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“Why?”

“I know this village like the back of my hand, plus I know everyone If he lives in an area that floods, chances are I know soet him out”

“Do you know anyone with a boat?”

She raised her eyebrows

“Stupid question,” I muttered “He lives a few houses down from me on Bramble Lane”

Her brow furrowed for a moment “Which end? The one near the park or the one near the Fox and Hound?”

“Fox and Hound end,” I replied, referring to the hotel whose property our end of Bramble Lane backed onto

She shook her head “You’ll be fine It can be a bit dicey down by the park, depending on whether the river bursts its banks, but it was low before this storm so even they’re probably fine I can’t ever reh”

A flicker of relief sparked in me “Are you sure?”

“Do you want me to see if someone can check in on him? My best friends’ parents own the hotel, and I’m sure either Adelaide, Eva, or their father won’tdown”

My stohtened “You would do that?”

Confusion flashed in her eyes, and she tilted her head to the side “Of course If you’re worried, one of the he needs and make sure the cat is fed”

CHAPTER TEN – GABRIELLA

I’d never seen a ht now

Actually, that was a lie Men tended to look this confused while atte-spot, but that wasn’t the point here

“You look as though I’ve just presented you with a sudoku book written in Chinese Mandarin,” I quipped, trying to lighten the heavy ?”

He tilted his head “Why would you do that? For me?”

Ah

Here we go

I claspedturned ing in my throat I wasn’t one for confrontation In fact, I steadfastly avoided it It made me all kinds of uncomfortable to the point my eyes itched like I had hay fever

Yet, here I was

About to tackle confrontation head on