I Came Home Early From Columbus and Found a Deed With My Name Signed on It

By ten the next morning I’d left the computer behind and was sitting in the leather armchair across from Evelyn.

Her office on Main Street smelled of old paper and linseed oil.

I set the digital printout flat on her desk, lining its left edge up with the mahogany trim.

Evelyn pulled her desk lamp down lower.

She reached up, removed her half-moon glasses, and put them next to her brass pen tray.

“A notarized deed carries a strong presumption in this county, Claire,” she said.

I tapped my ring finger twice on my watch.