“Frank kept this here because he said you were the strongest person to ever join this family,” she said.

Inside was my brass medal from 2016, the ribbon still flat, the engraving bright.

“I never told him I kept it,” I said.

“He read the newspaper, Sarah.” Martha smiled at the medal.

“He kept it next to the deed because he said a strong woman deserves the same shelf as the house.”

I put the medal back in its box and set it in my handbag.

Then I took one survey page out and laid it flat on the floor.