Page 100 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“I’d left my family law firm a month after I met your mother,” Andrew smiled as his eyes took on a faraway look. “She wasclerking with Betty at a family law firm. Sam and I were working a case together and Betty was on the other side of it.”
“That’s how you and Betty met,” Harley realized.
“Yes,” Sam confirmed. “The moment I saw the fire in her eyes when Andrew walked into her office, I knew—“ He stopped talking and laughed. “She stood up to Andrew and put him in his place.”
“It was that case that made me realize just how naive I’d been and how much my father had manipulated me and hidden the truth of our family legacy from me,” Andrew said in disgust. “I eloped with your mother, and as soon as we’d saved enough money, Betty and I were going to start our own law firm, and your mother was going to manage it.”
“But your mother’s father fell ill and passed away so suddenly. Betty returned to Plum Island and took over the family business. Your mother and I followed her.” Andrew told her. “She and Betty had this wonderful childhood here, and we wanted that for you and Liam.”
“Andrew gave up everything, and his father was furious,” Sam continued. “Andrew and I were friends back then, as were Betty and me, so I bought a place in town to keep an eye on them.”
“My father threatened me often,” Andrew told her. “But he knew Sam and I hadn’t left Boston empty-handed, and we could sink him at any time.”
“But when you got ill, and Andrew needed Davina’s help to save your life, Pearce had found the perfect way to get Andrew back into the fold,” Sam picked up the story.
“So you took your mother’s place in the BAD MAN club?” Jennifer’s eyes widened.
“I had to,” Andrew nodded. “There’s no way my mother would’ve joined that club. She and my father were pushed together by their parents. While my father had wanted to marry my mother, all she’d wanted was her career. Until I came along, her life was about protecting me while still forging an awe-inspiring career despite who my father was.”
“Your mother fixed my heart?” It was a rhetorical question from Jennifer. “Why couldn’t she help my mother?”
“Oh, honey…” Andrew stopped himself. “Sorry, Jennifer. Your mother’s heart was too damaged, and she was too weak for a transplant.” He ran a hand through his hair. “My mother adored you, Liam, and your mother. She was devastated when she realized she couldn’t help your mother.”
“You took your mother’s place in the club, and then what?” Jennifer said. “You had to pledge to leave yourfamily behind?”
“No.” Andrew shook his head. “That’s not how the club works. Once you’re in the club, they keep an eye on your immediate family and will pull them in should they feel they’d benefit the club.”
“Or, like with Davina, can manipulate their members,” Sam elaborated.
“My father wanted me in the club at any cost. My cost was that my family was looked after financially but were left alone by the club,” Andrew told her. “If ever any of you or anyone remotely close to you were approached, I, along with my family and mother, would disappear, and information about my father and his two disciples would find its way into hands that were itching to find dirt on them.”
“And that’s why Sam was always near,” Jennifer put the pieces together. “He was ready to pack us up and disappear us?”
“Yes,” Sam admitted.
“So all these years, you’ve been stationed here standing guard over the Gains family?” Harley shook his head in disbelief. A thought struck him. “So that’s how you knew the Wesley family?”
“Yes.” Sam nodded. “And before you ask, I had nothing to do with you and Angela falling in love. I didn’t even know she would be at the function I took you to.”
Harley turned toward Andrew, looking at him accusingly. “The club wasn’t trying to manipulate me by pushing Angela and me together.”
“No, Harley, I can assure you we had nothing to do with that,” Andrew promised. “But it did cause waves in the club as Angela was supposed to marry Wallis.”
“People just manipulated like puppets by these people?” Jennifer said in disgust.
“Pretty much.” Andrew nodded. “But they did as I asked and left you, Betty, and Liam alone.” He looked at Harley. “They also left your family alone.”
“You knew who I was when you met me the other day!” Harley accused.
“I did.” Andrew nodded. “But I thought it best not to mention it.” He looked at Jennifer. “You, Liam, and Harley were never supposed to get caught up in this.”
“That’s why I kept encouraging you to get Angela’s parents to take control of her guardianship,” Sam told him.
“Are you such a good attorney that the club bowed to your stipulations?” Jennifer watched Andrewintently.
“The reason they stuck to my stipulations is because my grandfather started the club,” Andrew’s words shocked the room into silence. “And I’m the one that’s going to shut it down.”
“Oh, Andrew, you disappoint me,” A woman’s voice came from the front door.
