Wynn in the Willows Read Free Page A

mainland.” Roxie said impatiently. “End of story.”
    “One of them remained there and lost his inheritance as a result. The other child, Joel, came back and never left,” Owl said.
    “True and he built a lovely home just down the road from here. But have you noticed the newest residents painted it an awful shade of ochre? It’s the only house on Zoha Lane. It’s much smaller than the grand mansion, of course, but still quite nice.” Faith stated.
    “Zoha Lane? Isn’t that the house where my parents and I once lived, Aunt Roxie?” Wynn asked as a long ago memory floated to the surface.
    “Oh,” said Roxie. “Yes, I believe it was.”
    “Your family once lived in the Reed house?” Faith nearly came up off her chair with curiosity.
    Wynn opened her mouth to answer, but Roxie took over. “Yes, but they decided to move away. We’re fresh out of éclairs, but there’s more lemonade. Anyone?”
    “We moved after my dad died.” Instead of my sixth birthday party, there was a funeral. But Wynn didn’t say that out loud.
    “Your dad?” Owl asked.
    “Yes, he ran a greeting card shop on the beach. My mother sold it. We left the island.” Wynn wanted to know more about the mystery. “Earlier, you said something about a curse.”
    “Don’t pay any attention to that kind of talk, Wynn. The Bible speaks against it. There’s no such thing as curses, and it’ll just upset you, and drive down the real-estate prices.” Faith’s phone rang again. “OK, that’s it ladies, I really have to be getting back to the office now.” She picked up her briefcase, tucking the cell against her chin. “Hello? I’m on my way to the office this moment.” Faith closed her call. “Wynn, I enjoyed meeting you. If you ever decide to make Willow Island your residence, I have a listing you might be interested in seeing...just don’t wait too long.”
    “Thanks, but I’m quite content staying in Aunt Roxie’s tree house.”
    “You’re staying in a tree house?” Faith’s hand fluttered.
    “It’s actually Aunt Roxie’s efficiency apartment over the garage, but its tree top level. It’s my tree house.”
    “You and I are going to be great friends, I can tell.” Faith hurried out the porch door.
    Faith’s departure created a domino effect. They hugged Wynn one by one, calling her a blessing.
    Wynn felt their sincerity. She now belonged to the Bridge Over Troubled Waters Ladies Club.
     
     
     
     

3
     
    By the time everyone left, the best part of the day had passed. Wynn pitched in with the clean-up.
    Above the sink were jalousie windows that overlooked the back garden, now filled with late afternoon shadows. A warm breeze shifted through the screens, ruffling the hems of lace curtains.
    Water thundered down into the sink as Wynn squeezed the belly of the plastic dish soap bottle.
    “There’s something I’ve wanted to ask since you moved in, but have hesitated. I don’t want to hurt your feelings by dredging up what might be best left alone.”
    Hurt. Such an ambiguous word. By what degree did one gauge pain? Physically she was strong, but inside she was shredded. Wynn looked into her aunt’s indigo eyes trying to recall her own mother’s eyes.
    “Go ahead, ask me anything,” Wynn said.
    Sentences never opened well when prefaced by ‘I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but…’
    “Have you heard from your mother recently?”
    Not too far down the lake, a lawn was being mowed. A dog barked just beyond the fence. Life moved on, even when she was sure time had stopped for a few seconds.
    “Not for months, but that’s not unusual. Eventually another one of her greeting cards will arrive with only her signature.”
    “Perhaps another card will arrive in time for your birthday.”
    “I doubt it. I never mentioned I was coming here.” Wynn touched her aunt’s arm, leaving an unintended cloud of suds. “You’ve heard from her?”
    “Me? No! I haven’t heard from her in years.” Roxie dried the