He’s been coming to the house when you’re away.

He says he handles estate planning.”

“Does he?”

“He handles something.

But I’ve never seen him arrive with the lawyer who helped you buy the house.”

I watched the next seconds without blinking.

Evelyn turned to Chloe and said, “Once we get this filed, Julian won’t be able to undo it without a fight.”

My coffee went untouched.

The diner smelled of toast and cinnamon, but suddenly I felt as though there wasn’t enough air in the room.

“What exactly are they trying to file?”

Rosa took a second folder from her bag.

This one was thin, bound with an ordinary rubber band.

On the first page was a draft document headed ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SEPARATE PROPERTY AND WAIVER OF OCCUPANCY CLAIMS.

I wasn’t a lawyer, but I could read enough to understand its purpose.