Emily shut off the brass water valve on the side of the house.

“I can do it right after my track tryouts,” Emily said.

She unwound the green garden hose and turned the nozzle to a soft shower spray.

A fine mist rose over the packed garden soil, turning the earth dark and rich under the noon sun.

“The township clerk sent the final title verification copy over this morning,” Nora said quietly to me.

“Is it all recorded?” I asked.