“She keeps in touch with a friend—Colleen Gabers. Said you’re friends with her husband.”
He gives an acknowledging nod.
“Told her you had health issues and how I could find you.”
“What else?”
“That she thinks she made a mistake by leaving you.” I know I have his attention because his cane goes still.
“And?”
“And she told me about you because she thinks I’m repeating history.”
He grunts. “How’s that?”
I sigh, annoyed this is what we’re talking about when there are more pressing matters. “I married the wrong man—who I’ll be divorcing during my visit because he also happens to live here.” The realization I’m in the same city as Nash makes me lightheaded, but I force that thought aside. I’m not dealing with him today. “And she and I have vastly differing definitions ofwrong man.”
“You love him?”
I suck my tongue against my teeth. “Once upon a time I thought I did, but I haven’t seen him in years, so no.”
He grunts then takes a labored breath. I eye the oxygen tank.
“Lungs are shot,” he offers between wheezes.
“And your leg?” I ask.
His lips twitch. “Gone.”
He might be being funny but I’m not sure if I’m supposed to laugh.
He shifts the cane between his hands then stands. At the counter, he pulls a bottle of pills from a cabinet, taking one outand swallowing it down with a slug of rum straight from the bottle.
At my expression: “Liver’s shot too.”
“You take your liver pills with liquor and vape while on oxygen?” I don’t bother hiding my judgment. “That doctor recommended?”
“Penny,” he grunts.
“Who?”
“That’s what I call the vape. Her name’s Penny. She’s full of weed oil. Neighbor gets it for me. Knows a guy from Virginia. Carolina’s a prick.”
He offers me the bottle of rum that I wave off, still processing the fact that he’s named his weed pen and called an entire state aprick.
“How long you here?” he asks.
“Not long. Two weeks tops.” I use my forearm to wipe the sweat from my brow. “Unless my money runs out.”
It probably will. Even if the roof bill didn’t have a due date, I don’t have enough money to dawdle no matter how much Bennie wishes I did. I don’t even know where I’m going to stay tonight.
A breeze blows through the open windows of the boat and offers a momentary reprieve. Outside, the view is stunning. All marsh grass and water with boats cutting across it. It sounds like summer. Looks like it. Definitely feels like it with the way the humidity is trying to drown me with every breath.
“I’ll tell you what I know,” he finally says, shaking me from my thoughts. “But if you’re looking for the treasure, I’m coming with you, and we’ll need help.”
“What?” My throat pinches. “You don’t have to come with me, I just want you to tell me what you know.”
“Not that simple.” He shrugs. “And I don’t have anything better to do. Finish what I started.”
