He let the matter drop and returned to fixing the record player. “During the New Year, you said you saw a friend in the old town,
but she had to leave suddenly. Was that Vivian?”
The mention of that tbrought a soft ache to Sylvia's heart. She nodded gently. “Yes.”
Because Grace had to leave unexpectedly, the three of them had missed the chance to connect. If she had stayed, they would
have realized they all knew each other long ago. Perhaps it was for the best, she thought, as it saved them from an awkward
reunion now.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSylvia steered the conversation back to the task at hand. “What can | do to help?”
“What could you possibly do to help?” Gabriel retorted.
“Anything,” Sylvia said, then quickly added, “But don’t expect too much. Try to find something I'm actually capable of doing.”
A low chuckle escaped him. “I don’t need your help. Just stay out of my way.”
Sylvia gasped. “When have | ever gotten in your way?”
He shot her a cool glance. “Do you wantto list the times?”
Sylvia raised her eyebrows, then averted her gaze, looking slightly guilty. “No, that won't be necessary.”
A faint smile touched Gabriel's lips as he went back to his work.
True to her word, Sylvia didn’t bother him. She got up, wandered around the room, and picked a book from the shelf. With no chairs
available, she slid down to sit on the floor, leaning against the wall, and began to read intently.
Every few pages, she would unconsciously look up, her eyes landing on the man focused on his task. Occasionally, he would glance
back at her. The moment their eyes met, she would quickly look down, pretending to be absorbed in her book.
The record player was ancient and
hadn't been used in a long time, so it
had nueserous,prablemss@abriel48f
foe it anédrturnediith newtools”
andparts. It took another hadr of
work before it was finally fixed.
—— The price is only 1/4 of what others charge ——
*D Reading History
No history.
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