My heartbeat quickened.
Even though I had read it dozens of times during the previous three months, I still hated seeing my name on it.
The clerk handed it to the judge.
Grace said, “This amendment allegedly transferred Mrs. Hale’s fifty-two percent ownership interest to Mr. Hale.”
“Yes,” Victor said quickly.
Gerald closed his eyes again.
Judge Monroe looked at him.
“I was not asking you.”
Victor fell silent.
Grace approached the projection screen.
The document appeared behind her.
At the bottom was a signature.
Claire B. Hale.
My name.
My handwriting.
Almost.
For years, Victor had signed birthday cards for both of us.
He had endorsed checks I left on the kitchen counter.
He had watched me sign vendor forms, mortgage papers, school forms, bank withdrawals.
Twenty years was enough time to study somebody’s signature.
Grace pointed toward the date.
“February 20, 2013.”
Judge Monroe frowned.
Then she looked at me.
