“Because you need forty thousand for the deposit on that rental house in Sacramento,” I said.

“And because you can’t take Lily out of this state without a fight.”

“Lily is my daughter,” Rebecca said.

“She’s lived under my roof for eleven years.”

“Then come get the money and leave her with me,” I said.

“Are you going to sign the paper?

Will you take the fifty thousand dollars?”

Rebecca looked toward the railing, her hand undoing the second button of her coat.