And it was long overdue.”

Chapter 16 — If I Sign This

Julian was quiet for a long moment.

And then he looked up, his eyes rimmed with red, and asked the question of a man who has finally understood that he has lost, and is now only negotiating the terms of his surrender.

“If I sign this,” he said.

“What happens?”

“If you sign it,” I said, “here is what your life looks like starting tonight.

You move into the guest room for the next three months.