The agent was holding a copy of a document Dad had filed at the county recorder’s office the morning after the Whitakers refused to pay. A mechanic’s lien, for $5,300 plus costs, attached to the lake house itself. Standing beside Dad was his old friend Ed Kowal, a retired attorney in a fishing hat, holding the original.

“Is this true?” the agent asked. “Because I can’t close a sale with a lien on the title.” The first buyers paused halfway up the walk. Mr. Whitaker came charging down the porch steps, red-faced, demanding to know what kind of stunt this was. Dad didn’t raise his voice. He simply opened the manila envelope, pulled out the single sheet of paper, and held it up so everyone could see Mr. Whitaker’s signature at the bottom.