Grantor: Augusta Pennington. Grantee: Odessa Lavinia Pryor. Below that was a description of the little white tenant cottage down the lane, the porch where I took my first steps, and the twelve acres of pecan trees behind it. The deed had been recorded on January ninth, two weeks after Christmas. At the bottom, in Augusta’s handwriting, was one line. For a lifetime of Fridays.

I couldn’t speak. Mavis handed me a tissue from her sleeve. “There’s more, honey,” she said gently. “Augusta also named you as the beneficiary on a savings account at the bank down the street. Sixty thousand dollars.” I gripped the edge of the table. Then her voice dropped. “Her sons found the bank paperwork yesterday. They came in here an hour ago asking how to contest the deed.”