Truth and Solace

by Jana Richards

  “No, no, you don’t understand.”

  He began to rock back and forth on the chair, his keening wails making the hair on the back of Maggie’s neck stand up. There was something pitiful in the sound. No, more than that. Willy cried as if his heart was broken, as if his world had come to an end. Something must have happened since they’d last seen him. Something terrible.

  Ethan, Cam, and Luke entered the dining room. Ethan pulled off his winter hat. “What’s going on?”

  “Willy fell off the wagon,” Maggie said. “He’s devastated.”

  “You don’t understand,” Willy cried. “No one understands. I can’t live like this anymore. I killed her! Do you hear me? I killed her!”

  Maggie’s stomach roiled. Harper laid her hand on his arm. “What are you talking about, Willy?

  He began rocking back and forth again. “I killed Miranda. I killed my beautiful Miranda.”

  Stunned silence greeted his announcement. Willy dissolved in tears, his body bent over in grief. All six of them stared at him, too shocked to utter a word.

  Hope and Tessa skipped into the room, followed by Celeste. The girls heard Willy’s grief-stricken cries and slowed their pace, their eyes wide and frightened. Tessa grabbed Cam’s hand. “Daddy, why is that man crying?”

  “Because he’s sad, baby.” He turned to Celeste. “Could you take the girls to your room for a while?”

  She nodded wordlessly and taking the girls by the hand, led them away. Once they were out of earshot, Harper reached out to Willy. But instead of touching him, she let her hand drop to her side. “Willy, you’re drunk and confused. You don’t mean it. You don’t mean you killed our mother.”

  He looked up at her and wiped his nose on the sleeve of his jacket. “I can’t lie anymore, Harper. I killed her. She was my best friend and I loved her, but I killed her. I didn’t mean to. I swear to God I didn’t mean to.”

  Ethan put his arm around Harper. “Tell us what happened. All of it.”

  Willy wiped his nose once more and inhaled deep, unsteady breaths. “Robert showed up at the lodge unannounced, and I was worried he’d try to hurt Miranda, so I followed them out to the Point where she and I kept our canoes. I heard them arguing. I had to protect Miranda.”

  “I remember seeing Willy run toward them,” Scarlet whispered. Cam pulled her into his arms and kissed her hair.

  “Miranda told him they were over. Their marriage was over. She loved someone else, had always loved him. She walked onto the dock, intending to get into her canoe. Robert yelled at her, told her she couldn’t walk away from him like that. He pushed her and she stumbled. I jumped out of my hiding place and grabbed an oar from Miranda’s canoe, and I told Robert to get away from her. He came after me, screaming that I’d broken up their marriage. I swung at him with the oar, but then Miranda stood—”

  Willy closed his eyes, rocking back and forth once more. Maggie looked at her sisters. Scarlet was crying quietly against Cam’s shoulder and Harper appeared numb, as if his words were turning her to ice.

  “What happened then, Willy?” Maggie asked. Luke’s warm hand on her shoulder steadied her.

  Willy turned his attention to her. “Miranda stood, and I…I hit her. I didn’t mean to. It was an accident. She fell into the water. It’s deep there, off the end of the dock.”

  “What about our father? What did he do?”

  “He jumped in after her, but he couldn’t find her. And then he disappeared, too.”

  “He couldn’t swim,” Harper said. “Scarlet and I used to tease him about it. We could swim the length of the pool in our backyard, but Daddy sank like a stone. He never ventured into the deep end.”

  “He tried to save her,” Scarlet whispered.

  Red dots of anger formed in Maggie’s vision. “While our parents were in the water, struggling for their lives, what did you do, Willy?”

  “I jumped in Miranda’s canoe and paddled around and around, but I couldn’t find her. I knew I needed help, so I ran to Bill’s shed. I guess I forgot to tie up the canoe. They found it floating on the water and assumed Miranda and her husband had been in it.” He rocked back and forth again. “I never told them I was in the canoe.”

  “I remember that day very clearly.” Harper’s words were slow and deliberate. “You came into Grampa’s shed and you said, ‘He hit her’. Those were your exact words, Willy. You told my grandfather that our father hit our mother with the oar.”

