I’d be legally ratifying Frank’s claim to the house.

Lauren hadn’t fooled Frank.

He’d given her that cashier’s check knowing my bank account was nearly empty.

I tapped my ring finger on my watch while I stared down at the blue paper.

Lauren honestly thought she was bringing me a way out.

She had no idea Frank was using her desperation to spring his last contract trap.

At five o’clock Grace came across the side lawn in her thick knit sweater over her linen apron.

She sat down beside me on the top wooden step and set two glass jars of home-canned peaches on the porch floor.