“You can’t talk. You abandoned me just as much as he did yesterday,” I remind him.
He can’t deny it; the only headway we made on Anson Burns’s gold was the possibility of reward money. After that, they were fully immersed in party planning.
And I get it.
Nash is a ball of nerves over Bennie, and I’m guessing Cap feels a little like I did when I went to see Nash for the first time after years of not. No matter how much time passes, there might be some people who will always make our hearts beat a little faster.
“Meh,” he says with a grunt, adjusting the tubes of oxygen around his less grizzly face. His skin still holds its token shade of yellow, but he’s handsome all cleaned up. Almost dapper. “Gold will be waitin’ for us after everyone’s gone.”
He’s waited all these years, a couple more days doesn’t matter to him. And, now that I think about it, even though we’re broke, I guess a couple more days doesn’t matter to me either.
“About that—” I clear my throat. This is the perfect moment of calm to broach a topic I’ve been chewing on. “Maybe after all this—looking for gold and everyone being here—when I go back to Fontain, you’d, I don’t know, like to come too. Live in Fontain for a bit.”
His bushy eyebrows pinch under his captain’s hat.
“My house isn’t big—I don’t even know what everything looks like with Nash—” I pause, thoughts wandering. Even though Nash said freely he’ll go wherever I am, we’ve yet to discuss logistics. His business. This house. Our marriage. I shove those thoughts aside. Today isn’t the day. “Anyway, I don’t know if that’s something you’d ... something?”
My dad looks at me a long time. “Not sure I’ll be able to swing that one, kiddo.”
“Oh.” It’s the opposite of theSounds fun, kiddo!I’d prepared for. “Right. No.” My laugh sounds as forced as it is. I focus on Nash as he opens and closes the lids of the four coolers like the drinks might have grown legs and walked away since the last time he checked. “Because of the boat?”
Cap’s brows raise.
“I know you like it. Fontain doesn’t really have that much water. A river. Some creeks. No flounder, though. I don’t think so, at least.” I’m rambling. “Okay.” This is the most awkward moment of my life. “But the offer stands, you know, if you change your mind. Or want to visit.”
He grunts.
Right.
I busy myself by mindlessly checking the same things Nash is to distract me from the sting of my dad not wanting to come with me. I don’t want to pressure him, but maybe if we find the gold it’ll change his mind. He told me it was why he didn’t go with my mom the first time even though he loved her. Or maybe it’s this place. Invisible ties binding him here tighter than anything he could have with me or even my mom. Seeing how nervous he is about seeing her, I almost thought that’s what this whole party was about. Thought maybe he hoped to rekindle something with her that went cold over four decades ago.
And then worse: What if Nash has the same realization? What if after a couple days of me and Bennie, he realizes he can’t cut ties with this place either? What if Fontain doesn’t have enough magic or adventure for either of these men?
I need to vomit but there’s no time. Frank barks like a madman, letting us know they’re here.
Nash looks at me, wide eyed—he’s nervous as hell—and grabs my hand.
“She’s just a kid,” I remind him.
At the front of the house, Remy’s gigantic SUV parks, the doors opening and people flooding out like a swarm of angry bees.
Remy with a too-big smile.
Mom covered in colors.
Reese shouting into her phone.
Remy’s kids mid-bickering about someone touching someone.
And then, Bennie.
She turns toward us and there’s a rightness to the moment. It’s been ten days too long since she’s shined her bright light on me, and I’ve missed its warmth.
“Bennie Francine,” I call, grinning as I wave.
It’s as she breaks away from the chaos and starts sprinting toward us that the gravity of the moment crushes down on me and makes every breath, look, and thought happen in slow motion. A life-altering awareness undulates through me. She’s about to meet the dad I’ve spent years telling her is dead, and he’s about to meet her.
She stops mid-run to where we’re standing, zeroing a wide-eyed look on Nash. They’ve never met, but it’s a moment of impossible recognition.
