“Let me get this straight,” he said, his voice carefully controlled. “They demanded fifty thousand dollars, and when you refused, they threw you out of the house.”

“It sounds worse when you say it like that.”

“It sounds exactly as bad as it is, Marlene. That’s elder abuse.” He stood and began to pace. “This son of yours… he let her hit you?”

I nodded, the shame washing over me again.

James stopped and looked at me, a new intensity in his eyes. “Marlene, I’m not just the captain of this ship. I’m a part-owner of the cruise line. Morrison Maritime.” He explained that his company was expanding and they were looking for someone to oversee guest services for the entire fleet. “Someone who understands what it means to make people feel valued. Someone who knows what it’s like when the people who should care about you… don’t.”