“Claire,” Mark said, his voice dropping to a raspy whisper.

“I’m not taking anything extra from you, Mark, but I am keeping what was always mine,” I said.

Rachel picked up a black gel pen and laid it on top of the stack of documents in front of Mark.

“Sign on pages four, eight, and twelve, Mr.

Reed,” Rachel said.

Mark took the pen with stiff fingers, signed his name on the marked lines of all three copies, and slid the stack back across the glass.

“The house keys must be handed over no later than five o’clock this afternoon,” Rachel said, stamping the cover page with her brass notary seal.