Gooseberry Christmas by Kathi Daley

Author:Kathi Daley [Daley, Kathi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kathi Daley Books
Published: 2020-11-17T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“So she remembered you?” Josie asked later that same evening.

“She did. Winnie told Adam that the family she was working for planned to take their children to visit an aunt who lived in France over the summer. She was given eight weeks off from mid-June through mid-August, so when Mr. Winchester called her to inquire as to her availability over the summer, she said she was pleased to report that she was available and happy to fill in.”

“So, did she know who you were and why you were here?” Jemma asked.

“Sort of. She told Adam that when she arrived, she was introduced to two little girls. Ava was three, and Avery was just one. Adam’s father told her that the girls were the daughters of a family friend. He also told her that the children’s parents had suffered a personal emergency and that the children would be staying on Piney Point that summer. She said both little girls were so sweet, but that they seemed nervous and frightened as well. She didn’t know what was going on exactly, but her heart went out to the children, so she did what she could to make them feel happy and comfortable.”

“So this Winnie wasn’t the woman in the photo with you or the woman with short dark hair you called Wilma?” Jemma verified.

“No,” I answered. “According to Winnie, Marilee was connected to the children somehow. She thought she might be an aunt or cousin. Not a parent, but someone close to the children. She said that she came and went during the summer and that while the children seemed fond of her, she didn’t think there was a deep-rooted connection.”

“And Wilma?” Josie asked.

“She said Wilma didn’t show up on the scene until the end. Winnie’s family returned to Seattle in mid-August, so Winnie had to go back. She said that Wilma showed up a few days before she left. She never spoke to her in any depth, but she seemed to have shown up to help with the trip.”

“Trip?” Josie asked.

“According to Winnie, Marilee planned to take the children and leave by the end of the month, and Wilma was there to help with that. Winnie pointed out that she was only the paid help and not a confidant, so she didn’t really have any details, but she did hear that both the women and the children were gone by the time September rolled around.”

“Did she happen to know either Marilee or Wilma’s last name?” Jemma asked.

“No,” I sighed. “I really hoped Winnie would have known something concrete that we could follow up on. A last name, final destination after the group left Gooseberry Bay, or maybe some sort of news about the parents of the two little girls. But she really didn’t know much more than we already knew except for the fact that the two women I remember being there were only at the house for part of the time.” I frowned. “It’s odd that I don’t remember Winnie. It sounds like she’s the one who took care of Avery and me that summer.

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