Wynn in the Willows by Robin Shope Page A

Grammy’s clothes dryer broke and a new one simply wasn’t in the budget. Grammy carried a basket of sheets outside to hang in the frosty sunshine.
    Wynn watched a TV program about baby girls who got switched at birth. The thought occurred to Wynn that it could have happened to her. Her real parents could have discovered that and be coming to claim her as their rightful daughter. Wynn went to the window and checked the drive for cars.
    All she saw was a single sheet pinned to the line. A dark figure lay motionless on the hoary ground as tufts of snow blew over it. Curious, Wynn put on her hat, boots, gloves and coat. She walked towards the shape, puffing out breaths of air. The wind pushed her coat against her legs and made strands of her hair fly.
    Stiff, old snow crunched under her boots. Spots on the ground opened through the broken places showing earth. The air smelled sweet. And there was Grammy. Silent eyes starred right through her and focused above on a cloud. In the grip of her right hand was a clothes pin. There on her lips, was a frozen smile. Grammy had passed—the body vacant.
    Perhaps Gramps came to visit with Grammy while she was pinning laundry to the clothes line—just like he used to do when his spirit was still housed in his body. Grammy must have smiled when he returned. And that smile prompted him to take her by the hand. Off they went; Grammy forgetting all about her earthly duty of taking care of Wynn.
    Eight-year-old Wynn walked back to the house. Tears escaped from beneath her lashes, angry that God had His favorites and she wasn’t one. She turned to the door. It was time to call someone to come.
    The paternal Milwaukee relatives arrived and cleaned out Grammy’s and Gramps’s house; keeping a few things to take home, and selling off the rest. Among the things they kept was Wynn. She went to live with her dad’s older brothers, Dill and Matt—confirmed bachelors who worked for the railroad. The day Wynn left for her new home, she took Grammy’s angora knitted gloves from the hall closet and stuck them into her coat pocket. She needed something soft because she had a feeling life was going to be harder. Wynn was wrong. Life with her carefree, rule-breaking uncles suited her just fine.
    Wynn realized she’d forgotten to eat and went to the kitchen. Though the sky was dark, some light penetrated the kitchen windows. Despite the power being out, she could cook on the gas stove. She opened the cabinet to grab a can of soup. As she reached for a pot, she spotted the container. She really needed to find out what was hidden inside. She took it out and set it on the counter. The private guessing game of its contents became entertaining. Once opened there’d be no more speculation. She decided to wait a bit longer.
    At dawn, the storm collapsed.
     
     
     
     

12
     
    The Ladies Bridge Over Troubled Waters Bible Study was called to order at ten in the morning, on the south veranda of The Willow Inn. All the women were in attendance, plus Agatha.
    The sunshine was bright and touched every piece of silverware on the table, but lunch was still another hour away.
    Wynn noticed everyone hiding gift bags under the table when she walked out and, to her amazement, she felt a zing of excitement. Her face flushed with pleasure.
    “With my husband still missing, maybe I shouldn’t have come today.” Jackie stood. “I wanted to get out of the house, but I feel I should be at home waiting.”
    “Nonsense, you need to be here more than anyone,” Roxie said. “At times of trouble we bind together for comfort.”
    “You’re right, Roxie. You women and the Lord keep me together.” Jackie sat down. “I need everyone’s prayers.”
    “And the Bible study to give you hope,” added Sheri.
    “All of us lift you up in prayer many times a day,” Roxie said.
    “I’m feeling a bit creeped out, because another letter about Boone arrived this morning.”
    “Another one?” Wynn asked.
    “How terrible!”