He Held Her Son the Night I Lost Ours novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Page Two

Willa's POV

The closing was set for two o'clock on Friday, in the living room where I had eaten cold lamb alone.

The buyers came first, a couple in their thirties holding hands, with their agent behind them.

My lawyer came next, in a gray suit, carrying one slim folder.

The building manager stood in the hall with a ring of keys, because a door that stays open draws neighbors.

Rafe stood by the bookshelf, beside the window, with a newspaper.

He had brought one.

I had told him not to, and I was very glad.

Sylvia arrived on Clark's arm.

I had not expected that.

She wore her navy blazer and her pearls, back at her throat, and Clark walked half a pace behind her with a folder of his own.

Tara came last.

She had a man in a camel coat with her, thin and quick, with a briefcase.

She wore the cornflower dress from the pavilion.

She looked at the room, and I saw her do the arithmetic, and she smiled anyway.

"Shall we?" she said. "I'm so glad everyone could come."

Her lawyer opened his briefcase.

"My client holds a recorded occupancy right to Unit 4B for two years, by addendum, dated June. The sale cannot close without her written release. She is prepared to give that release for a consideration, which we'll put to Ms. Prescott now."

The buyers looked at each other.

The agent's face went carefully blank.

"Ms. Prescott," Tara's lawyer said, "my client is willing to discuss it today in this room, for a sum we can agree."

"How much?" I said.

He named a number.

It was a ridiculous number, and half the apartment.

My lawyer didn't blink.

"The addendum was signed by one owner," she said. "Mr. Haliburton. It was never signed by my client, who owns the other half of this unit. A right of occupancy that burdens a jointly owned property requires both owners. It binds nothing of hers."

"The document says..."

"It says what Mr. Haliburton signed. And as of last Friday, it says what Mr. Haliburton revoked." She put a sheet on the coffee table. "With his own signature, witnessed."

Tara's smile held.

"Mrs. Haliburton witnessed the original," she said. "She can tell you it was a proper document."

Every head turned to Sylvia.

She stepped forward, with her handbag against her stomach.

"I did witness it," she said. "In June. My son asked me to sign as a witness to some forms for Ollie's school."

"Sylvia," Tara said.

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