Madge Walls
Published: 2013-12-30
Total Pages: 358
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Bessie Carter, an 82 year old widow living in Upcountry Maui, can no longer manage on her own. She decides to sell her house and move into an assisted living home. She lives with her ferocious pit bull terrier, who acts like a lamb only for Bessie. Realtor Laura McDaniel, a 40-something divorcee, spends an afternoon with Bessie, getting acquainted and explaining the process. When Laura returns the next day to tie up a few loose ends, Bessie has no idea who she is or why she is there. Laura realizes that Bessie needs much more than a Realtor's help at this stage in her life. As Laura gets to know her, she understands that Bessie's memory lapses and bizarre behavior are more than "senior moments." With no family left on the island to help her, Laura becomes more and more involved in Bessie's downhill slide into Alzheimer's disease. Bessie is oddly elusive about her only daughter Elisa, who lives in New York, estranged from her mother. Her only son Tony works at a lumber mill in Oregon, but she can't understand why he never answers her letters. Laura soon learns that Tony died ten years ago. Bessie simply doesn't remember. While doing her best to help Bessie, a handsome Frenchman walks into Laura's life, so out of place on Maui, but eager to purchase a beachfront condominium. Much to her chagrin, Laura discovers that nothing about Maurice or his purchase is straightforward. Once again, Madge Walls shows us the fictionalized drama, humor, and suspense of the life she knew on Maui. Walls grew up in Honolulu and raised her children on Maui, the island she loves best and writes about with affection and authenticity.