I had to resist treating progress in one as proof that the other should be finished.

Sophia kept the distinction clear.

“We can restore the property without pretending every criminal consequence has been decided,” she said.

“And a criminal admission doesn’t replace the title documents we need.”

Northbridge agreed to relinquish its claim.

The settlement addressed the disputed transfer, the release of any claimed interest, the recordable documents needed to correct title, and the separate handling of purchase funds and recovery claims.

I was not given both my house and four hundred and sixty-eight thousand dollars as a windfall.