Jade Cabral strides into the 21st century as a golden guy. Brilliant and beautiful, with a California cool and a Harvard education, he is poised for wealth and success in New York’s Financial District.<br><br>But Jade harbors a secret flaw, a thirst for revenge against Se?or Rodriguez, the California landowner who deprived his father – Se?or’s out-of-wedlock son, John Virgil -- of his family’s rightful inheritance and place in the world. Jade thinks if he succeeds in New York, he can make up for every loss and humiliation his family has endured at the hands of Se?or. That searing quest leads him into the arms of Nan Spencer, a lovely, fragile socialite, and to the top of the financial world, the Twin Towers, on September 11, 2001.

Seamless Sky

Other teenage boys would’ve chaffed under such responsibilities, but Jade never minded. For one thing, he loved his parents more than anything or anyone else in the world, and he never failed to see them in his siblings, no matter how trying Belle was.


“Before we head to the beach, let’s stop at Puffin’s,” she garbled as she devoured a huge vanilla-and-chocolate swirl ice-cream cone.


Puffin’s was the brick toy store on the corner of Maple and Elm, whose bay window was always filled with the most elaborate dolls, including the specialty Barbies that Belle so coveted.


“Belle, there’s no point in going to Puffin’s, because we haven’t any money to spend,” Allie reminded her, “not on Barbies, not even on Barbie’s shoes. Besides, I just gave you the last of my Barbies and all her accessories.”


Chapter 8