Chapter Six
Chapter Six
June
GENEVIEVE GAZED DOWN AT the scissors in her hand, and a memory flashed into her mind. She’d been four years old—maybe five—when she’d sneaked the scissors from the kitchen junk drawer, crawled beneath the table, and cut her own hair. Her mother had shrieked with horror when she spied the results. Genevieve had earned her first spanking for that one because the scissors were a big no-no. That had been in the 1960s, back when parents still spanked their children.
A rueful smile touched her lips. That had actually been her one and only spanking. She’d been a good little girl, the polar opposite of her big sister.
Helen had been a wild child in her teens. While their parents managed to keep their sons in line, their rebellious elder daughter seemed to befuddle them. Helen had been grounded a lot. She missed her curfew regularly. Genevieve remembered the fights they’d had around the Bennett house—especially between her sister and her dad. Finally, someone—the school counselor, maybe—suggested a “cooling-off period,” and Helen went to live with Uncle Ben and Aunt Grace in a small town west of Fort Worth for a semester. That seemed to suit everyone—except Genevieve. Mom and Dad had quit their constant fighting, and Helen had really liked her new school. She’d liked it so much that she’d lived with their aunt and uncle until she finished high school. She’d never really moved back home.
Genevieve had missed her sister, but honestly, the six-year age difference between them at that stage of life had been huge. She’d liked having a bedroom to herself more than she’d liked Helen to be around. It had been a good move for Helen. She’d buckled down as a student and ended up an extremely successful attorney.
It had been when Helen was in law school and Genevieve in high school that the two sisters had grown close. Genevieve gave Helen full credit for that. She’d made a real effort to become Genevieve’s friend, confidant, and advisor during her high school years. Genevieve was grateful to this day that she’d had the counsel of her big sister during those challenging times.
“Hey! Earth to Genevieve,” Helen called from the doorway, snapping Genevieve from her reverie. “You gonna stand there all day? Folks are getting restless.”
“Sorry. I’m coming.” Genevieve shut the desk drawer and exited the office of her latest passion, the Lake in the Clouds Community Museum. Moments later, she ducked under the red ribbon stretched across the front door and joined her sister on the front steps where a crowd of fifteen to twenty people gathered to watch their mayor officially open the small town’s newest historical attraction.
Genevieve handed the scissors to Helen. “I can’t believe I left the monster-sized scissors I purchased for today at home. I’m so disappointed.”
“Don’t fret. As long as these aren’t as dull as the black-handled pair in Mom’s junk drawer when we were growing up, they’ll do the job. We can use the big scissors when you open your next project.”
“I don’t have a next project.”
“Pshaw,” Helen replied, giving her eyes a roll. “Haven’t I seen home-decorating magazines all around your house? Isn’t your television tuned to HGTV exclusively these days?”
Genevieve shrugged. “Gage wants to make some changes at the ranch. He’s asked me to help him when he gets home from his fishing trip with his sons.”
“When are they due back?”
“Next week, I believe. Their plans were flexible based on how good the fishing proved.”
A man in the crowd called out, “Would you girls quit your lallygagging? Let’s get this show on the road.”
Helen turned an exaggerated glare on the speaker. “Hold your water, George. This museum is worth the wait.”
“Yes, George,” called a woman whom Genevieve believed was a member of Helen’s bowling league. “It’s not even ten yet. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for ten o’clock, and if the mayor starts her speech before the church bells ring, we won’t be able to hear her.”
On cue, the bells from the Methodist church across the street began to peal. When the sound died, Helen moved forward to the edge of the front steps and addressed the crowd of friends, neighbors, constituents, and a sprinkling of family.
“Happy Founders Day, Lake in the Clouds!” she said. “The revitalization of our downtown district is exciting to watch, and I am proud to be part of it. That said, it would be wrong of me to take credit for either the idea or the execution of the creation of this Community Museum. It’s been the dynamic duo’s project from the get-go. You all know who I’m talking about—my sister, Genevieve Prentice, and your assistant city manager, Nicole Vandersall. Genevieve brought the idea and the research to our city council, and then Nicole accepted the project manager’s hat. They’ve spent the past three months working tirelessly in order to meet an ambitious grand opening deadline of our annual Founders Day celebration.”
The crowd applauded. Genevieve and Nicole waved their thanks. Helen held up the scissors saying, “All I did was sign the checks, so I think one of you two ladies should do the honors.”
