She waved a hand. ‘Up and down. I’m waiting for a new knee. In fact, I saw your parents when I went for one of my hospital appointments last month.’

‘My great-uncle’s had his knee done a few months ago,’ said Gabe. ‘He’s back in his garden again now.’ He chatted to Evie about his family for a few more minutes before she changed tack.

‘Have you seen Sam yet?’ she asked.

Gabe couldn’t lie to Evie. Like many of the older residents of the village, she knew that he’d reported Ryan to the police, though not the full story. She hadn’t openly judged him or blamed him for it at the time. They hadn’t talked of it beyond Evie telling him she was sad when he and Sam split and he told her he planned to leave town. Gabe thought he owed her an honest answer now.

‘I bumped into Sam a couple of days ago.’

Evie winced. ‘I’m guessing it was awkward for you both?’

Again, he couldn’t lie but he was growing uncomfortable with the line of questioning. ‘It wasn’t all sweetness and light, no.’

Evie patted his arm. ‘I’ll admit I was surprised to see you back at all after you and Sam broke up. That was a great shame, if you don’t mind me saying, although I could understand why. You and Sam seemed made for each other until that business with Ryan. Can’t have been easy, making a decision like you did.’

‘You can say that again.’ Gabe was now eager to get away, much as he liked Evie.

‘I’m sure there’s some folk who might be funny with you but you ignore them. The only people whose business it is, is you and Sam and Zennor.’

Gabe felt twitchy with discomfort. Evie was spot-on in her assessment but he still didn’t enjoy hearing it.

She sighed. ‘Well, you’ll have to learn to rub along together, if you’re going to be involved in the festival and spend any time here. You’ve rented Clifftop House, so I hear, so you must be staying a while?’

Gabe rolled his eyes. ‘Is it all over the town already?’

‘What do you think?’ Evie shook her head. ‘This is Porthmellow, Gabriel. Nothing stays a secret for long. Anyway, I must be getting on, I’ve got a doctor’s appointment. I’ll see you around town again soon, I hope?’

‘Definitely,’ said Gabe.

With a quick peck on his cheek, Evie walked off, the roller rattling on the cobbles. Gabe was left with mixed feelings. Evie had treated him no differently than she ever had and he found that strangely comforting, but she’d also reminded him that helping out with the festival would be far from plain sailing.

Chapter Thirteen