“I need to know if the county recorder’s office processed my co-owner filing today.”

Mark stopped pulling the plastic lids off the food containers and let out a long, heavy breath.

He set his car keys down on the counter with a loud metallic clink.

“Mom, we’ve talked about this three times already this week.”

“I gave you eighty-five thousand dollars in June, Mark.

You said the deed update was a simple process.”

Mark turned around and leaned his hands against the edge of the quartz counter, looking down at me.

“The county backlog is taking months.