Genevieve gave Nicole a little push forward. “The scissors are yours.” To the crowd, she added, “She did the lion’s share of the work.”
Helen nodded enthusiastically and added, “That’s the way Nicole rolls.”
A flush stained Nicole’s cheeks as she accepted the scissors. “Oh, Helen. You are too sweet.”
At that, Genevieve quipped, “Sweet as lemon juice.”
Helen made a show of rolling her eyes at the old tease from her baby sister. “Don’t you mean lemonade?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
The crowd chuckled, and when Nicole cut the red ribbon, added applause and a spattering of hurrahs. Then Helen linked arms with her sister and city manager, and together they stepped inside the museum lobby. They approached the ticket window, where they each bought a ticket for entrance into the exhibits. “No special treatment or perks for anyone,” Helen declared when asked about the purchase. “In Lake in the Clouds, everyone gets equal treatment.”
“Only since you won the mayoral election,” Genevieve added.
The sisters exchanged self-satisfied smiles as one of Helen’s neighbors at the retirement home piped up. “What? No senior discount?”
“Entrance is a whopping four dollars, Paul,” Helen replied. “Don’t be such a cheapskate.”
Nicole piped up. “We do have Two-dollar Tuesdays, which will feature a new mini-exhibit every week. Also, the Taco Bus will be parked out front on Tuesdays. On good weather days, we’ll set out some tables and chairs on the sidewalks.”
“It’ll be a little sidewalk café.” Genevieve stood on the right of the exhibit entrance, and at Helen’s direction, Nicole stood on the left. They personally welcomed each of the visitors and basked in the warm glow of congratulations for a job well done.
Helen made sure to direct as much praise as possible toward Nicole. Genevieve knew that her sister had plans for her protégée. Helen had no intention of running for reelection. She had accomplished the goals she’d set when she’d made her decision to run for mayor, and she was ready to move on. Nicole Vandersall needed to be the next mayor of Lake in the Clouds. Sooner rather than later.
Recently, Helen had confided to her sister that she’d put her legal training to good use by doing a deep dive into Lake in the Clouds’ election policies and procedures. Once she’d passed the halfway point in her two-year term, Helen could resign and appoint Nicole to serve out her term as mayor until the next election. Doing so would set up the younger woman to win the next contest. Nicole worked well with the current city council and city manager, and Helen believed the team could be counted on to continue the improvements she’d put into place.
And Helen’s work here will be done. What her sister would do with herself afterward, Genevieve hadn’t a clue. Retirement was proving to be a problem for Helen.
Not that Genevieve knew what project she’d jump into next, either. Helping Gage redecorate his ranch house would be a favor, not a project. However, in the past year, she’d come to trust that she would find something to occupy her time and make her feel as though her life was of value.
After the last of the visitors entered the exhibit space, Helen slipped her arm through Genevieve’s and said, “Show me your museum, little sister. I understand there’s an entire section dedicated to the Throckmorton family and the Triple T Ranch?”
Genevieve nodded. “Yes. Gage groused for a week before the interview with Nicole to talk about the history of the Triple T. He told her he’d give her half an hour, and then he talked for over two.”
“Well, the man has a lot of history of which to be proud,” Helen said. “According to Nicole, he was too cute about how much museum space was to be dedicated to the ranch.”
Genevieve nodded in agreement. “She wanted to use the entire second floor. He made it a condition of his donation—both the significant chunk of change and the artifacts—that his family heritage isn’t displayed more prominently than others. He insisted that ‘It’s a community museum—focus on the community.’”
“That sounds like Gage.”
Genevieve gave a satisfied smile as she explained, “Nicole managed to wrangle a little extra out of him. She’s dedicated one room to special-themed exhibits that she’s planning to update twice a month. Believe me, when she devotes an exhibit to family china, she’ll include the Throckmorton treasures.”
“Family china exhibit?” Helen made a Home Alone , two-handed face clap. “I never would have guessed that your museum would feature a family china exhibit.”
“Ha. Ha.” Genevieve’s lips twitched as she added, “It’s scheduled for September.”
“I can’t wait.” Helen plucked an exhibit flyer from a display as they entered the first exhibit room.
Genevieve’s concept for the Lake in the Clouds Community Museum was to tell a narrative of the history of the town through stories about the families who’d settled in the area and built Lake in the Clouds. Nicole had suggested that they organize the tale according to eras, beginning with the pioneers and town founders—the Throckmorton family among them—and ending with a section dedicated to newcomers. Each section had a kid’s corner of interactive, thematic activities. In the last section, they intended to rotate families in and out based on local participation in order to keep the content fresh.
