Twenty-two years with the firm, and she still picks up before the second ring.” He tapped the folder against his palm.

“Anything in this family needs notarizing, she does it.

She has done our papers since Julian was in grade school.”

I opened the folder.

Four names with addresses, office hours, after-hours numbers.

The third one was circled in blue ink, twice.

“That’s very thorough.”

“It is my job to be thorough.” He set his water glass on the porch rail and tapped his pen against it, once, twice.