We sat in Molly’s kitchen, drinking hot tea while Jennifer went over the schedule for the morning.

“The sale will go through escrow by Friday,” Jennifer said, reviewing the digital contract on her tablet. “Once the funds clear, we will pay off the remaining primary mortgage, and the net proceeds will be transferred to your private trust.”

“What about Brent’s claims on the appreciation?” Molly asked.

“He forfeited his right to any marital appreciation the moment he committed bank fraud using the asset,” Jennifer said. “A judge will not award equity to a spouse who tried to steal the entire property.”

Suddenly, my phone on the table began to vibrate.

It wasn’t a text this time.

The screen lit up with an incoming call from Diane.

Molly and Jennifer both looked at the screen.

“Do I answer it?” I asked.

“Put it on speaker,” Jennifer said. “But don’t volunteer any information. Let her speak.”

I swiped the screen and set the phone on the wooden table.

“Tessa?” Diane’s voice shrieked through the speaker, high-pitched and hysterical.

“Yes, Diane,” I said, keeping my voice level.