Estelle filed the counteroffer on a Thursday. Fourteen million, relocation for tenants, a demolition timeline that gave Ruiz until spring, and a clause that said no third-party LLC could insert itself into the taking. The city screamed, in the way cities scream, which is a letter on letterhead.
Marcus's lawyer sent a letter too. Community property. Contributions to the marriage. A claim that I had used marital time to manage the rental and therefore the proceeds were mixed.
Estelle laughed the papery laugh. "He wants credit for the years you collected rent while he played house in two zip codes. I'll enjoy this hearing."
The hearing was in a small courtroom that smelled like dust and printer toner. I wore the navy dress I wore to closings. Marcus wore the suit from our wedding photograp
