So was the look on her face when I signed it.

“I hope this doesn’t change anything between us,” I told her.

“It changes one thing,” she said.

“You won’t have to sleep beside a bucket.”

I laughed until my eyes watered.

The contractor came the following week.

Poppy watched from the sidewalk with ear protectors on, counting the shingles as they were carried up the ladder.

Evelyn brought sandwiches for the workers, and Mrs.