Page 40 of Smuggler's Cove
“That’s our girl. Now, as I was saying, your uncle left his marina to you and your brother.”
“Tell me more!” Madison urged.
“Yes. From what information I have, he won it in a bet. That part of it is vague, but the deed is real.”
“How long had he owned it?” Madison was doodling.
“About ten years.” She heard Sidney rifling through the pages.
“Wow. Nowthisis news,” Madison quipped.
“I suggest you and Lincoln get down there as soon as possible. See what needs to be done. Put it on the market.”
Madison had not gotten that far. She was still absorbing the information. “Sell it?” It was more of a statement than a question.
“I don’t suppose you and Lincoln would want to be dock-masters?” Sidney joked.
“That would be ano, but I would like to check it out, discuss with Lincoln, and then decide. We do not have to do that right now, do we?”
“No. Not at all. I know how immersed you are with your job, and Lincoln with school, and dear Olivia, who must deal with you every day,” Sidney teased.
“Very funny, Sidney,” Madison shot back with a chuckle. “Things are routine. A change of scenery might be good for all of us.” Madison became thoughtful. “Maybe we will keep it. Hire someone to run it. It would be nice to have a place for the summer. I am so over the Hamptons. Yes, it is beautiful out there, but that’s part of the issue. It is out there.Wayout there. I can almost fly to Miami in the time it takes me to get to Sag Harbor,” she said, and snickered. “Plus, it’s filled with people from New York!”
“Well, that will not be the case at this marina. It will be filled with people from New Jersey.” He laughed.
“A marina. At the Shore. How exciting!” Madison was pumped. “Tell me more about it.” She was animated.
“I really don’t know much, which is why I suggest the two of you get down there as soon as you can. I will have all the paperwork sent over to your office.”
“Thanks, Sidney. You are a gem!” Madison jumped out of her chair. “We should get together for dinner next time Mom is in town.”
“I would like that very much. I am sure Edna would, too. You take care. Have fun at the Shore. And remember, if you need anything, just call.”
“Thanks again.” Madison ended the call with awhoop!
Olivia stuck her head in the door again. “Something you wish to share?”
“Yes, I do.” She gestured to one of her side chairs. “Please sit.”
“Okay”—Olivia gave her a suspicious look—“what’s going on?”
“We, as in you, Lincoln, and I, are now the proud owners of a marina.”
“A what? Marina? How? Why?” Olivia was noticeably bewildered.
“Uncle Kirby. He passed away several months ago and left his marina to me and Lincoln. And since you are married to Lincoln, that makes you a dock mate. That is what they call water colleagues.”
“Water colleagues? I know you just made that up.” Olivia chuckled.
Madison grinned. “Sidney is sending over the papers and said we should go down and take a look.”
“Down where?” Olivia still did not know the location of this new treasure.
“The Jersey Shore.” She looked at her notes. “Smuggler’s Cove on the Navesink.” She turned to her computer and pulled up Google Maps. She enteredSmuggler’s Coveinto the search bar, and then her office in the directions search bar. “It’s about an hour and a half with no traffic.”
“That’s not too bad,” Olivia considered. “So, back up, please. You and Lincoln got this from Uncle Kirby?”
“Yes. He ‘acquired it.’ ” Madison used air quotes. “Either in a card game or a contest. But according to Sidney, all the paperwork is properly filed, and the deed has been transferred to us. Uncle Kirby did that before he passed away.” Madison slowly shook her head. “I had no idea.”
