True Colors: A Novel

“Winona knew how much Aurora needed life to be steady; she was the peacemaker in the family, the one who tried to smooth everything over and make it right.”

Winona reflects on what each of her sisters needs in the aftermath of their mother’s death. Each of the Grey sisters has a defined role within the family that reflects their inherent character, which itself shapes how each of their lives plays out. Aurora’s desire for a steady life lacking in conflict sees her end up in a staid marriage absent of passion or true love.

“But years later, when she looked back on that week of her mother’s death, Winona saw how that single action—the handing over of a lead rope—had changed everything. From then on, jealousy had become an undercurrent, swirling beneath their lives.”

Winona retrospectively understands that Henry handing Clem’s reins over to Vivi Ann was the first crack in her relationship with her sister. This introduces the theme of The Effect of Insecurities on Personal Relationships, as Winona feels deeply insecure about a number of things when she compares herself to Vivi Ann; Henry’s easy approval of Vivi Ann as opposed to his constant dismissal of Winona is one of them. This undercurrent of jealousy influences a number of events that take place going forward.

“Dad and Vivi Ann might worship at the altar of their land, but Winona had a broader religion. For her, it was the community that mattered and the people who lived here. It was okay that Vivi Ann was the beautiful heart of town; Winona strove to be its conscience.”

Winona acknowledges that Henry and Vivi Ann treasure the land of Water’s Edge far more than she does. Her identification of herself as the “conscience” of the town is telling: Winona believes herself right about most things. While this proves problematic when she assumes Dallas’s guilt, it serves her well when she fights to free him from prison later.