Genevieve believed they’d created a museum that encouraged one to dawdle and read and study. She was proud of it.
“Y’all have done a spectacular job,” Helen said to Genevieve as they exited the Roaring Twenties through the World War II section and entered the postwar to Y2K portion of the exhibit.
“Thank you.” Genevieve’s gaze landed on the wedding portrait of a couple whom she recognized at once as retired sheriff Darrel Sears and his wife, June, who owned and operated the hair salon Genevieve frequented.
They were the cutest couple. Darrel stopped by the salon every day and brought his wife a single red rose. The romantic gesture made all the salon’s patrons swoon. For her part, June had made it a practice to leave Darrel little love notes inside his personal items and/or spaces each day. Everyone said you could always tell when Darrel found his note because he got a little extra spring in his step.
Genevieve had known the pair had been high school sweethearts, but seeing the proof displayed here made her smile.
It also brought David to mind. Had David lived, would he still be bringing her roses? Pink roses, because one time she’d told him she loved pink the best, and he’d never bought her anything else. Every Valentine’s Day, every birthday, every wedding anniversary, he brought her pink roses. Truth be told, she wouldn’t have minded having yellow or red in the mix. She’d loved him dearly, but romance hadn’t been his forte. If he’d lived, Genevieve believed they’d still be together and in love. He might be retired, and they might be living in a small town somewhere. However, she could not under any circumstances picture him gifting her with a flower each day.
Genevieve would have liked a little more romance in her marriage, but in David’s defense, she hadn’t made him aware of that fact. She’d wanted him to know, to want to make such gestures on his own. To know her well enough that he’d make them without her having to ask. Having to ask took the shine off the rose, so to speak.
She gave a little self-deprecating laugh. Why had her mind wandered off in this direction this morning anyway? She didn’t have romance on her mind as a rule.
Because you’re missing Gage. He’s been away for over three weeks, and you miss him.
It was true. The man didn’t send her a rose every day, but he’d sent her half a dozen postcards from Alaska. She watched her mailbox like a hawk every day.
Genevieve sensed Helen’s presence behind her. Without taking her gaze off the photograph of the Sears, Genevieve said, “I think that in your capacity as mayor, you should create an award for Lake in the Clouds’ most romantic couple. Name it after Darrel and June Sears. Maybe it’ll inspire people to add more romance into their lives.”
Genevieve’s heart gave a little lurch when a deep-timbred male voice softly asked, “Is that a hint, Genevieve?”
Helen watched Gage Throckmorton approach her sister with a smile on his handsome-though-weathered rancher’s face. While she couldn’t hear what he said to her, whatever it was caused Genevieve to whirl around and light up like the sun.
Genevieve said, “Gage! I didn’t think you’d be back until next week. This is a lovely surprise.”
“We got in late last night. I intended to be here for the ribbon cutting, but your son-in-law waylaid me this morning with a bunch of papers I needed to sign. Almost made me wish I hadn’t hired Noah as my business manager.” He took hold of her hands, leaned down, and kissed her briefly but publicly on the lips. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” A rosy blush stained Genevieve’s cheek as she darted a gaze toward her sister.
Helen held back a snort. Genevieve was still getting accustomed to PDAs from Gage. Her husband, David, had been a reserved man in public. In contrast, Gage was a toucher. If Helen hadn’t sworn off being a buttinsky where Genevieve’s relationship with the rancher was concerned, she’d warn Gage to dial it back a bit.
Genevieve might appear confident and at ease with Gage, but the more her feelings for him grew, the more skittish she became. Helen had seen how much her sister had missed Gage while he was away. The woman was falling. However, Helen also knew her sister. If Genevieve felt rushed in any way, she’d back off. Right now, based on her observations of the pair, Helen put the odds of the relationship succeeding long-term right at 50/50.
The rancher spotted Helen and gave her a nod. “Hello, Helen.”
“Welcome home, Gage,” she replied. “How was your trip?”
“Really nice. Alaska is beyond beautiful, and I had some quality male-bonding time with my boys and grandson.”
“Did you catch a lot of fish?” Genevieve asked.
“We did. All but wore our fishing gear out. That’s one reason we came home a day early. Also, I wanted to be here for Genevieve and today’s grand opening.”
