Wynn in the Willows Read Free Page B

glasses and set them neatly by rows on the open shelves.
    “But you’re her sister. She should have written to you.”
    What secret was Roxie keeping about her parents? She was quite positive the women of Willow Island knew.
    “And you’re her daughter; I thought she’d at least keep in touch with long letters.”
    Tears stung Wynn’s eyes as she pulled the plug in the sink and watched the water twirl down into the hole, leaving behind a skirt of bubbles. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
    “Nothing is wrong. It’s just that I miss your mom so much. You remind me of her.”
    Unsure she liked the comparison, a worm of sadness wiggled through Wynn. “If that’s true, it’s purely through genetics.”
    “Spoken as a true scientist!” Roxie kissed Wynn’s forehead, and then took a deep breath. “But I must admit, genetics is all your mom and I ever had in common, too. There was always something between us.”
    “Like what?”
    “Our parents’ affection. Ruth thought I was the preferred twin.”
    “Were you?”
    “Not as far as I was concerned. There was also competition between us.”
    “Sports competition?”
    “No, it was all about the opposite sex. We seemed to always compete for the same man. Whenever I liked someone she enjoyed trying to get him. It’s silly. Never mind that.” Roxie waved the towel in the air as though she was wiping away such pettiness. “What matters is you. For a short time I had the privilege of being an indulgent auntie to you, but that was cut short when your father…passed. Ruth and I were never close. And once she left the island, a curtain of silence seemed to drop between us. I would have given anything to have had you here with me.”
    “I never knew that. After Grammy and Gramps died, my uncles came for me. Why didn’t you?”
    Roxie set her lips into a firm line while her hands clasped the dishrag. “Your mother wouldn’t hear of it.”
    “But she was in Central Africa. Still is. She couldn’t have stopped you.”
    “Well, she did. Even from there.”
    “But why would she do that? I mean, the island was my home and I knew you. My uncles were strangers to me at the time.”
    “I hope they were good to you.”
    “Yes, they were very good to me. I grew to love them very much. They loved me, too, from the very first moment.” One of her sharpest memories was the day her uncles decided to share their home with her. The memory of the following years was a beautiful, happy note.
    The sound of a lawn mower stopped. A silence fell between them.
    Should she talk about her life with Uncle Dill and Matt? Two bachelors, who had plenty of time on their hands, which they gave unselfishly to her. They made sure her homework was always done and they kept track of her whereabouts—especially during those tumultuous teenage years. But Wynn couldn’t think of a way of telling Roxie this without making it sound as though she was better off with them.
    “Now that you’re older, there’s a new chance for me to know you. I hope we become good friends.”
    “Me, too.”
    “The last time you and I were together was at your dad’s funeral. We took a long walk together afterwards.”
    “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember that.”
    “It’s OK. You were so little and it was a very long time ago.”
    Wynn felt suspended, waiting for something to happen; the air to be stirred by a voice. The wall of secrecy between them seemed to be crumbling. Wynn decided to take advantage of the closeness. “My turn. Now I have a question for you.”
    “Oh?” Roxie’s eyebrows arched. “Ask away.”
    “How did my dad die?” Wynn clenched her teeth so tight it made her jaw ache. Over the years, knowing what became of her dad had become an obsession, a fierce, fiery need gnawing away at her gut.
    Roxie’s eyes widened with surprise as her hand slowly trailed up to her mouth. “Oh, my. You don’t know? Your mother never told you?”
    “And my grandparents refused to talk about it. So