Free Journals of the Secret Keeper by Jennifer L Ray Page B

her.
Willetta hurried upstairs and changed into a
pair of dark jeans and an orange, silk blouse. She
slipped into a pair of sandals and arrived downstairs
in time to hear the young woman in the foyer
explaining to Andrik who she was.
"My name is Olivia Townsend and this is
my grandmother, Mrs. Octavia Townsend. She is
first cousin to the late Mrs. Jean Myers. We have
come to pay our respects and to renew family ties, if
possible."
The young woman and older woman held a
striking resemblance to one another. Their hair was
red as fire. The skin on their faces was pale, almost
white with freckles across the bridges of their noses.
Full red lips adorned both faces. Willetta was at a
loss for words. The women could pass for
Caucasian any day.
Andrik cleared his throat and stepped back
to lead them into the living room, which was once
called the parlor. "Please excuse me. Come on in.
We've been trying to get a foothold on things since
Mama Jean died."
"It's okay young man. Your grandmother
was a handful in life, she can't be no better in
death." The elderly woman spoke softly and kindly.
Her eyes twinkled up at Andrik. "So, handsome.
Just like your daddy. Splitting image."
Willetta squeezed Andrik's hand to keep him
from saying anything further. She felt strongly that
it would not serve him well to reveal that he didn't
know Mama Jean was his grandmother. Something
was happening on the Thompson Estate and
Willetta was sure it had everything to do with the
secrets in the journals and Mama Jean. She would
give nothing away to anyone, not even Andrik and
she would help him keep his own counsel too. Only
time could give them a lead as to what to do next.
Mrs. Octavia's eyes lit on Willetta and she
chuckled. "Well, things didn't work out quite like
Jean wanted now did they? If you aren't Martha's
grandbaby, I'll eat my shoe." She leaned heavily on
Olivia's arm and took a deep breath. "Well, sir, tell
me this. Did Martha beat me here?"
"Yes ma'am, she did," Andrik said tightly.
Mrs. Octavia wasn't one to miss a beat. Her
eyes searched Andrik's, before she shook her head
sadly. "Well, I'm here now. My aim is to bring an
end to the rift in this family. I need to talk to you
two before Martha comes down."
Olivia made sure Mrs. Octavia was
comfortable before she set at her feet. Her face was
solemn and she was quiet. Willetta thought it
strange that she didn't speak unless spoken to. She
acted more like an employee than a grandchild.
Willetta and Andrik set together on a small
settee. They were so eager to hear what Mrs.
Octavia had to say that they were unaware of how
suggestive their positions were. Their bodies were
flush to one another. Willetta's hip was half way on
Andrik's thigh and he had his arm around the back
of her. They certainly looked like lovers but were
totally unaware of it. Their complete interest was in
finding out more information. So, they sat staring
and waiting, while Mrs. Octavia fought against
reprimanding them for their indecent behavior.
That would come in time. Olivia's eyes were to the
floor where they stayed.
"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away,"
she began. "My momma, Mrs. Olivia Thompson,
was given the money as an inheritance. She was the
baby. She had two sisters. Martha's momma, Aunt
Willetta, was given the land. She was the firstborn.
Aunt Sylvia Jean, Mama Jean's momma, was given
the journals. She was adopted"
She quietly let that
sink in.
Willetta's heart beat wildly. She knew
Andrik would be devastated if he knew his own
grandmother had not only refrained from claiming
him, but had given his inheritance away.
"Granddaddy loved Sylvia Jean more than
he loved my momma and Aunt Willetta. He didn't
have much to do with them. When he died in the
field from a heart attack, grandma started writing
her own journals. My momma thought she gave
Sylvia the journals and nothing else to get back at
granddaddy for not loving his other two daughters,
but we believe it was a little more to it than