Peter tapped the paragraph halfway down the page. “Edward amended his trust ten years ago, eight months before he died. The original was misfiled when my predecessor retired. I found it last week.” He turned to me. “Under this amendment, the house passed to Andrew and his spouse jointly on the day they married. Margaret was granted the right to live here for life.”

Margaret’s coffee cup rattled against its saucer. Andrew went pale. Then Peter read the next sentence aloud, slowly, so nobody could pretend they misheard. “Should any beneficiary attempt to remove my son’s spouse from the residence, that beneficiary’s interest shall pass entirely to the spouse.” Margaret lifted her eyes from the page and stared at her son. Peter folded his hands. “Andrew,” he said quietly, “did you pack your wife’s suitcases yourself?”