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"I’m well Better"

"And Monsieur Gamache?"

"Better also" He was, itthese kind questions

"I’lad to hear it" She round He was in a hurry and it was his temperament to show it He consciously tried to slow himself down He was supposed to be there for a vacation, after all

"How can I help you?" she asked "I don’t suppose you’ve come for the hot mud treatment? The Tai Chi class perhaps?"

He noticed her beht not More likely poking gentle fun at herself and the services of the spa Her son Marc and his wife Doo and turned it into this nificent inn and spa And had invited his mother, Carole Gilbert, to move from Quebec City to Three Pines, to help theht think so, since I’ve worn my Tai Chi outfit" He opened his arms so she could see the full splendor of his ski suit She laughed "I’ve actually come to ask a favor May I borrow one of your snowuests"

"That’s true, we do I’ll get Roar Parra to help you"

"Merci I thought I’d go into the woods, to the cabin"

He watched her as he spoke, hoping for a reaction, and got one The gracious wo how a moment before she’d see had physically changed she suddenly seemed to be made of ice A chill radiated fro to do"

She examined him closely, her eyes reptilian Then the rande dalanced outside to the falling snow

"If snow keptdone in winter," he said

"That’s true," she admitted Reluctantly? he wondered "I don’t suppose you’ve heard, butthere now"

"Is that so?" He hadn’t heard But he did hear her say "husband," not "former husband" They’d been separated for years, until Vincent Gilbert had suddenly shown up, uninvited, at the inn and spa at almost exactly the saoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>