She Walked Out, and Ten Years Later She Showed Up With Expensive Gifts at a Twelfth Birthday Dinner

“She thinks I lost it in the flood five years back,” I said.

“She was asking Mark about the basement records last night.”

Sarah set her coffee mug down so hard the black coffee splashed over her knuckles.

“Call the sheriff this minute, Daniel,” she said.

“Show him the seal and have her hauled off the porch before noon.”

“No,” I said.

“She told Lily we’d be moved out by the end of the month.”

“She’s terrorizing those kids,” Sarah said, leaning over the table.