I let all of it slide off me. An old man absorbing insults is invisible, and invisible was exactly what I needed to be for the next ten minutes.

Before I let them shoo me out, I took Delia aside in the foyer. “I’m actually here about a land matter,” I said, lowering my voice as if it embarrassed me.

“There’s a commercial parcel Levi and I bought together, and the state’s taking it for a highway project. The compensation runs to about eighteen million dollars. But they need both our signatures, in person, before the third of January.”

I watched the number land behind her eyes.

“Levi’s actually home,” she said smoothly, without a flicker. “He’s feeling unwell tonight, but I’m sure he can manage to sign for you.” She asked me to wait in the kitchen while she “checked on him.”

Chapter 7 — Overheard

I waited by the dark mouth of the hallway, and I listened to the three of them argue in the next room.