“Your mother signed as a witness on the third page,” Daniel said.

“Her signature was notarized in Chesapeake.”

He closed the manila folder with a flat slap of his palm.

“If we put this option contract into the court record in front of Judge Simmons, your father is looking at a state land fraud inquiry,” Daniel said.

“What does that cost us?” I asked.

“Nothing in court fees,” Daniel said, “but it burns every bridge you have left with your parents.”

“He burned them when he listed sixty-two acres for three hundred forty thousand dollars,” I said.