  “I don’t know why I said that.” Willy’s voice shook. “I couldn’t believe what had happened, what I’d done. I didn’t want it to be true, so I lied. For many years, I even believed it. I’m so sorry.”

  “Sorry?” The red dots of anger fused together to form a hot, furious haze that obscured Maggie’s vision. “You caused the death of both of our parents and you’re sorry? You branded our father a murderer! All these years we believed he killed her. How could you let us believe that?”

  Willy held out a beseeching hand to her. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I’m so sorry.”

  “Your apology means nothing to me. Nothing.” Her body began to shake and she looked away, unable to stand the sight of him.

  “I’ll take him home,” Luke said. He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “Stay here with your sisters. I won’t be long.”

  “I’ll come with you, Luke,” Ethan murmured. He reached for Harper’s hand. “Will you be okay, sweetheart?”

  Harper nodded, her face stony. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m going to take Scarlet and Tessa home,” Cam said.

  “Will we see you tomorrow?” Ethan asked.

  Scarlet lifted her chin. “Of course. I won’t let anything ruin Christmas for Tessa.”

  Maggie kissed Scarlet goodnight and reached for Harper’s hand. Luke and Ethan grabbed Willy’s arms and dragged him away.

  He twisted in their grip. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I need you to forgive me!”

  Harper clutched Maggie’s hand in a crushing grip. Neither of them acknowledged Willy as they walked away.

  As soon as they reached the kitchen, Harper dissolved in tears. Sobs wracked her body and she sank to the floor. Maggie knelt beside her and held her, doing what she could to console her. But what could she say?

  There was nothing anyone could say.

  The next morning, Maggie was in the kitchen making breakfast with Celeste and Hope when Tessa burst through the doors.

  “Auntie Maggie! It’s Christmas Eve. Santa comes tonight!”

  Maggie made herself smile for her little niece. Like Scarlet, she wouldn’t let anything, or anyone, ruin her Christmas. She wished to God she could feel the joy and excitement the children were experiencing today. But for them, she’d fake it.

  “I know, sweetheart. I’ve got cookies for you to leave for Santa at your house.”

  “Do you have carrots for the reindeer? I’ll bet they’ll be hungry by the time they get to my house.”

  “We have lots of carrots.” She smiled at Hope. “And we’ve got cookies and carrots here for you to put out for Santa and his reindeer, too.”

  “Thank you, Miss Maggie. Would it be okay if I hung my stocking on the big fireplace in the dining room tonight? Then Santa can find it when he comes down the chimney.”

  “You sure can, Hope.”

  “Auntie Maggie, how is Santa going to bring me presents? We don’t have a fireplace at our house.”

  Yikes. “What does your Daddy say?”

  “He says Santa will find a way because he’s magic.”

  Good thinking, Cam. “I think he’s right. Don’t you, Celeste?”

  Celeste looked up from the pancakes she was flipping. “Absolutely. Santa is definitely magic.”

  Tessa seemed satisfied by their answers. She grabbed Hope’s hand. “Let’s go play Barbies in your room.”

  “You’ve got ten minutes, girls,” Celeste warned. “Breakfast is almost ready. Watch the clock on the bedside table, Hope.”

  “Ok
ay, Mama.”

  The girls left the kitchen, their excited giggles echoing through the dining room. Celeste put bacon on the grill. “How are you doing this morning, Maggie? Really.”

  Last night, after Ethan had taken Harper home, Maggie and Luke gave Celeste a brief account of Willy’s confession. Celeste had hugged her tight and told her if she needed to talk, she was there for her. Maggie knew she could count on her friendship and she was deeply grateful for it.

  “I’m…”

  She was going to say she was fine, but that wasn’t completely true, and Celeste deserved a real answer.

  “I’m not sure how I feel this morning. I’m sad, I’m angry, I’m numb. At this point, I don’t know which emotion is the strongest.”

  “Quite a shock, what he told you. It’s no wonder you’re all shook up.”

