“Breathe,” I reminded her as I looked at the bag of Dilaudid hanging from the IV pole and wondered when the machine would administer the next dose. “Do you want me to get the nurse?”
Miri shook her head. “The pain is subsiding.”
Instead of climbing in bed with her, I stood there for a moment, holding her hand and stroking her hair. “Better?”
Miri nodded.
A knock sounded, and the lawyer I’d hired, Lydia Hurst, came in. She was local and had come highly recommended by Miri’s doctor.
“I’m Antonia,” I said, shaking her hand as she entered. “This is Miriam.” I smiled at my friend and took in her frail body. Day by day, she was growing weaker, despite her doctor saying things were on track. I didn’t believe him. Not when her cheeks looked sunken in and her under-eyes looked bruised.
“Hello, ladies.” Lydia set her briefcase down and pulled out a tablet. “I know we have a lot to cover, so let’s get started.”
Miri cleared her throat. “Everything goes to Antonia,” she said hoarsely. She’d complained that the medicines she was on made her throat feel raw, and at times it hurt to speak.
“No,” I said firmly as I looked at Lydia. “The house needs to go into a trust, with me as executor until Cutter turns eighteen, and then we’ll share the responsibility. Once Nova is of age, they’ll share.”
Lydia nodded and typed on her tablet.
“And you’re taking custody?”
“I am,” I said confidently as I looked at Miri and nodded.
“Okay, so what I’ll do here is write the will, appointing you as the guardian of the minor children. We’ll need a backup.”
“Your parents,” Miri whispered.
“My parents,” I repeated. “Renzo and Carmela Bernardi.”
“Has the children’s father relinquished parental rights?”
My heart dropped as Miri’s eyes widened in horror. I shook my head. “He’s not around. He’s never met Nova and has only spent a few weeks with Cutter about eight years ago.”
“You’ll have to petition for legal custody, especially if he comes forward. The court will also appoint a guardian ad litem for the kids.”
“A what?” I asked, giving Lydia a blank stare.
“A guardian ad litem is a court-appointed individual, often an attorney or trained professional, who represents the best interests of a person. In this case, Cutter and Nova, because they’re minors.”
“Okay, so this person protects the kids and not their father?” Miri asked, and I nodded at her question.
“Yes. They will listen to the kids, speak to friends and family, and give their opinion to the courts. Back to their father ...”
“Like I said, he’s not around.”
Lydia nodded. “I understand, but the court will require us to reach out to him at his last known.”
With my eyes on Miri and my hand firmly in hers, I nodded. “I’ll happily fight him for those children. He won’t win.”
Lydia continued to type.
“Are you able to financially provide for the children?”
“Yes. I have copies of my statements for you. Also, Miri has a small life insurance policy. That’ll go into whatever it needs to for the kids. We won’t need it.”
“Great, thanks.”
“After Miriam’s passing, the will must go through probate court. This is when it can grant you guardianship.”
