Page 62 of Smuggler's Cove
“Yes. And he rented out two slips to people who kept their boats there, at two hundred bucks a month, each. I checked around, and quite a few people will do that if they have riparian rights. For the boat owners, it’s cheaper than a larger marina, and for the dock owners it was a little cash in their pockets.”
“Is that legal?” Olivia asked.
“I didn’t get that far, but my point is, that dilapidated marina had an income.” Lincoln slid the paperwork toward his sister. “We don’t know how long it’s going to take for the water rights to be sanctioned, so why waste a summer’s worth of income?”
“But the place is a mess,” Madison noted.
“Which brings me to my next point. I ran some numbers. We can fix the place up for around sixty thousand dollars.”
“Whoa, that’s a bucket of money,” Madison said.
“Yes, but if we sell Nana and Pop’s house, we would have more than enough to cover the cost, plus rent a summer house.”
Madison eyed her brother. “Continue.”
“We know the people who are renting the house plan to move at the end of May. We can ask them if they wouldn’t mind if we put it on the market. If it’s too inconvenient, we can wait until they move out. In the meantime, we can get a home equity loan”—he looked at Olivia for approval—“then pay it back once the house sells.”
Olivia was listening intently. “As long as we pay it back, I don’t have any reservations, but what if the house doesn’t sell right away?”
“Madison and I have been approached by several real estate agents over the past couple of years. There was no mortgage, so Maddie and I have been able to pay the taxes, keep the property maintained, and still share the profits three ways. We should make a tidy sum from the sale.”
“What about Mom? She owns a third of it, too.”
“I don’t think she’d mind an influx of a hundred thousand dollars.”
“You think we can get three hundred thousand for the house?”
“I looked online, and that seems to be the going rate for that size house and neighborhood.”
“I’m all in,” Madison said with the biggest grin. “Now let’s look at those summer houses Livvy found today.”
Lincoln hadn’t realized how tense he had been until he felt his shoulders come down from his ears. “Wow. I don’t remember the last time you were so agreeable.”
“Now, who’s being funny?” Madison took a pull from her glass.
“I will call the tenants tomorrow and ask if they would be willing to let people tromp through the house. I will give them an incentive. Half month’s rent.”
“That works for me.” Madison was all atwitter at this new phase that was unfolding.
“Then I will call the agent that has been hounding me. She’s probably called me every other month for the past year.”
“Gail, right? Nice woman.”
“It’s an ideal neighborhood for a young family.” Madison thought back to the days when she was a little girl and played on the swing her grandfather made from rope. She was happy it was still there and intact. Her reminiscence led to the days when she was in exile from New York. She sighed. “Lots of memories.”
“Should I give Mom a call while we’re on the subject?” Lincoln asked.
“Do you know what time zone she’s in?” Madison chuckled.
“She is in Toronto. Same as ours.”
“Daylight Savings Time always throws me,” Madison said.
Lincoln pulled out his cell phone, dialed her number, and put it on speaker. Gwen answered after two rings. “Lincoln, honey. Everything okay?”
“Hey, Mom. Yes, everything is fine. Why do you think there is always a problem when I call?” Lincoln smirked.
“It’s a mother’s reaction,” Gwen replied. “What are you up to?”
