He Put Our Wedding House in His Ex's Name

The transfer at the county records office had come down to the last step.

My parents stood at the signing counter, clutching a savings passbook they'd built up over a lifetime, glowing with anticipation.

Stewart Dickerson pulled me into the corner by the stairwell. His voice was low, but there wasn't a shred of doubt in it.

"Lucy, Mel's brother is getting married, and the bride's family won't go through with it without a home in a good school district. I'll just put this place in Mel's name for now, as a stopgap."