Some part of me had been braced for exactly this, had never quite believed it was truly over.

“And?” I said.

Margaret allowed herself a small triumphant smile.

“And the probate judge threw out all three motions.

With prejudice, which means they cannot be brought again.

The court found the trust to be legally flawless in every respect, properly notarized, properly witnessed, and executed by a testator who had been formally certified as sound of mind.

There was simply no crack for them to work into.

And the judge, having reviewed how much of the court’s time these motions had consumed, ordered Arthur to pay all of the accrued legal fees personally, out of his own pocket, not the estate’s.” She paused.