Page 5 of Sundowners
Twenty-minutes later, Reynaldo pulled up in front of Puesta Del Sol.
“I used to ride my skateboard on this street. Crashed in front of this place plenty of times.”
“It’s a beautiful place, very well maintained. She’s got a private room on the same hall as Stella and Phyllis. There’s TV, Wi-Fi, activities daily, exercise classes… She’ll get assistance in the morning and evening with self-care and medication. Meals can be taken in her room or with the other residents. And for night owls like her, the evening staff keeps them thoroughly entertained.”
“Sounds like a resort.”
“It might as well be. You’ll like it. I wasn’t sold at all until we came here to visit her sisters. Their bingo is a class act, which is of the utmost importance.”
“I heard that,” I said. We both climbed out of the patrol car and made our way up the ramp to the front entrance.
Rey and Vanessa were Lolo’s brother Emmanuel’s kids, but they’d spent a lot of their childhood with Lola Frances. Her house became home to the three of us at one point or another.
“Her insurance pays for part of it and she has a supplemental plan that covers a bit more. We’re looking into a reverse mortgage on the house to pay the rest when the time comes, but her savings will last for quite a while.”
“The house? But you can’t—”
“Don’t worry, Junior. We won’t leave you homeless—”
This time I punched him in the shoulder. “That’s not what I meant, asshole.” I pulled my hand back and didn’t miss his raised eyebrow admonishment.
“I’m in uniform, twerp. Don’t pull that shit with me.”
“I’m sorry. I only meant that we can’t sell her house. It means everything to her.”
Reynaldo put a hand on my back and pushed the door open. “Don’t worry about it. I was only telling you so you wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Well, I am worried,” I muttered as we stepped inside.
“Ah, good evening, Officer Cabral.”
The nurse at the counter was full of smiles for Reynaldo. He had that effect on people. He was a damn handsome guy and the uniform really did it for menandwomen.
“Lexi, good to see you. This is my nephew Roman. Frances is his grandmother.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Are you as much trouble as her?” She might have been flirting, but I was ready to drop. I wanted to see Lola and then go home, shower, and go to bed.
“He’s jetlagged, so you won’t get any trouble from him.”
She smiled and gave me the sympathetic head tilt. “Okay, you can go on back and see her if you’d like.”
Reynaldo tipped his ear toward the radio clipped to his shoulder and then walked away, holding up a finger to us.
“Oh, um, I can take you back,” Lexi said.
I followed her down the hall and heard laughing that sounded familiar.
“Yeah, she and her sisters are really happy here, Mr. San Angelo. I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true.” She paused outside the door and leaned close to me. “We had to bring my grandmother here for the last three years of her life, and she loved this place.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” I looked down at my rumpled self and wished I’d had time to clean up for Lola.
Time to suck it up, Junior.
I thanked Lexi and went inside to find Phyllis, Stella, and Lola sitting together in Lola’s bed, watching the TV.
“Frances, you have a visitor.”
“Can’t you tell them to come back later? I’m watchingMagnum P.I.”