  “Yes.” Everything she’d believed about her family history had changed. But at least now the truth could come out, and their father’s memory redeemed.

  By the time they brought the food into the dining room, Luke had already arrived, and Ethan and Harper were walking in the front door. Everyone was quiet and subdued. From the dark circles under Harper’s eyes, Maggie could tell she hadn’t slept any better than she had. Harper had always been closest to Willy. She’d been the one who’d looked out for him, especially after their grandfather no longer could.

  Fortunately, Tessa and Hope talked excitedly about Christmas and Santa and kept the mood at the table from becoming too bleak. Maggie had to remind herself that Christmas was her favorite time of year, and she was with her family. She had to remember to find the joy.

  When breakfast was over, everyone helped clear the table and wash dishes. With the counters wiped and leftovers put away, Celeste took Tessa and Hope by the hand. “Come on girls. We’re going to dress up warm and play outside.”

  “Can we make a snowman?” Hope asked.

  “Sure, Sugar.”

  She gave Maggie a brief smile as she led the little girls out of the kitchen. Luke hung his dishtowel on the rack beneath the sink. “I’ve got some work to do in the office. I’m sure the five of you have things you want to discuss in private.”

  “Don’t go, Luke.”

  He turned to her, surprise in his eyes. She was surprised, too. All she knew was that she needed Luke’s support.

  And his love. But that wasn’t going to happen.

  She swallowed. “If we’re discussing what’s to be done about Willy, I would appreciate if you would stay. You already know the story. Someone who isn’t quite so close to the situation will have a clearer view.”

  Luke’s gaze was warm, giving her much needed encouragement. “As long as it’s okay with everyone else.”

  Her sisters and their husbands nodded silently.

  “You’re a long-time friend of the family, Luke.” Harper twisted her dishtowel in her hands. “We value your input.”

  “Let’s sit down in the dining room next to the fireplace,” Ethan said.

  Several comfortable armchairs were positioned around the fireplace. Maggie perched on the end of her chair and fidgeted with the hem of her sweater, her emotions in turmoil. Cam added wood to the fire that dispelled the chill in the air, but she couldn’t relax. Luke sat on the arm of her chair and placed his warm hand on her shoulder. Some of the tension left her body, and she exhaled the breath she’d been holding.

  “I thought about what Willy told us all last night,” Harper began, her eyes downcast. “And I can’t do it. I can’t go to the police and tell them what Willy told us. I can’t go to court, or talk to lawyers. I can’t relive their deaths.”

  “I feel the same way,” Scarlet said. “It’s too much for me right now.”

  Maggie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So, you’re going to let Willy get away with murder?”

  “He hasn’t gotten away with anything,” Harper said with a sigh. “His life is in shambles because of what he’s done. And he’s just lost his last friend.”

  “Our father was accused of murder because of him.” Maggie jumped to her feet, too agitated to sit any longer. “If for no other reason, we should come forward with this new information so we can clear his name.”

  “I want that, too, Maggie,” Scarlet said. “He deserves that. But it’s been more than twenty-two years. Who’s going to remember?”

  “We’ll remember! And so will a lot of people in Minnewasta. They won’t be able to whisper behind our backs anymore about how those poor Lindquist girls were the progeny of a murderer.”

  “What about the business?” Scarlet argued. “A scandal like this could scuttle everything we’ve been building here.”

  “I can’t believe you won’t fight for the truth. This is too important.”

  “You don’t remember how it was back then, Maggie.” Harper stared down at her clenched hands. “Police asking intimate questions about our parents’ relationship. Journalists trying to dig up dirt. For months, reporters showed up at the lodge, sometimes pretending to be fishers. They wouldn’t leave Grandma and Grampa alone.”

  “Or us,” Scarlet added. She wiped her eyes with a tissue. “They followed us to school, questioned our teachers. How were we coping with the fact that our father murdered our mother? I don’t want any of that for Tessa.”

  “But don’t you see? If we come forward, the truth will be out there. We won’t be the poor little Lindquist girls anymore. That legacy of shame won’t exist for Tessa.”

