It occurred to me that for years Spencer had called my caution a weakness.

Now, caution was what allowed me to move.

I wasn’t freezing my accounts to punish him.

I was ensuring the rent, payroll, and supplier invoices could be paid while the unanswered questions were investigated.

Late that night, a voicemail arrived from Gertrude.

Her tone was artificially pleasant.

She suggested a family meeting and said there had been a misunderstanding about paperwork.

She ended by reminding me that marriages should be protected from outsiders.