Page 62 of The Souls of Lost Lake
“I don’t fit,” Wren finished for her.
Patty turned her head on her pillow a bit to look more directly at Wren. “You don’t. More so after your mother died. It’s been just Tristan and Pippin and you, and even Gary’s noticed. All these years, you’ve gravitated to us. Toourhome. I know you and Eddie are remarkably close, but it’s more than that.”
“Well, I missed Mom,” Wren said. “You were the next best thing.” Or better. But she didn’t add that.
Patty’s sigh was an acknowledgment of Wren’s explanation. “But it wasn’t just because of me either. You’re not—bondedwith them. With your father. Pippin, I can understand more. He’s your brother, but he’s twelve years older and...” Patty hesitated.
“Unique?” Wren inserted.
They shared a laugh.
Patty smiled. “Well, sure. We’ll use that word. But your father? I would have thought after so many miscarriages, you’d be his little princess.”
“He did name me Arwen.” Wren thought ofThe Lord of the Rings, of the elves. Arwen was a much-loved cinematic character, if not more of a bit character in the novel itself. That had to account for something in her father’s world.
“I might be wrong,” Patty said and waved it off weakly. “I hope I am. I’ve said nothing because I didn’t want to plant ideas in your mind that were simply not true. It’s not a pleasant thing to insinuate that anyone had an affair or that your parentage isn’t what you thought. I don’t mean this to be a reflection on your mother’s faithfulness or—”
“Patty.” Wren leaned forward, resting her palm on Patty’s bone-thin shoulder. “It’s okay. I asked. I need to figure out what is going on and you’re helping me. It’s not your fault to have suspicions, and suspicions aren’t necessarily an accusation of guilt. It just confirms that my questioning isn’t—well, that I’m not isolated in my thinking.”
“You’re not.” Patty shook her head.
“I need to see my birth certificate.”
“Your father probably adopted you—if my theory has any merit,” Patty added quickly.
“I’m sure.” Wren narrowed her eyes as more thoughts grew in her mind. “But I always found it odd that my scholarly dad would want to work at camp instead of a campus. Didn’t you? What if—what if we’re all tied to this place for some reason? To the Lost Lake region. What if the doll with my name on its foot actuallydoeshave something to do with me?”
Patty stifled a yawn. “I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“No. You rest now.” Wren pushed herself up from the chair and bent over, dropping a kiss on Patty’s cheek. “Don’t wear yourself out.” Even though that was inevitable. “I need to do some family history digging.”
“Be careful.” Patty’s eyes filled. It was her turn to be weepy. “I love you. I don’t want you hurt.”
“I have Eddie,” Wren said flippantly, meaning to make Patty feel secure at the thought of her son.
Patty’s smile was different this time. It was filled with undefinable meaning, even though it maintained its soft demure ambience. “Yes,” Patty answered. “You have Eddie.”
25
Ava
“Where are we?” Noah’s whisper was more of a hiss, and completely unnecessary.
“In the woods.” Ava’s response was sassy, but she took pride in that she wasn’t whispering. Who was there to hear them? Owls? Coyotes? Maybe a black bear, but then even a footstep would spook that furry beast into a full-on escape from them.
Noah was sure hard to see in the dark, the branches casting shadows over his face. She was certain he was annoyed, but also attempting that preacher-thing he did where he summoned patience from the Lord above. “I meant”—his response was evenly measured, this time in a voice louder than a whisper—“whereinthe woods are we? We need to find Jipsy’s body and get her back before sunrise.”
Well, that might be a problem. Ava wasn’t sure how to break it to the man that they were utterly lost in the forest. She did not know where that poplar grove was—leastways not in the dark. She hadthoughtshe could find it, but now Ava was pretty certain finding Jipsy was going to be more like finding Widower Frisk’s hidden whiskey that everyone knew existed but never saw.
“You don’t know, do you?” Noah pushed a branch out of his way as he walked the few paces back to Ava.
She looked up at him, trying to see his eyes but instead making out just the vague shadows of his face. “I’m sorry.” Ava couldn’t think of anything else to say. But somehow it satisfied him.
“Then where’n heck are we?” Noah’s hands were at his hips, and he twisted, peering into the night as if he had some special ability to see in the dark.
“You didn’t bring a flashlight?” she asked.
“I don’t own one.”