  Harper shook her head. “I can’t do it, Maggie. I just can’t.”

  “Do you feel some kind of twisted loyalty to Willy? Is that why you won’t go to the police? He doesn’t deserve it! Your loyalty should be to our father!”

  “Maggie,” Ethan warned in a low voice. “That’s enough.”

  Her body vibrated with rage. “To hell with you! To hell with all of you!”

  She ran out of the lodge, not stopping to put on a coat or boots, too angry to feel the cold. She wasn’t even sure where she was going. She ran until the frigid wind finally stopped her in her tracks, doubling her over in pain. The tears came then, with wracking sobs that threatened to rend her in two.

  She hurt everywhere, body and soul. The pain was unbearable.

  “Maggie!”

  Suddenly Luke was there, wrapping something warm around her and pulling her into his arms. He kissed the cold tears on her face with warm lips. “It’s going to be okay, baby.”

  She shook her head, her body trembling with cold. “No, it’s never going to be okay.”

  “We’re going back to the lodge so you can get warm. Then, you need to talk to your sisters again. You can’t leave things like this.”

  “No, please.” She didn’t have the energy to fight anymore.

  Luke ignored her protests. He lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the lodge. Her sisters were at the door waiting for them. As soon as they were inside, Luke set her on her feet, and Harper pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

  “I’m so sorry.” Then she pushed her away and gave her a shake, tears streaming down her face. She crushed Maggie against her once more. “Don’t ever do anything like that again. You could freeze!”

  “I’m sorry for what I said.” Maggie held her sister as if her life depended on it. Maybe it did.

  Scarlet put her arms around both of them and kissed Maggie’s hair. “We know, sweetheart. We know.”

  Harper released her enough to look into her face. “I think we need to consider our next move carefully, give ourselves some time. We’re all too raw right now. We have to think clearly and a little more rationally.” She swallowed and swiped at a tear that streaked down her cheek. “When Willy dropped his bombshell last night, I suddenly became a frightened ten-year-old again.”

  Maggie used the cuff of her sweater to wipe Harper’s tears. “Don’t be afraid. You have all of us now.”

  Both Harper and Scarlet cried as the three of them clung to each other.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

>   Later that Christmas Eve, the family gathered around the Christmas tree in front of the fireplace to open presents. After the drama of the morning, Maggie was grateful for some normalcy. They’d spent the day together, skating on the lake and racing the snowmobiles along the trails. Everyone was very conscious of making this Christmas happy, one without anymore tears. Tomorrow, her sisters would spend the day with their husbands’ family in Minneapolis, and she would accompany Luke to Abby and Reese’s house for Christmas dinner. But she was pleased that tonight her family would be together.

  And relieved. After the awful things she’d said that morning, she wouldn’t have blamed them if they hadn’t wanted to be with her today. She was grateful for her family’s forgiveness. She believed Willy should be made to face the consequences of what he’d done, but she could understand her sisters’ reluctance to bring back that painful chapter in their lives.

  Pushing away the negative thoughts, Maggie watched Tessa and Hope open the gifts she got them. They seemed excited to receive them, but the sugar high from all the cookies they’d consumed might have contributed to the euphoria.

  Scarlet began handing out presents from under the tree. “Time for the adults to have some fun.”

  Maggie gingerly pried apart the tape sealing the wrapping on the Christmas present Scarlet and Cam had given her, not wanting to destroy the pretty paper.

  Scarlet grabbed the present from her hands. “Stop it! You’re making me crazy!”

  With a couple of tugs, she ripped the paper from the box and handed it back to Maggie. “Open it already! The suspense is killing me!”

  With a laugh, she lifted the lid. A beautiful red sweater in the softest cashmere was inside the box. Maggie lifted it to her cheek and revelled in the downy texture. “Oh, this is beautiful. Thank you, guys.”

  Cam grinned. “You can thank your sister. Buying women’s clothing is definitely Scarlet’s area of expertise.”

  “In that case, thank you, Scarlet.”

  “You’re welcome. But you need to open the present in the silver wrapping paper. That one is all Cameron.”