Their first signing was at a notary’s office in Columbus, where Pamela was already waiting.

Pamela agreed to sign the Hocking Hills house back in exchange for two thousand dollars toward her legal costs.

“Jason is paying that,” Claire said, before anyone could assume otherwise. “I am not paying a single cent to get back something that was taken from me.”

“I’ll pay it,” Jason said at once.

Claire read every page. She corrected the vague wording twice, and she did not sign until she had confirmed, with her own eyes, that the Hocking Hills house was recorded in her name alone.

Chapter 12 — Chess on Saturday

The rest of the agreement was signed in family court — the new support, the medical coverage, the visitation schedule with its penalties.