Free Invincible by Joan Johnston Page B

rather than by paddling through it. You go ahead.”
    The twins turned their attention to Bull, who’d risen to his feet when the girls pulled her upright. “Come with us, Uncle Bull,” one twin pleaded. “We hardly ever see you anymore.”
    â€œPlease come,” the second twin urged. “There are three of us, so if we take two canoes we need another paddler.”
    â€œWhat about your dad?” Bull asked. “Have you asked him?”
    â€œDaddy said he needs to talk to Mom,” the youngest of the three girls said.
    â€œWe think that’s a good idea,” one of the twins said. Three worried glances slid to their parents, who were following an old wagon trail along the river bank. Foster and Patsy walked along separate tracks in the dirt road. The conversation seemed heated.
    â€œWhat about one of your older brothers?” Bull asked.
    â€œBen and Carter already took their girlfriends out on the Chris-Craft,” one of the twins replied.
    â€œC’mon, Uncle Bull. Pleeeeeze, ” the youngest girl begged, latching onto his arm with both her hands. “Otherwise, I can’t go.”
    Bull glanced in Bella’s direction. “I hoped to spend some time talking with your aunt.”
    Bella wondered what he had in mind. They’d rarely spoken cordially during their separation. They hadn’t spoken at all since February. And yet, before it was too late, she hoped to explain things she’d left unexplained.
    Time was running out.
    She was seized with a sudden fear. Once she told Bull the truth, there would be no turning back. Whatever chance they might have had for some sort of reconciliation before she died might be gone. There was still a great deal of the day left. Maybe, if she had more time to think, she could find a better way to say what had to be said.
    She glanced toward Camille’s crestfallen face and said, “Go ahead, Bull. We can talk when you get back.”
    â€œAll right,” he said, his gaze intent on her. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
    Bella watched as Camille slid her arm through Bull’s and hauled him off toward the boathouse, talking his ear off as he strode away. The twins ran ahead. Their matching pink bikini bathing suits revealed just how grown-up they’d become in the years since she’d last seen them.
    The sun was hot, and Bella settled back into the umbrella-shaded Adirondack. Foster’s second family was almost grown and would soon be leading lives apartfrom their parents. Meaning Patsy might feel more free to walk away from her husband. Which would be too bad. She didn’t like Foster, but she hated to see another family broken up.
    Bella’s gaze naturally sought out the riverbank again, where Patsy and Foster were walking together. Or rather, walking in the same direction. Their body language made it clear they weren’t “together.” They stopped and faced each other.
    Patsy’s chin jutted, and she perched balled fists on her hips. Foster locked his hands behind his head, then dropped them to his sides as he took a step toward Patsy. She took a step back, maintaining the distance between them.
    The sharp sound of Patsy’s voice carried to Bella, but not the words she spoke. The wind caught Foster’s intense masculine tones and carried them in her direction, as well, without revealing what he’d said.
    Bella wished she knew more about what had caused the rift between them in the first place. She’d always envied the fact that, after he divorced his first wife, Foster had found another woman to love. In the years since she and Bull had separated, Bella had never found another man who could inspire anything close to the feelings Bull had. Lord knew—and the gossip columns had reported endlessly—how hard she’d tried.
    It was little comfort to know that Bull hadn’t found anyone either. He, at least, had gone through several