Genevieve beamed. “Have you seen the Triple T Ranch section of the exhibit yet? It’s wonderful.”
“I breezed through it, but I didn’t look at anything. I was searching for you. I’m anxious to check it out, though.”
Genevieve glanced at her sister inquiringly. Helen said, “You go with him, Genevieve. I have a quick city council meeting scheduled before the parade, and I’m going to do some breezing through the rest of the exhibits myself.”
“You sure?” Genevieve asked, a faint line creasing the space between her brows. “I don’t want to ditch you.”
Helen gave Genevieve’s arm a reassuring pat. She recognized that as her sister’s relationship with Gage developed, Genevieve took extra care to ensure that Helen didn’t feel like the proverbial third wheel. “No ditching involved. You kids have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow at the book club meeting.”
Genevieve snapped her fingers. “I almost forgot about that. I still need to read the last two chapters of this month’s book.”
“Glad you mentioned that,” Helen said. “I almost asked you what you thought about the surprise twist at the end.”
“What surprise twist? I love surprise twists.”
“Read the book and call me tomorrow if you want to chat before the actual chat.” Helen smiled up at Gage and added, “I’m glad you are home. She missed you.”
He smiled and tipped his imaginary hat, then they turned to retrace their steps while Helen moved forward toward the section of the exhibit focused on families who were part of Lake in the Clouds during the post-WWII years until the turn of the century. She smiled when she saw the console TV with a two-button remote control. When she was growing up, her best friend’s family had something similar. One button shifted the channels forward in numerical order. The other shifted backward. Helen had been quite impressed.
She could almost hear her father’s gruff response to her enthusiastic description of the device. Sounds like something that’ll find its way into the sofa cushions like lost change. Besides, why would anybody need a contraption to change the TV channel? That’s what kids are for.
The smile on Helen’s lips lingered until she drifted on to a display that highlighted the Mayer family, and her gaze lit on a shadowbox containing a Purple Heart medal. Mounted next to it was a reproduction of the front page of the Lake in the Clouds Gazette . Its headline declared, “Local Serviceman Killed in Vietnam.”
Reading it catapulted Helen into the past. She was suddenly fifteen again, buying a drink at the neighborhood convenience store. She’d just counted out the exact change and placed it on the counter next to her wild cherry Slurpee when her gaze strayed to the stack of newspapers on the counter.
She’d read the headline just above the fold. Her head had spun. Her knees had buckled. She’d fainted dead away.
When she came to a few moments later, the concerned store clerk had already called her house looking for help. Helen had fled the store, barely making it to the parking lot before she doubled over and vomited just as her father arrived to get her in his sedan.
Reliving the moment in Lake in the Clouds, Colorado, over half a century later, Helen’s eyes filled with sudden tears. She turned around and headed for the exit, brushing past Genevieve and Gage without speaking.
On the sidewalk, one hand braced against a lamppost for support, Helen lifted her face toward the sunshine. Warmth kissed her cheeks and seeped into her cold bones as she fought back the tears. It took longer than a full minute to collect herself, but eventually, peace eased past the pain.
“Whoa,” Helen said softly with a sigh. That had certainly been a blast from the past.
She drew in a deep breath, exhaled in a rush, and repeated the exercise twice more. She was feeling shaky. She’d taken no more than a dozen steps before the sound of a familiar voice stopped her.
“Auntie! Wait,” Genevieve’s daughter Willow called. “I saw you coming out of the museum. Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
Helen halted and turned toward her niece while pasting on a smile. “Hello, sunshine,” she said. “I’m fine. What are you up to?”
“You’re not fine,” Willow accused. “You’re crying.”
Helen swiped at the tears on her cheek. “Oh, don’t pay me any mind. I just had a little moment. How are you feeling? Any morning sickness?”
“I’m fine,” Willow snapped with more than a little exasperation in her tone. “Don’t do that, Auntie. No deflecting. You never cry. Why now? What are you having a moment about? Talk to me.”
Helen hesitated. Ordinarily, she’d talk to her sister, but Genevieve was occupied with her beau. She and Willow had always shared a special bond. Willow was the closest thing to a daughter Helen would ever have.
Tears stung Helen’s eyes. Oh, Billy. I would have loved to have had your little girl.
She cleared her throat and slipped her arm through Willow’s. “Are you up to taking a little walk with me, sunshine? I’d like to take a look at the parade entrants before the party starts. When you’re mayor, you’re too busy politicking to enjoy the show.”
