Caroline never missed anything.

Her mind worked like a computer, sorting facts from noise.

“He needs the trust to stop the foreclosure,” she said, pointing to the article about the Henrico property.

“He will never get his hands on it,” I said. “I will hire the best lawyer in Fredericksburg tomorrow.”

“No,” Caroline said.

She turned her pen over in her fingers.

“If you fight him in court right now, he will find a way to delay the proceedings,” she said.

“He has lawyers who will file motions and drag this out for months.”

“What are you suggesting, Caroline?” I asked.

She looked at the blue folder on my desk.

“We need him to admit why he is doing this,” she said.

“He will never do that,” I said. “He is too proud.”

“He will if he thinks he has already won,” Caroline said.

She leaned closer to the desk, her eyes bright with a cold focus.

“We should let him think I am considering his proposal.”

“Absolutely not,” I said. “I will not play games with your future.”

“It isn’t a game, Grandma,” she said softly. “It is analysis.”