“Tax assessments are full of mistakes,” he said.

“If you won’t sign this today, the mortgage company isn’t going to wait.”

“My mortgage is paid up through November,” I said.

“And after November?” Dean bent down until his face was six inches from mine.

“You can’t afford this house on a retail clerk’s pension, Clara.

You know that as well as I do.”

“I’ll get by,” I said.

He picked up the silver pen from the table and held it out to me.