Willow gave her a searching look, then nodded. “I would love to walk with you.”
The Lake in the Clouds Founders Day parade was scheduled to kick off at noon. At last count, four floats, one marching band, a handful of antique cars, and more than a dozen red, white, and blue bedecked golf carts and ATVs were registered to participate. They expected the largest crowd in history to watch the event. Helen couldn’t have been more pleased.
The two women didn’t speak as they walked down the street and past the courthouse at the center of town, headed toward the parade staging area, which was three blocks off the square. As they approached the first float—a display of American flags throughout history—Helen focused on the Old Glory flag and said, “A newspaper clipping in your mother’s museum triggered an old memory this morning. I was reminded of my first love. My first heartbreak. Have I ever told you about my Billy?”
Willow gave her an intent look. “The college baseball player?”
Helen’s smile went soft and wistful. “No. That was my first husband, Rex.”
“Oh yeah. Fastball Rex.” Willow’s green eyes sparkled with interest. When they completed their walk around the flag float, she added, “I don’t recall you ever talking about a high school boyfriend. I don’t think Mom has ever mentioned a friend of yours named Billy.”
Helen moved toward the second float lined up for the parade, the downtown merchants’ float covered in bunting and balloons and a huge American eagle. “Genevieve was still a little girl when I dated him, and she only met him once.” An old, never-forgotten anger rolled through Helen, and she inadvertently picked up her pace as a result. “Our parents didn’t approve of him.”
They viewed the veteran’s float in record time. Willow obviously picked up on Helen’s pain, and her tone was gentle as she asked, “What happened?”
Helen strolled on toward the third float, a project by the theater club at the high school, where riders would be dressed in Colonial America costumes. “Billy was whip-smart, near the top of his class. He’d been raised by his single mother, and tragically, she was killed in a car wreck during his senior year in high school. That happened not long before I met him.”
“So, he had no parents? I cannot imagine how hard that must have been. After Dad died, losing Mom was always my greatest fear.”
Helen gave Willow’s arm a comforting pat. “I know. When I met him, Billy was a little lost. I think he needed me. We drifted together during the fall semester and had our first official date going to church together on Christmas Eve. That’s when I introduced him to Mom and Dad. That’s when your mother met him, too.”
“Why didn’t your folks approve of him?”
“They said it was because he was too old for me. He was a senior, and I was a freshman.” Helen shook her head. “It was more than that, and I knew it. My father was a class-conscious snob. He was an Ivy League–educated attorney whose family had been early settlers in our hometown. Billy Poteet was a poor boy who grew up in a single-wide trailer parked on the wrong side of the tracks.”
“So, they wouldn’t let you date him?”
“It was expressly forbidden. I was threatened with all sorts of ugly consequences if I continued to see Billy.”
Willow knew Helen. “So, of course, you didn’t stop.”
“I absolutely didn’t stop. The whole forbidden fruit thing made sneaking around all the more exciting.”
They moved on to the fourth and final float in the parade. The VFW float had been used recently during the town’s Memorial Day parade. It showcased the Armed Forces flags and honored Lake in the Clouds’ veterans. It had been such a hit that Helen had asked the VFW to join today’s parade, too.
Helen understood they expected to have seven riders today, the eldest a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet. Her gaze settled on the Marine Corps banner, and her heart gave a twist.
“My parents were wrong about him. Billy was a good guy. After his mother died, he could have stumbled, but he didn’t. He was determined to make something of himself. He stayed in school and graduated. He was awarded a full-ride scholarship to study petroleum engineering at Texas A&M. He had a summer internship lined up at one of the oil and gas companies in town.”
A car horn sounded, interrupting the tale. Helen and Willow both waved at the occupants of a convertible bedecked with the local high school colors. Helen observed, “Will Sumpter is a great school mascot. He loves wearing that bear costume.”
“I heard that he wore it to the Sunshine Diner this morning,” Willow said as they watched the convertible maneuver to take its place in the parade queue. “Gave some tourist kids a thrill.”
Helen halted beside the VFW float and reached up to grab an American flag trimmed in gold fringe as her thoughts returned to the discussion at hand. “Billy was going to go far. I’m sure of it.”
Willow gave Helen a sharp look at her use of the past tense verb. “Did your Billy have a problem in college?”
