“That’s impossible.”

“This deed is dated last month. And according to the document, you signed the property over to your son, Robert, and his wife, Vanessa.”

“That’s insane. I would never sign away this farm.” But even as I said it, doubt crept in. Vanessa was always putting papers in front of me during dinner—insurance policies, tax documents. She worked in real estate. Had she tricked me?

As I stood to follow Tom, I caught movement from the corner of my eye. A car was parked about fifty yards down the road, a dark blue sedan. And behind the wheel, watching us, was my daughter-in-law, Vanessa. Our eyes met. She didn’t wave, just stared with an expression I’d never seen before: cold, calculating, almost triumphant. Then she put the car in gear and drove away.