Page 99 of On the Run
“That’s right, honeybunch. But you’ve gotta admit Ronnie’s catchy.”
Veronica looked like she didn’t “gotta”do anything of the sort.
“We havepresents for you,” my dad shouted into the microphone, loud enough to startle any dolphins in the vicinity. “But Doc Mason said you wouldn’t be ready to entertain at your place yet, so we decided to surprise you here!”
Toby mouthed the words “Thank you” to Mase across the table, and Mason winked.
Dale Jennings placed a hand on Veronica’s and Littlejohn’s chairs and leaned in. “Betcha can’t guess what I got you,” he said with an eyebrow wiggle.
Toby blinked. “Is it a seashell-covered toilet seat?”
Dale grinned and nodded slowly. “Aw yeah. You know it. And? Don’t tell Doc Mason, but I got both you boys a year’s supply offerrymones, for to help your prowesses.” He paused, and when Toby and I stared at him, he elaborated, “Yoursexualprowesses.”
“Gotcha. Yeah. That’s… I can’t even…” I shook my head. “Wow.”
“Well said, soul mate,” Toby said, shooting me another one of his speaking glances. “Wow, indeed.”
“I’m literally sitting right here, Dale,” Mason said. He shook his head.
“And my cousin Marian knitted you a bed for your little one!” Dale continued, pretending he couldn’t hear Mase.
I wrapped my arms around Toby, buried my head in his neck, and pretended I couldn’t hearDale.
At some point Bobo came over and asked Young Rafe about Gage’s road trip. He mentioned his nephew was coming to town and asked about our plans for the tour business, but I didn’t pay much attention. The man in my arms was so intoxicating, it wasn’t hard to tune everything else out…
Except my dad with his microphone.
“Okay, everyone, we’re gonna start the dancing soon—”
That got me to lift my head because dancing with a guy I loved was something I’d never done before, and suddenly I really wanted to.
“—but first, the Bridge Fundraising Committee has just taken a very quick secret vote—”
Toby looked at me, I looked at him, and we both looked at Mason, who grinned and shrugged.
“—and we’ve decided to name the new bridge after our Toby! It will be called the Toby-Trey Elford Memorial Bridge!”
Toby gave me a wide-eyed look that said,Memorial?at the same time Gloria leaned over to whisper something to my dad.
“Er. I mean. It’ll be named whatever Toby would like to name it,” he corrected.
All eyes turned to Toby, who floundered for half a second. He looked at me and then fingered the bracelet on his wrist. Then he looked up at my dad and smiled. “I think it should be called the Goodman Bridge, sir.”
“The… Why, thank you, Tobias. That’s… that’s… beautiful.” My dad broke off, too overcome to continue. His already leaky eyes leaked a little more, and I knew Toby had just earned himself a permanent spot at the top of the Favorite Goodman Son list. “Cue the music!” he choked out.
Littlejohn leaned across the table. “Awful nice’a you to name it after Big Rafe. He’s been a good mayor.” He nodded once, then clapped his hands and stood up. “Time for dancing!”
Veronica stood up quickly also. “Alright!”
“Oh.” Littlejohn seemed startled, like he’d forgotten she was there. “Okay, then.”
“Trouble in paradise already with those two.” Marius Wynott pursed his lips and shook his head as LJ and Veronica headed for the makeshift dance floor at the back of the bar. He leaned across me to tell Toby, “I know you’re too polite to tell everyone you named the bridge for Resolute Goodman, the founder of Whispering Key, so it’ll stay our little secret.” He tapped the side of his nose. “But your nod to history does you credit.” He slid out his side of the booth.
Toby pressed his lips together. “The island was founded by Resolute Goodman?”
“And Jacob Godfrey,” Mason agreed. “They’re the ones who buried the treasure we found.”
“Pfft. I knew that.”
