Summer at Bluefin Bay by Laura Ashwood

Author:Laura Ashwood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Laura Ashwood

Thirteen

Abby slipped her hand over the microphone on the phone. “Cami, why don’t you unpack your stuff while I talk to my attorney, then we’ll run to town to get something to eat and grab some supplies?”

Cami’s eyes clouded over, and she pressed her lips into a thin line before stomping down the hall and into her room. The resounding thud of the door closing followed. At least she didn’t slam it.

“What’s going on, Benny?” She walked into the living room, where she paced in front of the couch. She didn’t know how much more news she could deal with.

“It’s your trust account.”

Abby’s legs started to shake, and she collapsed onto the floral chair. Her grandfather had set up that trust account for her. After she and Michael were married, it seemed natural to let Michael oversee it. He was, after all, a financial advisor, and her husband. Her throat tightened and heat rose from her chest, up her neck, and into her face. How could I have let this happen?

“Abby? Are you there?”

“Y-yes, Benny. I’m here,” she murmured. “How bad is it?”

“It’s not good. He didn’t empty it, there were safeguards built into the trust to prevent that, but there is a substantial loss.”

Abby’s fingers tingled, and her eyes burned and welled with tears.

“There’s more,” Benny said.

Abby closed her eyes and waited. Who was I married to?

“There’s an active criminal investigation into Michael’s business practices.”

Abby’s eyes snapped open, and her jaw dropped. “Am I…what—” Tears spilled over her eyelids, running in rivulets down her cheeks, and her throat constricted. “W-what does this mean?”

“I’m not done going through everything yet, but I’ve spoken with the investigator and we’re meeting tomorrow.”

“Do I need to be there?”

“No. Stay there. After I meet with the investigator and get a clearer picture of what we’re dealing with, I’ll call you back. I just wanted you to know in case you hear anything. The press picked it up.”

The air left Abby’s lungs in a whoosh, and she felt as though someone had punched her in the stomach. “What am I going to do, Benny? How could I be so stupid?”

“You aren’t stupid, Abby. I was friends with him too, and I had no idea about any of this. You trusted him, and you had no reason not to. You can’t blame yourself.”

“But I should have seen—I don’t know. Maybe if I had gone with him to California more often, or paid more attention…” She trailed off.

“Listen to me,” Benny said in a soft but firm voice. “This is not your fault.”

Abby shook her head, refusing to believe that she didn’t have some culpability. She’d spent her entire life blindly doing what everyone told her to do. Maybe if she would have been more independent, or assertive, she would have seen some sort of sign of what was going on. “I was oblivious to everything.”

“He fooled everyone.”

“What do I do now?” She hated that she had to ask.

“Just try your best to relax.”

Abby snorted. Relax? How

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