Free The Willows by Mathew Sperle

did
they take the look well, fidgeting like bad children caught at a
prank. When daddy turn to her, Lance removed his arm, leaving Gwen
alone under her father’s scrutiny.
    She smiled tentatively, but nothing
came to life in his expression. Stared at her as if she were but
another dust covered statue in his hallway. “I see you brought her
home,” the rasped, turning to his brother. “I expect you to see to
it that she stays out of trouble.”
    He turned then to Homer, demanding his
bottle of bourbon before hobbling off awkwardly to his
study.
    He snubbed
me ? Gwen thought. After all this time,
against all her hopes and expectations, her own father refuse to
knowledge her?
    Her mind flashed back to that night
five years ago, as they’d stared at each other over her mother’s
lifeless body. His gaze had become shuttered then, too, as if he
meant to close the doors to his mind, to his heart.
    “ Daddy,” she yelled out,
even as she cried out to him that night, but once again he ignored
her. She winced as his study door closed, feeling as if he’d
slammed it shut in her face.
    Sound seemed to bring local Jervis
instantly to life. “Ah, well, it would appeared John is in one of
his moods.”
    One of his
moods ? Biting her lip, fusing to cry, Gwen
seized the explanation. Moods were temporary things, a mere case of
feeling poorly, and no wonder, in this heat. As soon as daddy was
rested, why, she did that her last hairpin he’d give her a welcome
any girl could wish for. She was his only child; of course, he’d be
happy to see here.
    Uncle Jervis turned to Lance. “I hope
my brother’s mood won’t stop you from staying for dinner
tonight?”
    Reclaiming Gwen’s arm, Lance smiled
down at her. “I wouldn’t dream of leaving.”
    “ Good.” Jervis clapped his
hands, licking his lips as if he were sitting down now for the
meal. “We will assemble in the front parlor at seven, dinner at
eight. In the meantime,” he added, smiling at Lance as he gestured
down the hall, “you and I can indulge in the chat, while the girls
retire upstairs. I feel certain Gwen will wish to rest after this
excitement.”
    Both men turn quickly to Gwen, their
eagerness making it hard to voice a protest. And in truth, she was
tired. Just climbing steps to her room seem to require and enormous
effort, especially since it seemed she must do so with her
cousin.
    Leading the way up the winding
staircase as if she were the mistress of the house, Edith calmly
warned her to expect some changes in the sleeping arrangements.
“You,” she announced, stopping before the front room, “will now
sleep in here.”
    This time Gwen did protest. “Oh, no, I
shall stay in my own room, thank you all the same.”
    “ You can’t. The roof leaks
terribly in the rear quarters.”
    “ Then find me another room.
I can’t fit all my lovely furnishings in this cubicle.”
    “ Your things are gone,”
Edith told her, having the good grace to blush. “I’m afraid uncle
John sold them after you left for Boston.”
    As stiff as starch, Gwen marched into
the tiny room. That last was a major blow, she had no wish for her
cousin to see how it hurt. After all, it would take for more than a
bad mood for daddy to so ruthlessly sell the pretty, delicate
furniture mama once lavished on her.
    There is a perfectly reasonable
explanation, she tried to tell herself. Perhaps daddy plan to
replace them with newer, finer furnishings. Must have forgiven her;
she simply could not bear it if he had not.
    Pasting a smile on her face, she
studied her new surroundings. The room was small as she remembered,
but the window seat was charming. One could wish its cushions were
in better condition, though.
    “ I sure hope Delfie and
Sadie hurry up here to help me,” she said, determine to act as if
nothing were wrong. “The way I feel now, it will take half a dozen
servants to get me out of this dress.”
    “ We don’t have a single
servant to spare. You’ll have to undress