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“Seamus and Carolina O’Grady asked me to get in touch with you about Lisa’s things. They’ve put aside what they think the boys would like to have, but they aren’t sure what to do with the rest. They thought you might be in touch with her family.”
“I’ve reached out to them,” Dan said, “but haven’t gotten anywhere. I was told they were estranged and preferred to stay that way.”
“That’s because of me,” Jace said. “They told her not to marry me.”
“They didn’t say why, just that they were very sorry to hear she’d passed, but it was for the best to keep their distance. Wish I had better news.”
It pained him that her parents had shown no interest in their grandsons, but then again, they never had, even before the shit hit the fan.
“Thanks for the info, Dan. Appreciate you doing what you could. I guess I’ll ask Seamus and Carolina to put the boxes aside until the boys are old enough to deal with them.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Lisa was a wonderful person.”
Jace felt guilty accepting condolences on Lisa’s behalf, but that was his issue, not Dan’s. “Yes, she was. Thank you for all you did to help her at a difficult time.”
“It was my pleasure.”
After they ended the call, Jace took a few minutes to get himself together before he picked up the boys. He couldn’t wait to see them.
Jace droveinto Seamus and Carolina’s driveway around four thirty, bearing two dirty boys who’d enjoyed a trip to their favorite park. “You’d better get in there and let Burpy out,” he told them as he noticed another car parked in the driveway.
The boys burst out of the truck, backpacks in hand, and headed for the house to get their best pal.
Jace got out to meet an older woman wearing a suit that seemed wildly out of place on the informal island. “Mr. O’Grady? I’m Justine Deavers from the Department of Children, Youth & Families. We spoke last week?”
“I’m not Mr. O’Grady. He’s on the mainland with Mrs. O’Grady, who broke her leg in a fall two nights ago.”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry to hear that. We had an appointment this afternoon.”
The boys came bursting out of the house with Burpy, who squatted to pee a river right outside the door.
“Seamus must’ve forgotten.”
“And you are?”
“Jace Carson.”
She shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Carson. You’re helping with the boys while the O’Gradys are away?”
“I am.”
“And you’re a… friend?”
He wasn’t sure what to tell this woman from the state who’d appeared out of nowhere. “I’m the boys’ biological father.”
“Oh. I see.” Her expression changed from friendly to guarded, and he immediately feared he’d made a huge mistake telling her the truth. “Do you know when the O’Gradys will be returning?”
“Probably not until later in the week. She had surgery two nights ago, and they were told to expect about four days in the hospital. But I’ll let him know you were here.”
“Yes, please do. I’m sorry to have come all this way to not get to see them.”
“Is there something wrong?”
“No, this is a routine part of them becoming the boys’ legal guardians. We’re required to do two home visits the first year. This was to be the second one.”
“I see, well, knowing Seamus and Carolina, they’ll be upset to realize they forgot about the appointment. They’re doing a great job with the boys. They’re very happy and well-adjusted after losing their mom.”
“That’s good to hear. I won’t keep you any longer. If you’d ask Mr. O’Grady to get in touch to reschedule, I’d appreciate it.”
