Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts

Sybill thought wearily. It was Gloria’s usual pattern. Accuse, damage, run. But she herself still had a part to play. “Why? Why would she do that?”
    â€œMoney.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œMy father gave her money, a great deal of it. For Seth. She’s Seth’s mother.”
    â€œYou’re saying that she . . . she traded her son for money?” Not even Gloria could do something so appalling, she told herself. Surely, not even Gloria. “That’s difficult to believe.”
    â€œNot all mothers are maternal.” He jerked a shoulder. “He had a check for several thousand made out to Gloria DeLauter—that’s her name—and he went away for a few days, then came back with Seth.”
    Saying nothing, she picked up her water glass, cooled her throat. He came and got Seth, Gloria had sobbed to her. They’ve got Seth. You have to help me.
    â€œA few months later,” Phillip continued, “he drew almost all his savings out into a cashier’s check. He was on his way back from Baltimore when he had an accident. He didn’t make it.”
    â€œI’m so sorry.” She murmured the words, recognizing their inadequacy.
    â€œHe hung on until Cam got in from Europe. He asked the three of us to keep Seth, to look out for him. We’re doing everything we can to keep that promise. I can’t say it wasn’t rough for a while,” he added, smiling a little now. “But it’s never been dull. Moving back here, starting the boat business, not such a bad deal. Cam got a wife out of it,” he added with a grin. “Anna is Seth’s caseworker.”
    â€œReally? They couldn’t have known each other very long.”
    â€œI guess when it hits, it hits. Time doesn’t factor in.”
    She’d always believed it did, vitally. To be successful, marriage took planning and dedication and a strong, solid knowledge of one’s partner, an assurance of compatibility, an assessment of personal goals.
    Then again, that portion of the Quinn dynamics wasn’t her concern.
    â€œThat’s quite a story.” How much was true? she wondered, sick at heart. How much was slanted? Was she supposed to believe that her sister had sold her own son?
    Somewhere in the middle, she decided. The real truth could generally be found somewhere between two opposing stories.
    Phillip didn’t know, she was sure of that now. He had no clue what Gloria had been to Raymond Quinn. When that single fact was added to the mix, how did it change everything else?
    â€œAt this point it’s working out. The kid’s happy. Another couple of months and the permanent guardianship should be wrapped. And this big brother stuff has its advantages. Gives me somebody to boss around.”
    She needed to think. She had to put emotion aside and think. But she had to get through the evening first. “How does he feel about that?”
    â€œIt’s a perfect setup. He can bitch to Cam or Ethan about me, to me about Cam or Ethan. He knows how to play it. Seth’s incredibly smart. They did placement tests when my father enrolled him in school here. He’s practically off the charts. His final report card for last year? Straight A’s.”
    â€œReally?” She found herself smiling. “You’re proud of him.”
    â€œSure. And me. I’m the one who got roped into being homework monitor. Until recently I’d forgotten how much I hate fractions. Now that I’ve told you my long story, why don’t you tell me what you think of St. Chris?”
    â€œI’m just getting my bearings.”
    â€œDoes that mean you’ll be staying a while yet?”
    â€œYes. A while.”
    â€œYou can’t really judge a water town unless you spend some time on the water. Why don’t you go sailing with me tomorrow?”
    â€œDon’t you have to get back to