Wynn in the Willows (19 page)

“That I am.”

“Good. Two big things are bothering me. First, I found Agatha's brooch on the schooner the other night when Doug and I were coming back from the island preserve. It was lodged under the seat like it was purposefully left.”

“What was Agatha doing on Doug's schooner? Do you suppose she had something to do with Boone's body showing up there? It might make sense.”

Wynn shrugged. “It could have been planted. Ah, there I go again, being a detective.”

“Don't pay attention to Jackie's words. Where is the brooch now?”

“My place. I had no idea a body was about to turn up, so I took it to give back to her. Dumb of me. I think this could be termed as contaminating a crime scene. If only I had left it, it might have turned the investigation in a different direction.” Wynn shook her head impatiently. “What this investigation lacks is focus.”

“You mentioned there was something else you wanted to say?”

“Where do you suppose the real ruby ring is? The one Boone was supposed to take to his grave.”

“Wish I knew. A lot of people would love to get their hands on it—possibly even a private collector.”

“Really?” Wynn felt taken back. “What's so special about it?”

“It was given by the Queen of England, the sickly Anne Stuart, centuries ago to one of her lovers. He left England soon after her marriage and came to America with it, where he lost it in a poker game to one of my distant Reed relatives for land. From that time it was passed on down to the first born Reed son every generation.”

“It should be in your family. How did Boone end up with it?”

“His great-granddaddy won it in another poker game from my great-great granddaddy. Obviously, Jackie doesn't know the history of the ring, either, and I sure don't want her to find out. Now it's your turn for secret keeping. It could be the very thing that hangs Doug.”

 

 

 

 

24

 

“Wynn, perhaps you and Doug shouldn't attend the funeral.” Roxie stood beneath the shade of an oak.

“Aunt Roxie—please, not again. I thought we resolved this last night. Isn't it important for us to be with her, especially at this time?”

“I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. Jackie is my priority right now. She's still in a bit of shock. Bible study last night was, well, rather intense. Since she's doubtful of Doug's innocence and your support of that, it might be wise not to be present.”

Wynn looped her arm through Doug's, displaying a united front. “I've done nothing wrong—and neither has Doug. These should be the times that draw us together; not tear us apart.”

“I think Roxie is right, Wynn. We'll leave.” Doug nudged her. “We can do something special for her once this is cleared up. Nice seeing you again, Roxie.”

“Doug. You, too.”

“Doug you have to decide what is right for you. If you feel Jackie would be more comfortable with you not in attendance, then you shouldn't come in with me. But, I am going inside the church. I want her to know I'm standing with her at this hard time, just as I stand with you.”

“Thanks for that. But I'll catch ya later.” He wore a grim expression as he kissed her forehead and walked back to his truck.

Tears glistened and Wynn prayed the sting of hurt would wash away. The prayer came so naturally and quickly, that it took only moments to realize she had actually spoken to God. The thought sent goose bumps over her skin. She shivered.

Roxie had already entered the church without her. It hurt her heart to think perhaps her aunt might be ashamed to be seen with her. Head down, Wynn slowly walked up the old stone steps.

Roxie stood in the foyer, waiting for her. “We're separated on some issues, but when it really matters, we are here for one another. We need one another.”

“We do.”

“Wait a minute, what do you have all over you? Is that cat hair?” Roxie began to pick at her clothes.

“I'll explain later.”

The amount of flowers seemed to be heavier and more splendid than Boone's first funeral. Jackie stood at the front by the open casket. Jackie's face opened into a warm smile and she held out her hands. “Roxie. Wynn.”

“I think she's forgiven me,” Wynn murmured.

Roxie gave her niece a small nudge. “It appears so. You go first. You and Jackie have a bit of making up to do. This might be the right time.”

Jackie looked exhausted.

Jackie and Wynn embraced; holding one another for a long minute. Then Jackie gradually pulled back. “Thank you for coming. I needed you today.”

“I want to be here for you, particularly today. I'm sorry for our words at Bible study. Please forgive my insensitivity.”

“Of course I forgive you. We forgive each other. And now you're here. True sisters in Christ.” Jackie squeezed her hand. “We don't always have to agree, but we do have to forgive. I don't know what I would do without you and Roxie and the women of the Bible study. Still, I feel I'm falling apart.”

“I'll help keep you from doing that.”

“You will. I just don't want to lose my mind.” She rubbed her forehead.

“Have you arranged for grief counseling?” Wynn asked gently.

“Marilyn couldn't get to her therapist fast enough.”

“I'm not talking about Marilyn. I meant for you, and maybe Agatha.” She looked at the young woman seated in the front row, fingering the place along the neckline where the brooch used to be. Wynn's eyes glinted with moisture. She brushed it away with the tips of her fingers. “Dang eyeliner. Did I smear it?”

“No, you are as lovely as ever.”

Jackie looked towards the casket. “Boone really loved me. You don't know that because you never saw us together, but we were crazy about one another from the very first moment. Except for his business trips, we were inseparable. We laughed together over his silly jokes. He was so patient with me, so caring. Our life together was like one big holiday. I had so much hope after the first funeral that Boone would turn up safe and alive. I prayed it would happen that way.”

“You sound as though God let you down.”

Jackie held a handkerchief to her mouth and whispered into it, “Yes, I do. There is no good reason for this senseless death. He was young and strong. Our years together were snatched from us.”

“I understand how you feel. And it made me hard on the inside. I'm cynical that prayers are actually answered. I look at you and Roxie and the other women and admire your faith. You all have this confidence and trust that everything will be OK, no matter what happens. It keeps you alive and filled with hope. It fills you with courage. You can get through today. And the next day, and the one after that. Boone left his love with you. I keep thinking back to the day I went with you to your accountant's and what you said to me.”

“What was that?”

