Page 35 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“I know. One room at a time. I’ll probably be at this shit all night.”
“Who is this?” Sol nodded to Cambrie.
“The nanny I hired. Cambrie, this is my auntie, Sol.”
“We do random pop-ups around these parts, Cambrie, just FYI. I don’t play about my family,” Sol warned, aiming a sharp almond-shaped nail at her.
“Goodnight, Sol.”
“Goodnight.” She embraced me and kissed my cheek before strolling behind Rossi to the door.
The tension slowly seeped out of the room once they were gone, but something a little thicker filled the space between us now.
“Come on. Let me show you to your room.” Nodding over my shoulder, I turned and led her past the den and into the intersecting hallway.
The formal living room was straight ahead, equipped with a big window seating area overlooking the backyard. On the west side was the dining room and kitchen. Two additional bedrooms were equipped with private baths in the opposite direction, along with the exit into the three-car garage. Leading Cambrie to the last room on the right, I flicked on the light switch before stepping inside. This room was probably the only place in the house that hadn’t been tainted by my children. There was a queen-sized bedroom set, nothing extravagant, just a light oak four-post bed with a teal and white comforter set. On each sidewas a matching night table with two drawers and silver lamps with a turquoise shade. Placing her bags on the floor beside the bed, I watched her soak everything in.
“This is nice.” She dropped her duffel and purse on the mattress and peered around.
“There’s a bathroom in there.” I pointed in the corner. “Should have everything you need in it, but if not, let me know and I can have someone grab it.”
“Is there something I can do right now?”
“How about you give me like twenty minutes and meet me in the kitchen so we can go over the paperwork. The kids are taking baths right now, and I ordered pizza. I want to get them settled and then clean this house from top to bottom so we can get ready for this week ahead. I hadn’t decided to stay until recently, so I have to check on schools and get them enrolled.”
“Okay. You looking for public or private?” she questioned, facing me.
“You have any suggestions?”
“Oak Bluffs Academy is great. They can all attend since it’s K-12 too. I know the principal over there. I could make some calls and get you in for enrollment. The tuition is 15K per child.”
“Money isn’t an issue. I don’t want them missing any more school though, so the sooner the better. I appreciate that. Rogue isn’t in school yet. He had pre-K in Chicago, but his mama was slacking on taking him consistently.”
“Okay, when does he start school?”
“In the fall. His birthday is in a couple of months,” I informed her.
“Then we can just homeschool until then, and he can hang with me during the day. If that’s alright with you.” She shrugged.
“You sure about that? He can be a bit much, even by himself. If he’s too quiet, he’s usually somewhere on some bullshit. I don’t know how he comes up with the shit he does.”
“He’s curious, might have a little ADHD, but nothing I can’t work with. I’ve come across all kinds of kids in my line of work. Some just need a little more attention than others. Doesn’t mean anything is wrong with him.”
Hearing her perspective left me able to relax a little. I always thought that about my son, but his mother wouldn’t even take the time to get him evaluated. Seeing that Cambrie had made that observation in just twenty-four hours was comforting.
“I’m not a perfect parent. Back in Chicago, we had a routine. Saga and Tavi held it down when I worked, and I picked up the slack when I got off. Rogue’s mama would sit with them, but I wouldn’t exactly call her responsible or domestic. She didn’t cook or clean, do laundry, none of that.”
“So it sounds like everyone is going to have some adjusting to do,” Cambrie surmised. “Oak Bluffs is small, and I’ve always heard the Marek name, but never actually met any in the flesh.”
“I’ve been gone for over ten years. This is my first time home, and it was to bury my father.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she whispered, her tone genuine with empathy resting in her warm, golden-brown eyes.
“Thanks.” My brows dipped together skeptically.
Over the last couple of days, I’d heard that from various people, but this was the first time it sounded like someone meant it. With everyone else it just seemed like something they felt they had to say. Cambrie’s condolences came from the heart. I caught the flicker of pain behind her gaze too.
“Take your time, but if you’re hungry, the pizza should be here soon.”
