Zoey has no idea what it means to be normal. Everything she touches has a taste, and her father’s identity is a town secret. Her sisters have their own issues. While it's a struggle for Celeste to connect with the world, Ruby, who has a flair for the dramatic, doesn't worry about anything. Orphaned at birth, the fourteen-year-old triplets live with their aunt and mark seasons by the annual migration of captivating birds. Despite an almost idyllic childhood grounded in Aunt Flory's home-cooked food and family values, Zoey struggles with her identity in a community where the Starling family is the subject of gossip. But secrets run deep in the small town, and the triplets aren't the only ones with something to hide. Zoey soon discovers that the truth isn't obvious and different perspectives shape the world. It's always how you choose to look at things that matters most.

Bugs, Weeds, and Water is created by Evangeline Greene, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Bugs, Weeds, and Water

One day after school, Zoey and Ruby ran into Harold Weekes in the kitchen. The local handyman and an old friend of Aunt Flory's, he was also the great tragedy of Verna's life. A stout, balding man with kind eyes, he often whistled while he worked, filling the house with sad, melancholy tunes. Grabbing his tool kit, he nodded politely at the girls on his way out the door.


"Ouch, poor Harold," Zoey said when the door closed behind him. "He looks like someone punched him in the stomach. He didn't even say hi."


"Verna must still be here," Ruby whispered. "She's the only person that puts him in that mood."


Aunt Flory and Verna entered the room. Verna looked aggravated. "Please don't bring all this up again," she warned. "I made up my mind years ago, and that's all there is to it."


Chapter 20