“A notary can’t witness a deed for her own benefit, Brandon.”

His mouth opened and shut without a single sound coming out.

“My mother has notarized a hundred deeds.

Nobody has ever questioned a single one.”

“That’s the part that ought to worry you.”

He folded the empty grocery bag in half twice and asked whether I planned to raise my son on freelance work in a rented apartment.

I told him I planned to raise him in the house.

He checked his watch a third time and walked off to his truck.