“Five hundred dollars total?” I asked.

“Up front,” Gary said.

My hand froze on the strap of my purse.

Five hundred dollars was half of the cash I had saved in a white paper envelope under my sock drawer for Chloe’s upcoming dental visits.

“Can you bill it against the final divorce settlement?” I asked.

“No,” Gary said.

“Title searches outside the original decree are strictly cash on delivery.”

“What if his name isn’t on the deed?” I asked.