Page 31 of Smuggler's Cove

“Can you believe those two?” the waiter commented. “Stealing money from old ladies. Families. Retirement accounts? Shameful.” Hetsked. “They should throw them in the slammer for a very long time.” Lincoln maintained a straight face, added a tip, and signed the check. The waiter thanked them and left the room.

“Throw them in the slammer!” Lincoln parroted, and they both burst out laughing. Not that any of it was funny.

Later that evening, Gwen made a quick call to Madison. She told Madison that she had opened a savings account many years ago in both her and Lincoln’s names when she set up the trusts for college.

Madison furrowed her brow. “I wonder why Sidney didn’t mention that to us.”

“Because he does not know about it. No one does except your grandmother. There should be around twenty thousand dollars in there to split between the two of you.” Gwen paused. “After the Ivan Boesky thing, with your father’s growing paranoia, I was getting a little nervous about your father’s business dealings, so I started to stash a little money away whenever I could.”

“What about you?” Madison asked. “Do you have any money?”

“I have enough to get by for now.”

“How long isfor now?” She could hear noise in the background.

“Sweetheart, I do not want you to worry about me. You and your brother do what you need to do. Nana said you can stay with her until you can decide where you want to live.”

“I suppose transferring to RISD is a foregone conclusion?” Madison sighed.

“It is for the best. I know you will shine there.”

“I guess you spoke to Sidney.”

“Yes, and he said he discussed all of this with you and Lincoln. I am so sorry the two of you are going through this.”

“It’s not your fault,” Madison said wearily.

“In some ways, it is. I should have gotten out a long time ago.”

“Mom? Can I ask you something?” Madison queried.

“Of course. What is it?”

“What did you see in Dad? Why did you marry him? Were you in love?”

Gwen went silent for a moment. She had not been expecting that sort of question. “When I met him, he was an up-and-coming financial maverick. Most men his age were still in some kind of hippie phase. Long hair. Smoking lots of marijuana and doing other kinds of drugs. Your father was clean-cut. Wore nice suits. Charming. And good-looking.” She thought for a moment. “There was a time I wanted a career, but your father dictated our lifestyle. And quite frankly, it was a lifestyle that was easy to get used to. Honestly, my biggest disappointment is with myself. I should have walked out years ago.”

Madison stared blankly at the phone. “I don’t think I realized how unhappy you were.”

“But you and your brother made me incredibly happy. And proud. That is something your father cannot take away from me.”

“Where are you going to go?” Madison asked softly.

“Out of the country for a bit. It is going to depend on how soon they will want a deposition from me.”

“Did you know he was doing this?” Madison asked.

“Not the particulars, but I had my suspicions. Many. It was hard to keep track of his indiscretions, so I made like an ostrich and buried my head in the sand.”

Madison’s eyes teared. “Mom, I am so sorry.”

“Sweetheart, do not apologize to me. I am the one who is sorry for all of this. Just keep your head high.”

“According to Sidney, I need to keep my head down.” Madison eked out a chuckle.

Gwen snickered, as well. “Yes. Be careful. Sidney told me he was hiring private security.”

“Can you—we—afford it?”