“I’m afraid he never got to go to college. The day he was scheduled to start at the oil and gas firm, he got a call telling him not to bother coming in. Not only was the job not happening, but neither was the scholarship.”
“Why?” Willow demanded.
“B.S. reasons.” Helen released the Stars and Stripes and moved on. Upon reaching a movable set of stairs that allowed access, she climbed up onto the float. She took a seat on a bench beside the Marine Corps scarlet standard. “I think Billy knew that someone behind the scenes was pulling strings, especially after he got a call from a Marine recruiter.”
Willow watched her aunt closely as Helen traced the circumference of the blue globe near the center of the flag. “I was clueless. I was devastated. I had made my peace with his going three hundred miles away to college, but now he was headed to San Diego for basic training. After that, who knew where?”
Willow’s brow furrowed, and Helen anticipated the question she expected her niece was about to ask. “Not Vietnam. Technically, the war was over. The Paris Peace Accords had been signed in January. The recruiter assured Billy he wouldn’t be sent to Vietnam.”
“Was he lying?” Willow asked.
Helen shrugged. “We’ll never know. Billy was killed in a training accident in California in November.”
“Oh no.” Willow climbed up the stairs and moved to take a seat beside her aunt. She took hold of Helen’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
“I learned about his death from an article in the local newspaper. That’s what set me off this morning. A Lake in the Clouds family lost a son in Vietnam, and the newspaper clipping about it is on display.”
“Oh, Auntie.” Willow rested her head on Helen’s shoulder. “I can’t imagine how horrible that must have been.”
“I was inconsolable. To make matters worse, I learned that my father had pulled strings to get both the job offer rescinded and the scholarship revoked.”
Now Willow sat up straight and pulled away, staring at her aunt in shock. “My grandfather did that to you? That’s awful!”
“It was, wasn’t it? One of my brothers had ratted us out to Dad, and he decided Billy needed to go far away. The joke ended up being on him, though, because Billy named me as his next of kin in his paperwork for the Marines, so Dad got to pay for Billy’s funeral expenses.”
“Oh, Auntie. I’m so sorry. That must have been so terrible for you.”
Helen patted Willow’s knee in a silent thank-you for the support. “I held a grudge against Dad for a very long time. Things were ugly around the house, so I eventually went to live with my aunt and uncle, and I never really went home again.”
“I’ve never heard this story. Why is this the first time I’ve heard about your Billy?”
“I seldom talk about him. Even after all of these years, the wound is still raw.” Helen’s gaze shifted from the flags gracing the float to the flagpole rising above the courthouse, where the Stars and Stripes fluttered in the gentle breeze. “I don’t know what would have happened to us had my father not interfered. We were young. Too young. Too inexperienced. Chances are we wouldn’t have stayed together if he’d spent that summer working in the oil business and gone off to A&M in the fall. But I’ll never know that. I’ve always wondered if Billy Poteet was the one. My forever guy. He’s owned part of my heart my entire life. Through all of my relationships.”
The moment was interrupted by the arrival of a van sporting the Mountain Vista Retirement Community logo. The door opened, and a grizzled elderly occupant wearing an Army beret called out. “You gonna ride with us today, Mayor Helen? Or are you up there dusting?”
“Not dusting. Squirreling away M&Ms for you to enjoy during the ride.” To make the statement true, Helen opened her handbag and removed a handful of M&M mini-packs, which she set at the base of the Army banner. Then Helen and Willow climbed down from the float and spent a few minutes exchanging small talk with the veterans who were preparing to take their places.
When they were away from the staging area, Helen reached out and gave Willow a quick, hard hug. “Thank you for listening, sunshine. I needed to talk about Billy and tell our story today. I’m so glad you were here.”
“I’m glad I was able to help.” Willow returned the hug, then clarified, “Mom knows this story, though, right?”
Helen hesitated. She’d opened up a can of worms today, hadn’t she? It wouldn’t be fair to ask Willow to keep this conversation to herself, but Genevieve wouldn’t be pleased when she heard about it. “Like I said, your mother was still a little girl when all this went down, and our family never spoke about it afterward. I probably would have confided in her once she was older, but then our father died. She idolized him. I didn’t see the sense in spoiling that. And honestly, I did my best to put it all behind me. I’m good at compartmentalizing. I locked my memories of Billy away, and I seldom let them out.”
“You should tell her, Aunt Helen.”
Helen sighed heavily. “I know. I will.”
But she’d do it in her own sweet time.