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Isn\u2019t she beautiful?\u201d David asked, gesturing to the boat. \u201cForty-two feet of pure luxury. We\u2019re thinking of taking her to the Caribbean next month.\u201d What he didn\u2019t mention was that they\u2019d bought it with the money I\u2019d given them last year to invest in David\u2019s consulting firm\u2014three million dollars that I was beginning to suspect had never seen the inside of any business account.<\/p>\n
The first hour was pleasant enough. We sailed into calm waters, the Massachusetts coastline growing smaller behind us. But then David started asking questions, casual ones at first, about my will, about the trust arrangements. \u201cIt\u2019s just that probate can be so complicated, Mom,\u201d he said, refilling my champagne glass with a little too much enthusiasm. \u201cWe want to make sure everything\u2019s taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when I noticed Vanessa filming me with her phone. Not openly, but holding it at an angle while pretending to take selfies, getting me on camera while I was drinking, while I was talking about financial matters, building some kind of evidence.<\/p>\n