“Go choose your rooms,” I said, releasing their hands.

They squealed and ran down the hallway, their laughter echoing through the empty, clean space.

My phone vibrated in my palm.

It was a call from Graham.

I let it ring until it went to voicemail, then deleted the notification.

Ten minutes later, the phone rang again. This time, it was Gloria.

I answered it.

“Jocelyn, where on earth are you?” Gloria’s voice was sharp, but there was a tremor in it I had never heard before.

“I am with my daughters, Gloria,” I said quietly.

“You need to get to the house immediately,” she demanded.

“There are men in suits standing on my front lawn with clipboards.”

“They are refusing to leave.”

“They say they represent a holding company,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

“The holding company is called J.R. Holdings, Gloria,” I said.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

“How do you know that name?” she asked.

“Because the initials stand for my daughters,” I said. “Hazel and Ruby.”

“I bought your debt three months ago.”