Death on Darby's Island by Alice Walsh

Author:Alice Walsh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nimbus
Published: 2021-07-06T17:47:38+00:00

“Patsy’s not herself, maid,” Nellie said when Patsy was out of earshot. “This whole business with the archbishop got her all upset.”

Gert glared at her twin. “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Sure, you knows now how soft-hearted Patsy is. She’s worried sick about her Uncle Jake. Stuff like that plays on her mind. Judy was the same way.”

Gert tightened her lips. “You’re spoiling that youngster, Nellie—spoiling her just like Pop spoiled you. Remember what poor Mom used to say about us?”

“Yes, I remembers,” Nellie said fiercely. “I remembers only too well.”

Their mother was forever comparing Nellie to her twin. Gert could knit, sew, and crochet, whereas Nellie was “all thumbs.” She was about eight or nine when she’d heard a comment her mother made to a neighbour: “Somebody must’ve stole me other twin and left Nellie in her place. Never seen a youngster so clumsy. God help the man who gets that one.”

“Sure, Mom always talked about how smart you was in school,” Gert said, as if guessing what Nellie was thinking.

“That didn’t impress Mom none,” Nellie said. “As far as she was concerned, I’d never amount to anything. Then I ran away and got pregnant—”

“Well, Pop thought you was the icing on the cake. Sure, he used to brag to the men on the wharf about how good you could read, how fast you could add up sums.”

Nellie nodded. There was no doubt her father had been proud of her. They’d been close when she was a child. Sometimes, it felt like he was the only one on her side. But after Nellie came home pregnant, she sensed a distance between them. Their relationship became strained, no longer easy and carefree. That had hurt Nellie more than all her mother’s criticism.

A silence fell between the two sisters.

“God only knows when the ferry’ll cross over again,” Gert said after a while.

“I imagine Blanche is eager to get home,” Nellie said. “Must be a big responsibility taking on a murder case. Her new on the force and all.”

Gert sniffed. “Better she stayed home and looked after Reba.”

“Blanche got a job to do,” Nellie reminded her.

“Looking after Reba is her job,” Gert said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with the young ones today. No sense of responsibility. Look at your Judy. Tramped off to the mainland, dumping her youngster on you and Herb.”

Nellie glared at her sister. “Don’t you dare put Judy down,” she said. “I’m proud of my daughter. At least she had the good sense to get away from here. Nothing for young people here on the island. I wishes I’d had the guts to leave.”

Gert glanced up at her twin, a stunned look on her face. “Why’d you want to leave when you got Herb? He says you’re the best thing that happened to him.” She shook her head. “You’d never hear Jake say that about me. Jake don’t appreciate me one bit. Always puttin’ me down, he is. Sure, you’re lucky to have a man like Herb.

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