I sat with those memories until the silence started to feel almost familiar. Then I drove home and, finally, slept.

Chapter 6 — Executor

The next morning I called Gerald again to understand what being executor actually let me do. My job, he explained patiently, was to guide the probate process and keep things moving fairly.

I couldn’t decide the house’s future alone, but I could set a reasonable timeline and oversee the pace.

“How much time do I have?” I asked.

“An estate doesn’t close overnight. A few months of thoughtful consideration is entirely reasonable.”

“And if Scott and Amber push for something faster?”

“They can push,” Gerald said. “The executor manages the pace.” I thanked him.