"

"Well, I&039;m afraid, Mr Alderwood, that the first party ca day with a check"

"You meanthe unit&039;s already been taken?" He could hear the stunned disbelief in his own voice

"I&039;m afraid so And unfortunately there was only the one"

He wished she&039;d quit re him of that

"How soon will you have another unit available?" Harry asked, still in shock

Elizabeth considered her answer "That&039;s difficult to say It could be threeas six"

"Oh"

"I&039;m sorry, Mr Alderwood"

"Nono, I&039;ested we decide quickly and I thought we had"

"If there&039;s anything else I can do for you, please let me know Oh, and in the meantime, Merry Christmas"

"Thank you Merry Christh of regret, knowing he should have taken action that very day

Noas too late

Too late for him

In three months&039; time he wouldn&039;t be here In three months&039; time Rosalie would be a