“Don’t make life hard for the hired help, Eleanor,” Julian said.

“We’re just bringing in a few essential office pieces for Thanksgiving week.”

“You don’t have permission to unload commercial furniture into my house,” I said.

Julian reached into his jacket pocket, drew out a folded sheet of yellow legal paper, and held it out to me between two fingers.

“Your father signed a written authorization letting us set up a temporary work annex while you get settled.”

I took the sheet.