Page 72 of Off Plan
Which was why I found myself walking into town along the Godfrey Pass about half a mile north of the Five Star, sweating off all the water in my body as the midday sun beat down on me, just when the younger Rafe Goodman happened along in his Jeep, headed for the motel.
“Morning, Doc.” Young Rafe rolled down his window and slowed his Jeep to a crawl. “Out exploring?”
I took a step closer to the car, only because it would have been rude to stay away, and not at all because of the blasts of beautifully cool air-conditioning wafting through the window. I hadn’t spoken to the oldest Goodman brother very much, and I got the impression he didn’t approve of me, somehow, though I wasn’t sure if that was because I was new in town, or because I was a doctor, or because I was part of his father’s plan for Whispering Key. Or maybe, as Fenn would have said, “Smart money says a little of each.”
Except, I wasn’t thinking about what Fenn would have said anymore.
“Uh. No. Not sure there’s much here to explore?” I side-eyed the columns of palms lining each side of the road. “For me, I mean. I’m not much of a… tree person.” Trees meant bugs, and bugs likely meant geckos. Thus ended any desire I had to walk into the Florida woods.
Rafe snorted. “Yeah, me neither. Beale’s the tree-hugger of the family. I’m happier on the water. And Gage… His natural habitat is air-conditioning.”
“Hey! Nothing wrong with that!” I exclaimed, and we both laughed.
Part of me was dying to ask what Fenn’s habitat was, but I wouldnot.
I was quitting him cold turkey.
“You ever hear the story of Resolute Goodman, my great-great-times-a-billion-grandfather?” Rafe asked, eyeing me curiously.
I nodded. “Of course. He was a quartermaster who took gold from theEsmereldabefore it sank and wound up founding Whispering Key along with Jacob Godfrey, the captain.” I’d heard the story from…he who would not be named… and then I’d gotten several more earfuls from people in town. Every person had their own piece of Godfrey memorabilia and their own ideas about where the treasure was most likely hidden.
“Jeez, we indoctrinate folks fast around here.” Rafe smiled ruefully. “Well, if you’re really hard up for something to do, the remains of the place the men stayed when they first came ashore after the shipwreck are right through those woods.” He pointed out his window. “We call it the Original Homestead. Not sure why, since it wasn’t much of a homestead and there’s hardly any of the original building left anyway, but that’s neither here nor there. See where the road dips and there’s a break in the trees? Walk back about two feet, and you’ll see the world’s densest,thorniestpatch of blackberries, in a big ol’ rectangle marked off with white seashells, like they were attempting to cultivate them. Very domestic. Walk ten feet back fromthatand you’ll see hatch marks on a tree that mean… who the hell knows what? Probably communicating with aliens. Five feet back fromthat, a big stone fire pit where they’d roast their Sunday possum. Be sure to take pictures to share with your friends.”
“Wow! Does the path dump me out at a gift shop where I can buy a book of traditional possum recipes and my very own hatchmark-making kit?”
Rafe’s face split in a grin that made him look ten years younger and infinitely more handsome. “I’m gonna suggest that at the next Whispering Key town meeting.”
“Please make sure you credit me.”
He chuckled and his eyes softened in appreciation. “Oh, you bet I will. Can I give you a lift somewhere?”
I was tempted for a second, because it was really quite,quitewarm for a walk, but I shook my head. “Thanks anyway, but I’m going in the opposite direction. Heading to town. Gonna treat myself to some lunch.”
Beale had said he and Fenn would be back at the motel in the early afternoon. Therefore, I was resolved to spend the early afternoonelsewhere.
“Yeah? Going to the Concha?” Rafe sounded surprised.
“Yep. I love it there. Besides, not a lot of choice unless a new restaurant has opened in the last two days!”
Rafe snorted. “Not that I know of. Though, to hear my dad talk about it…” He broke off and shook his head. “You know, he was telling me and Beale last night that he’s gonna be trialing food trucks next month for the Labor Day Extravaganza? You heard about the Extravaganza, right?”
I nodded. “Hard to exist in this town andnot. Literally everyone who comes by the clinic has had something to say. What do you mean trialing the trucks?”
“Starting in a couple weeks, every Saturday, they’re gonna park in town down by the pier. The ones we all like best will get asked back.” He shook his head, more bewildered than excited. “People arecompetingfor spots. On Whispering Key.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
Rafe shook himself. “I guess. Dad’s been talking about the revival of Whispering Key for alongtime. I didn’t take him seriously this time around.” His lips twisted up. “Anyway, enjoy your lunch. Beale and Fenn should be finishing up their tour in a half hour or so, so you might catch them on their way back if you want a ride home.”
I waved a hand in goodbye as he drove off, very much hoping I didnotcatch Fenn… at all.
My phone chimed with an incoming text, and I pulled it from my pocket.
Unknown: Hey.
It was from a Florida number I didn’t recognize, which was weird since I’d only given my number to Big Rafe, Beale, and Taffy. I ignored it.
Unknown: It’s Fenn. Can we talk?
