“It’s in code.”
Maxine snapped her fingers. “That’s what we thought.”
“We already figured that, Cliff.”
“I know the code,” he said simply.
“How?” She frowned.
“My grandmother taught it to me. Kind of a family secret, I guess.”
“And your mother knows it?”
“I’m sure she does.”
“That’s why Miss Eleanor was so cryptic when she saw the letter,” Maxine said. “So what does it say?”
“It says meet me at the landing at seven Friday night.”
“It does?” Beverly walked over and picked up the letter, looking at the random words on the page.
“It does. Don’t know who wrote it. But that’s what it says.”
She looked at Cliff for a moment. “Well… thank you. At least that’s something to go on.”
“Can I help you take all this down?”
She stared at him for a long moment. “No, I don’t think so. I don’t need your help.” Not with packing up the art and the historical items, not with anything.
Cliff let out a sigh. “Okay, but someday you’re going to have to talk to me. We should sort things out.”
“There is nothing to sort out, Cliff. Nothing.”
He nodded once, then turned and walked away. Maxine wrapped her arm around her waist. “You okay?”
“I am. He just… gets under my skin, and I shouldn’t let him.”
“I guess the festival brought him back to town.” Maxine looked over to where Cliff was heading down the boardwalk.
“I guess. Or trying to get more people on his side about his ridiculous high-rise at the end of the boardwalk.” Beverly scowled.
“We won’t let that happen. Miss Eleanor won’t let it happen. Maybe she can talk some sense into her son.”
“I’m not sure that Cliff ever listens to anyone.”
CHAPTER 26
The next day, Megan and Brooklyn packed up to head home. Amanda went over to say goodbye to them.
“Miss Amanda, the festival was fun, wasn’t it? I can’t wait for next year. Do I really have to wait that long? I hope I don’t have to wait that long to see fireworks again. Weren’t they the bestest?”
“The festival was fun. I’m glad you had such a good time.” It reminded her of how excited she’d been to go to the festival when she was a young girl. Asking her father to bring her back the next year. And her dad had promised her he would. But that never happened.
But yesterday, she’d felt his presence strongly as she walked around the festival as if he was there and watching her enjoy it again.
“Brooklyn, grab your backpack.” Megan’s voice broke through her nostalgic memories. “We need to run. I want to catch the next ferry.”
“I want to stay here with Uncle Connor. I want to live on Magnolia Island forever.”
