“Date of record.”

“October first, two thousand twenty-four.” I put my nail under the line.

The deed lay on top of the title work.

Rachel read the words after my name out loud.

“Diane Whitaker, an unmarried person.”

“The title company typed that.”

“Twenty-seven years married, and the county settles it in four words.” She handed it back.

The contract was stapled into the back of the folder, stamped with the title company’s fax header.