3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares Page B

mean?”
    Polly looked baffled. “Because of them splitting up.” She looked like she -was going to cry.
    Jo put her spoon down. “Who told you that?”
    “Your mom did. Last time I called. I asked her how she was doing, because, you know, she sounded sad.”
    “She told you?”
    “She thought I already knew. She thought you told me.”
    Jo didn’t know -which direction to go in. Every direction was uncomfortable and bad and she couldn’t push herself in any of them.
    Polly had talked to Jo’s mother about it. Jo didn’t even talk to Jo’s mother about it. Polly was hurt and didn’t understand why Jo hadn’t told her.
    “It’s not that big of a deal,” Jo murmured. She looked down at her Cheerios, but she couldn’t eat another one.
    “It’s not?”
    Jo shook her head. She felt unimaginably tired all of a sudden. She didn’t know if she could make it to her bed.
    “You sure you’re okay?” Polly was studying her carefully.
    Jo got up. “Yeah, just tired,” she said. “It was a long shift at the restaurant. My feet are aching.”
    “You want to just go to bed?” Polly’s eyes were forgiving. She could have pressed her own hurt feelings on Jo or demanded the nitty-gritty of exactly what had happened -with her parents, but she didn’t. She didn’t want Jo to feel bad.
    “I guess so.” Jo did feel bad. In too many -ways to think about. She also felt guilty. “Thanks for coming, Pollywog. It was nice of you.”
    Polly nodded and followed Jo to her bedroom. Jo saw that Polly had already pulled out the trundle bed and found a pillow and blanket for herself. Her suitcase sat next to the dresser. She knew her -way around the linen closet. She’d slept here many times.
    “Maybe we can go to the beach tomorrow,” Polly suggested.
    “Okay” Jo said, -wondering just how long Polly -was planning to stay. Jo felt guilty as she tried to think of nice ways to tell Polly she had to go home.
    As they lay in the dark, Jo tried to fall asleep, but tired as she was, she couldn’t. She could tell from Polly’s breathing that Polly hadn’t fallen asleep either. But she was quiet.
    “I’m sorry I’m not, you know, up for doing stuff tonight,” Jo said.
    Polly nodded in the near-darkness. “That’s okay. I understand. I know it’s a hard time for you.”
    The first letter Ama threw away immediately. She had no intention of sending it. She needed to vent and Polly was always the one for that, the best and least judgmental listener. The second letter she put in the bag for the mail drop in Port Angeles.
    •••
    When Jo first woke, she didn’t know where she was. She was scared and disoriented for a moment, thinking she was home in Bethesda and Finn -was calling to her from his bedroom next to hers. She could hear his voice perfectly, even though she hadn’t heard it for such a long time. Her heart was racing as she sat up in her bed. Slowly she focused her eyes on her surroundings. Sunshine was spilling through the window. She heard the roll of the waves beyond the house. Gradually she placed herself in space and time. It wasn’t always a relief to remember -where you were.
    “Are you okay?” Polly asked, stepping into her room from the hallway, looking -worried. “You -were shouting.”
    Jo nodded. “I’m fine. I -was dreaming, I guess,” she said, though her heart still pounded. She saw that Polly -was dressed and alert, a book in her hand. Jo rubbed her eyes. “What time is it?”
    “Noon.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I didn’t mean to sleep so late,” Jo said.
    “That’s all right. Do you -want to go to the beach?”
    “Okay,” she said. “I’ll get ready.” Polly took up her toiletry kit and disappeared into the guest bathroom, leaving Jo hers to use. Jo -wondered about the suitcase. She -wondered again how long Polly intended to stay.
    Jo put on a bathing suit and threw some stuff in a bag. Polly -was ready and waiting at the door.
    She realized, as they walked along, how