Chapter 4

Nineteen days later, Adrian and I sat across from each other in the resort office with the transfer papers between us.

Morning light reached across my mother's desk and stopped at Adrian's hand. Beyond the windows, employees carried folded linen toward the guest wing. A cart rattled over the stone path. The lake was gray and almost still, and the first tour boat waited at the dock with its cover tied down. Nothing outside paused for the signatures inside.

Adrian signed first. I signed beneath him.

The transfer representative checked both names, stamped the final page, and closed the folder.…