“You said, ‘Even if God doesn't help me, or never answers another prayer of mine, He has already done everything for me.' That is a powerful statement of faith. Think about the time you've had with Boone and how enriched you are for having had him. Most people never experience that.”

Jackie looked deep into Wynn's eyes. “To have had Boone for even a little while is better than never having had him. Thank you for reminding me of my blessings. And you brought my words back to help heal. How blessed I am to have you standing here with me when I needed you the very most.”

“Boone is a part of everyone who knew him and that way, he will be kept with us. Sometime, I want to hear about how you met and how he proposed. I want to hear about your first argument.”

“I'd love to tell you.”

Roxie walked up to them.

“You have a very special niece.”

“I know I do.”

“And Wynn, now I have you, too.” She pressed Wynn against her.

Roxie wrapped her arms around them both. Wynn looked at Agatha and held out her hand. “Come Agatha.” Agatha crossed the floor to join them.

“There's a confession I made to God and its time you both hear it, too. My pain has been so unbearable, so stinging over Boone's death that I wanted someone to pay. I haven't sought justice, but vengeance. Doug was the one the police zeroed in on. So I did, too. I wanted him dead. Then last night, as I prayed, I thought about mercy and forgiveness. And I wondered if he really is innocent. I want to know the truth.”

Wynn smiled at her aunt. She understood at that moment God was at work sparked by prayer.

“I believe it was God. Now I am not saying Doug is innocent, but I am open to finding the truth. The pain will always be here.” She put her hand over her heart and swallowed hard. “It never will go away. Right now, I just want to find out what happened to Boone. I want that person brought to justice if Boone was murdered. I owe my husband that.”

They fell silent. The seconds ticked off.

Wynn looked to Roxie for approval. “Should I tell Jackie and Agatha?”

“Not here, not now.” Roxie looked stern.

“Well, you'll have to tell us now.” Agatha insisted.

Wynn narrowed her eyes. “By the way, Agatha, I've been meaning to ask you something. What happened to your brooch?”

“What?” Her voice quaked.

“The brooch is always right there.” Wynn pointed at the spot.

“I must have dropped it on the way into church.”

“Really?” Wynn now focused on Agatha.

“I better go look for it.”

“Oh look, Marilyn is here. I better show her to her seat since the ushers aren't here yet. Excuse me ladies.” Jackie hurried to the back.

Agatha quickly followed.

“That was close!” Roxie snapped. “Your timing is off, dear. Now isn't the time to talk about our Bible Task Force. Save it for later.”

The women took a seat together.

Wynn was relieved Jackie didn't think of introducing her to this corpse.

The church filled with mourners. She thought of Jackie and how to help with her loss. At the front of the church was large statue of a robed Jesus with his hands held out. Behind Him a lighted cross added to the serenity. The organ music was soft and not sad, but hopeful.

Wynn silently prayed. “I need hope, Lord. Fill me with words of joy and hope that I may pass them along to others who are hurting.” A warm glow spread out until she felt tingly. It made her weep.

Then the tune from the box began to play. The tune she remembered well, but whose words she couldn't completely remember. “True till death,” Wynn mouthed. Roxie opened her black beaded clutch and pulled out tissues for Wynn.

Wynn dabbed her face. “What is the name of the song that just played?”

“Faith of Our Fathers.” Roxie opened the hymnal to the page and handed her the book.

 

Faith of our fathers, living still,

In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;

O how our hearts beat high with joy

Whenever we hear that glorious Word!

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers, we will strive

To win all nations unto Thee;

And through the truth that comes from God,

We all shall then be truly free.

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers, we will love

Both friend and foe in all our strife;

And preach Thee, too, as love knows how

By kindly words and virtuous life.

Faith of our fathers, holy faith!

We will be true to thee till death...

 

Wynn had been given these words just when she needed them most. No matter how imperfect her family had been, how imperfect she had become, they all had one element in common; faith.

The words that once fully comforted her as a child now comforted her as an adult. A peace swelled over her and she knew no matter how things turned out, everything would be all right. Once Grammy and Gramps passed, she stopped thinking about God. Neither uncle ever brought the subject up, not even on special Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter.

After the funeral, the Bible study women met together for lunch at Jackie's.

Wynn was full of happiness which made her want to weep more—a feeling she was totally confused over. “I'm sorry.” She kept dabbing at her face with a linen napkin. “I can't seem to stop crying.”

“Are you thinking about your parents, dear?” Roxie asked. “Sometimes funerals remind us of losing our loved ones.”

“No, it's not that. It's just that…” Wynn looked to the horizon. “One of the songs we sang this morning at the funeral stirred me. Even though I'm crying, I feel so happy. Ridiculous, I know.”

“Not ridiculous at all,” Owl said. “I've been praying for you on my nightly walks, ever since you came to the island.”

“You have? You prayed for me?” Wynn asked. “What did you pray about?”

“Yes, I prayed for you, sweet girl. I prayed that you would find peace and know that you are very loved.”

The women looked at one another.

“Sounds like you've had a spiritual awakening.” Jackie batted back her own tears.

“Me? A spiritual awakening? Really?” Wynn wanted faith. She wanted hope. But did she want God? How would He change her? Would He ask things of her she wasn't able to give? It would be a commitment, not something that was rubbed on her like perfume only to disappear at the end of a day. She wanted it to be real. She was stuck on the fence between faith and fiction.

“Give it time,” Roxie said. “Enjoy the touch you felt this morning. Don't try to frame it in scientific terms.”

The remark caught Wynn off guard. She fell silent, her lips thinning, her eyes shining. “Thank you.”

“Where's Marilyn?” Sheri asked. “Didn't she want to join us for lunch?”

“No, Mother wanted to get back to the mainland. She said the island creeps her out now,” Agatha informed.