“I want you to put it in Noah’s college fund,” Marcus said, signing his legal name on the endorsement line on the back.

“Julian never read that tugboat book to him,” I said, watching Noah lean his head against Marcus’s knee.

“Julian made his choice thirty years ago when he took Eleanor’s stolen money over his own father,” Marcus said.

“He chose the trust fund.”

“He thought the money made him untouchable,” I said.

Marcus looked down at the child playing on the rug, his voice cracking slightly with emotion.

“He has your stubborn chin, Vivian,” Marcus said, “but thank God he has your heart.”