Jake’s Childhood Home (2)

With sudden hope, Mary followed Camila out of of the house, crossed the street, then went a few houses down. It had a similar structure, just a different color.

Camila walked up to the front door and simply opened it and walked in. She glanced back at Mary. "Wait here. I'll see if he's awake. If he's napping, then I'll have to suggest you come at a different time."

Mary was about to reply with an affirmative, but they heard a creaky voice holler out, "I'm not sleeping! Maldición! I'm coming!" In just a couple of minutes, an older male version of Camila appeared beside her, with a cane in hand. He knocked the cane on his granddaughter's leg. "You trying to scare away my guest?"

Camila waved at Mary. "Abuelo, this is Mary Atkins. You knew the boy that lived at my house before me, right? She's taking care of him now."

The old man leaned on his cane, looking Mary up and down. "You do look more stable than the other woman."

"Other woman? You mean his mom?" Mary asked.