My Fingerprint Was Never Saved, but Her Lock Was Always Open Chapter 10

My Fingerprint Was Never Saved, but Her Lock Was Always Open Chapter 10

I took the deed to the county clerk’s recording office.

I took a number, waited my turn, and handed over the documents.

The recording clerk worked at the computer for a while, placed the recording stamp on my copy, and handed

it back to me.

“You’re all set.”

I accepted it and looked at the recording information.

The deed had been officially recorded.

I didn’t feel the overwhelming relief I had expected, nor did I feel like crying.

I simply thought that it was done. This was finally over.

From the day the original was mailed to Gavin, to the day it was destroyed, to the day the replacement arrived, the entire process had dragged on for months.

Now it was finished.

When I stepped outside the recording office, the sunlight was almost blinding.

I stood on the steps for a moment, folded the deed, and slipped it into my bag.

My phone buzzed.

Mia: [Did you take the morning off? Are you coming back for lunch?]

I typed three words.

Me: [On my way.]

By the time I returned to the office, Mia had already picked up barbecue ribs for me.

She remembered.

I sat down, took a bite, and tasted the warm meat beneath the rich, smoky-sweet sauce.

“Good, right?” Mia asked.

“Yeah,” I said.

I lowered my head and continued eating as sunlight streamed through the windows.

Maybe the days ahead wouldn’t be so bad.

After all, I had already taken the hardest step.