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“Yes. I told them when you texted me to get ready to pick you up.”
She nodded slowly.
“I don’t understand, Clary. You looked really happy with Seth, and that guy was willing to die for you.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.” She closed her eyes and turned on her side again.
Uncle David didn’t bother her after that.
Whatever the problem is, the faster you tell me, the faster I can start fixing it. Uncle David’s words bounced around in her head.
Was she wasting time?
Perhaps she should try to figure out a way to fix this. And there’s no way Oliver really hurt Winnie.
“It’s okay to be selfish, you know?” Uncle David said. “You know why Edward and your grandmother hate your job at Safe Homes? Because you always cared so much about others, never about yourself. And at Safe Homes, you had to do that all the more since the victims all needed your help. But what about you, Clary?”
“I have you, Mr. E, and Grandma Moretti.”
“You can have Seth, too.”
“No I can’t.”
Uncle David sighed heavily. “Then choose yourself. Put yourself and your needs first.”
“I can’t.” She sat upright. “Not that I don’t want to. I cannot. I don’t know how to make you understand that.”
“I understand you. May’s years-long depression was no match for you. All those abusers with their pretentious masks and their fake smiles were no match for you. The Eolenfelds who looked down on you and bullied you were no match for you.” Uncle David stared at her. “You’re going to let Holly win? You’re going to let the woman who hurt Seth once do it all over again?”
“There too much at risk.”
Uncle David threw his hands in the air. “You have us behind you! Go for it. For once in your life, be selfish. Risk it all. If the sky falls, we’ll hold it up for you.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Do you know who you have behind you? I know Edward has always been just a grandfather to you, but he isn’t, Clary. He knows people. He has influence.”
She remained quiet.
“For once, Clary, let us help. Let us protect and fight for you. It’s okay to do that.”
Clary licked her lips. “Seth told me you guys never found Winnie.”
Uncle David blinked, as if she’d just slapped him. “Winnie.”
“Yes, the girl Holly adopted. The one who went missing.”
He blinked again.
“Did you guys ever find her?”
“No, we didn’t.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“We never found Winnie. Neither did the investigators.”
Clary bit down on her lips. Seth had told her the same. “Did anyone search the well?”
Uncle David shrugged a shoulder. “I can’t be sure, but I heard the police officers turned the place upside down, as did the investigators who went there afterwards. I’m sure someone must have looked into the well.”
“When was Holly taken out of the mansion?”
