“Which papers?” Sarah asked.

“The second mortgage on our house,” I said.

“He told the loan officer over the speakerphone that it all had to be signed and filed by Friday the twelfth.”

“That’s only nine days from now,” Sarah said, setting her coffee cup down on the heavy white saucer with a sharp clatter.

“Nine days,” I said, reading the exact date from my notebook.

“Friday the twelfth, at five in the afternoon.”