The Keepers of Metsan Valo: A Novel by Wendy Webb

Author:Wendy Webb [Webb, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2021-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

As Anni drove down the long driveway toward Metsan Valo, Theo’s car following behind, the knots in her stomach tightened. The idea of confronting her family about the break-in was eating at her core, but she knew it had to be done.

As she rounded the corner and the house came into view, it took a moment for her to comprehend what she was seeing. Mummo’s cabin cruiser was sitting in the driveway, hooked to Yale’s SUV. Yale was beside it, making sure the connections to his trailer hitch were sound.

Anni and Theo parked and got out of their cars at the same time, giving each other a look.

“What’s going on, Yale?” Theo asked, baring his teeth in a smile and walking slowly toward the boat. “Taking her in for repairs?” He propped one foot on the trailer hitch.

Yale shrugged at him. “Yeah, something like that.”

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” Anni said to Yale. “Why is the Kalevala hooked up to your car?”

“Vicky wants it,” Yale said.

Theo let out a strained laugh. “Is that so?”

“It’s so,” Yale said. “She is packing up, and we’re leaving. With this. Taika said we could have whatever we wanted. And we want this.”

Anni stood there for a moment, not quite believing what she was seeing or hearing.

“No, actually, she did not,” Anni said, her voice even, her steely gaze trained on Yale. “She said that if anyone wanted any special item, we could probably work it out.”

Yale smiled. “This boat is special to us.”

“Oh, really?” Anni said, narrowing her eyes. “When’s the last time you were out on it?”

“Last summer,” Yale said, jutting out his chin. “My family has spent many happy times on it. It means the world to us.”

“You and Vicky weren’t here last summer,” Anni said, taking a step forward.

“How would you know that?”

Anni shook her head as Theo groaned. “There’s a newfangled thing called a telephone. I talked to Mummo every week.”

Yale’s face was reddening.

“The fact of the matter is, Yale, everything here is mine, whether you like it or not,” Anni said, her voice even. “What in the world are you thinking? What’s wrong with you?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Yale said, mumbling something under his breath that Anni knew was an insult.

That was when Anni noticed Vicky standing in the front doorway. How much had she heard? “Come on, honey,” Vicky said, pulling his arm. “She’s right. You can’t be mad at her. This is what Mummo wanted. And we’re not taking the boat.”

Yale wrenched his arm away from hers.

“We’re going for pizza at Jimmy’s,” Yale said to Vicky. “I’ll get Lichen and meet you back out here in five minutes.”

He stormed into the house, slamming the door behind him so hard, Anni was afraid it might shatter.

Vicky stood there for a moment, her face a sea of shame and anger and confusion. Anni reached out and opened her arms to her cousin. Vicky melted into them. She let out a strained sob. “He is such a good man. And you never get to see that.

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