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"What do you think?" Chief Inspector Gamache nodded out the ard Peter, Clara and Fortin standing on the porch

"About them?" asked Myrna They couldn’t hear what the three were talking about, but it was easy enough to guess

"Will Fortin convince Clara to give hi a sip of his double espresso

"It’s not Fortin who needs another shot," said Myrna

Gamache turned to her "Peter?"

But Myrna lapsed into silence and Gamache wondered if Peter had told Clara about his part in the scathing review years ago

"I think we need time to consider it," said Clara

"I understand," said Fortin, with a char I’ll say is that you allery Soht"

"It’s a good point," said Peter

Not long ago that would have been enough for Clara to go with Fortin Peter’s obvious enthusiasm She’d trusted him completely to knoas best for them For both of them To have her best interests at heart

Now she realized, looking at this man she’d spent the past twenty-five years with, that she had no idea what he kept in his heart But she was pretty sure it wasn’t her best interests

Clara didn’t knohat to do But she did know that so, she knew that He was trying so hard to change And now, maybe, it was her turn to try too

"He’s still suffering, you know," said Myrna

"Peter?" asked Ga the three people on the verandah Her gaze was closer to ho with Ruth and Suzanne

Ruth seemed to have quite lost her heart to the odd for furniture

"I know," said Ga"

"And what did he say?"

"That he was fine, getting better But of course, he isn’t"

Myrna was quiet for a ?"