Wynn in the Willows Read Online Free Page A

long as anyone can remember.”
    “Insomnia runs in the family?”
    “I love Owl—but how can I put this nicely?” Roxie lowered her voice. “She’s got a screw loose. She married an old hippie who runs in the post office and reads all the postcards before they are delivered. That family tends to stray from the norm, and none more than Owl’s nephew, Doug Reed.”
    “The man who was just here? The landscaper?”
    “He runs the island’s only landscape business, and he’s quite good. I have a half dead tree that needs taking out before it falls on the house. His prices are reasonable, especially with no competition. But that’s business. That is non-negotiable. He likes pretty women, too. He has island charm and silver tongue sweet talk, so watch out.” Aunt Roxie set the bucket down on the ground, spilling some of the seeds on the grass. “I’ll leave those for the squirrels. Now follow me; we’re going to take a detour. I have something for you.”
     
     
     
     

4
     
    They stopped in front of an old wooden carriage house almost hidden by Virginia creeper vines.
    “I like driving my golf cart on the roads and pathways around the island during the summer months.” She reached up over her head and felt around for a key. She pulled on the handle and the large door swung wide flooding the place with sunlight.
    A canvas covered a vehicle.
    “For a long while now I’ve had my eye on a car over in Egg Harbor. When I heard you were coming for the summer it gave me a good reason to buy it. As soon as it comes in, the dealer will bring it to the island. In the meantime, this is for you.” Roxie tugged at the cover
    The blue and white 1970’s Jeep had plenty of room for all her equipment. “You’re letting me use this?” Wynn ran her fingers over the pristine original finish.
    “You may have it! It’s just been serviced and I’ll transfer the title to you sometime this week.” Roxie pointed to the key waiting in the ignition. “Go on and try it.”
    Wynn got into the front seat, and turned the key. “I’ll never be able to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
    “Oh, Wynn,” Roxie sighed, “it does my heart good to see you so happy.”
    “Come on, let’s go for a drive!” Wynn beeped the horn.
    “I think I left my sunglasses in here somewhere.” Roxie popped opened the glove box and stared at the mass of papers jammed inside. “Oh dear, I forgot to clean this out.”
    “No problem, I’ll clean it out for you.” Wynn hopped out.
    “I thought we were going for a drive?”
    “We are! I need my driver’s license. Wait here; I’ll be a sec.” Wynn dashed to the Tree House.
    It was a comfortable two-story dwelling with the garage on the first floor, now converted into her work space. The second floor was one large, open room, with a kitchenette on one side. The other three sides were encapsulated by floor to ceiling windows that looked out into woods, with breaks in the trees to see the lake. Not only was the space roomy, with a large closet, and adequate bathroom, but it was an attractive arena for being part of nature.
    The recently added ten-foot wide deck put her right into the tree top branches, which would have been problematic if holes in the decking hadn’t been cut. The branches served as the perfect sitting place for reading.
    Wynn grabbed her purse and left. She got into the Jeep, rolled down the windows and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Do you want to lock your cottage first?”
    “No need.”
    “Well then, are you ready, Aunt Roxie?”
    “Ready, Niece Wynn!”
    Wynn backed out of the garage. Within minutes they were wheeling down the lake road. A cold wind came off the water.
    Wynn needed to trust Roxie. If only she’d open up. She glanced over at her aunt.
    Roxie was watching the scenery float past.
    For a while the women fell into a companionable silence. They headed towards the forest preserve, a thirty-acre piece of land in the center of the island