I believed it.

Completely, for nine days.

I believed that a letter on a lawyer’s letterhead with a deadline in bold had removed me from my grandmother’s house, and I believed it the way you believe a parking sign.

I called the number on it the next morning and a woman put me through and Dean Hollifield said, “This notice is effective immediately,” and when I said the probate hearing hadn’t happened he said, “Then you should discuss that with your father,” and ended the call.

Effective immediately.