“That’s fine, Willa. I don’t need any tea.” I lean forward to stop her, but she moves quickly and is up and disappearing into the kitchen before I can say another word. I fall back into my chair with a huff of frustration.

There’s a stretch of silence. It goes on long enough that I wonder if she’s forgotten all about the tea and gone out the back door. Then the sound of cupboards being opened and closed and dishes being arranged reaches me out in the living room. Willa starts talking quietly to herself, one long string of conversation, as though someone else is in the room.

I stare out the window at the cloud-like blossoms blowing gently in the wind and the birds fighting one another for room at the feeder. I’m just trying to figure out a way to make a quick escape, to end this failed charade, when Willa reappears, empty-handed. She looks shocked when she sees me sitting there. “How did you get in here?” she asks, fury in her eyes.

“I came through the back door,” I answer, gesturing toward the kitchen.

She moves right into the room to stand in front of me. “How dare you show up here again.” The shine of tears appears. “We had a deal,” she says, the whisper of it full of emotion.

It’s what I came for, getting Willa to think I was my mother, but I didn’t realize how upset she’d be. Still, I can’t turn back now. I need answers.

I slowly get up from my chair. “Can you remind me of that deal, Willa? I seem to have forgotten.”

She points a finger at me, and I notice her hands are shaking. “You know what deal,” she hisses. “You promised never to come back, and I promised to never tell.”

“Never tell what, Willa?”

“About Simon or the girl. Or the affair.” She sinks down into a chair, tears now streaming down her cheeks. “My West.”

“What about Simon and the girl, Willa? Who’s the girl?” There’s a frantic edge to my voice.

“Stop it,” she says, turning away and holding a hand up to keep me at bay.

“Please, Willa, just tell me about Simon. What happened to Simon?”

Her head suddenly whips back in my direction. “Get out of my house,” she screams, startling me.

“June?” I jump again at the sound of my name. Turning, I find Ezra in the doorway of the living room, his expression a mix of fear and confusion. “What’s going on?”

I glance down at Willa and then back at him. “I just came for a visit. I thought it would be nice for her, since she’s alone so much. I didn’t mean any harm, Ezra.” I shake my head. “Really I didn’t.”

He looks me up and down. “Can you please go wait for me outside?”