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“Surprisingly, the insurance was still valid, although it will take some time to sort through it all since the house is technically a crime scene.”
“What does Mila need to do?”
“Mila? Oh, the sister? Nothing. I mean, she’s not the executor of the estate, but they took out a second mortgage. At this point, I’m just hoping the insurance covers both loans.”
I know Mila would understand that when Carlen and Janet made all these decisions that she was still in school and much too young for the responsibility. But I also know that it hurts her that she wasn’t a consideration later on. They never went back and changed anything, not even after Luca was born.
“Is there anything I need to do?”
“Not until all the dust settles.”
I’m a second away from ending the call when I remember another issue.
“I need to see about getting the power of attorney changed on Mrs. Taylor’s care.”
“Janet’s mother?”
“Yes. I made calls last week about getting her moved to a different facility, but since the POA is in Janet’s name, I didn’t have much luck.” Then I got distracted by something going on with the kids, and I never got back to making that happen.
“I’m fairly certain I can easily get that changed to you.”
“To Mila,” I correct. It’s honestly weird to be responsible for the woman when her daughter is just as capable.
“That will take much longer,” he says. “You’re already the executor of everything else, so it’s not that much of a shift. If you want her moved quicker, I suggest moving her under the power you’ll be given, and then we can work through the steps to change it to Ms. Taylor.”
I clench my jaw, hating to be put in that situation, but I know we’ve waited too long to get Mrs. Taylor to New Mexico. I’ve waited on pushing the issue because I didn’t know if Mila was going to fight me on staying here in case she wanted to return to St. Louis, despite it not being safe.
“Let’s do that then,” I tell him.
By the time I hang up the phone, the kids are heading back inside, their faces pink from the exertion of playing for the last hour.
“Maybe we can swim this evening?” Luca asks as he stops in front of me, his eyes filled with hope.
“Of course, bud. We’ll swim later, before dinner.”
His smile is wide. I haven’t shifted our schedules once. I haven’t told him that we’ll do something and then not do it. These kids have had enough disappointment in their lives. The last thing I want is them having the expectation that I’m going to fail them too. I know there will come a time when something comes up and we’ll have to alter our plans, but I’m working on building that trust with them first.
“Have a great rest of the school day,” I tell Jace when he walks by with his hand up for a high five.
“Everything okay?” Hound asks, his daughter’s tiny hand lost in his giant palm.
“Just another bump in the road,” I tell him, unwilling to go into detail around the kids.
Adult problems shouldn’t ever touch the kids if it can be helped. I need Jace worrying about basic math and getting his reading points, not the fact that his family home was burned down by a psychotic motorcycle gang.
“Too many bumps make for a hell of a ride,” he says in understanding. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do,” I tell him.
Hound is my team leader, but even if he wasn’t, I think the man would offer to help me. That’s the great thing about Cerberus—the fact that everyone is so willing to lend a helping hand. I’m no different. If someone needed something, then I’d do what I could to make their life easier. There’s a balance to the give and take.
I wait for all the other kids to file inside, bopping Sutton on her messy nose as she toddles by me with a wide grin.
“I think she might’ve tasted one of the pies she made,” I tell Misty with a grin when she walks by holding the hand of one of the younger kids.
“I think you may be right. We’ll get her cleaned up, and we won’t even count her taste testing as lunch this time.”
I chuckle at her teasing, loving just how much everyone cares for these children.
