Wynona sipped her drink, saying nothing.
“Who’s Billy?”
“Did Wade mention his brother?”Wynona asked sharply.
“No.I didn’t know he had a brother.”
She took another drink.“He died in November.”
Meredith stared at the other woman in shock.No wonder Wynona had been tightlipped about family issues, and prone to self-medicating.She’d lost a child six months ago.“I’m sorry.I had no idea.”
Wynona shrugged a slim shoulder.“I took down all the photos after Christmas, and I put away Billy’s trophies.”
“What about Wade’s?”
“I never kept those.”
“Why not?”
“He lived with his father after the divorce.It was his choice.”
Meredith studied her in dismay.It was clear she’d been deeply hurt by Wade’s decision.“How old was he?”
“Ten.Billy was only two at the time, and he needed me.Wade never did.”
“What do you mean?”
Wynona stared across the yard.“Wade was good at everything.School, sports, socializing.He didn’t need help with his homework or reminders to clean his room.I think he could have raised himself.Maybe he did, because he didn’t turn out like his father.”
Meredith wondered what Wade’s father was like.Wynona never talked about him, either.“Tell me about Billy.”
Wynona’s lips curved into a sad smile.“Billy was Wade’s polar opposite.He wasn’t gifted at sports or popular with girls.He struggled academically, and he was always acting out.He was difficult to manage.”
Meredith could see that Wynona was tearing up, so she went inside for a box of tissues.Wynona thanked her and dabbed her eyes.
“What happened to him?”
“They called it an accident,” Wynona said.“Wade found him.”
Meredith reached out to hold her hand.“I’m sorry.”
Wynona’s voice was bleak.“It was my fault.”
“What was?”
“His death.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because it’s true,” she said, blinking rapidly.“I raised him on my own, and I didn’t know how to help him.I thought things would be better after I left Boyd, but they weren’t.I struggled to make ends meet.Billy kept getting suspended from school.When he was fifteen, I gave up.I sent him back to his father.By then it was too late.Nobody could control him, not even Boyd.”
Meredith squeezed her hand in sympathy.“You did your best, Wynona.”
“No,” Wynona said.“I was a mess.”
“You’re too hard on yourself.”
“Ask Wade if you don’t believe me.”
