Page 59 of More Than a Fling

“You didn’t ask, you accused. I am sure he felt hurt. I just don’t believe Robbie’s version. It doesn’t add up to the person I know Gabe to be,” Darcy said, firmly.

“I only know that when Robbie came into the salon, I was horrified by her revelation.”

Darcy patted Annie’s shoulder, “I can only imagine—you were totally unprepared, it must have been shocking.”

“It was. It brought up all the old, well not quite so old, doubt again. You know my track record with men. It threw me into a tailspin. Maybe I still have terrible judgement when it comes to men, maybe I have been fooling myself and he’s been using me. All the fears came rising up in me again.”

“It’s never too late to admit when you’re wrong and apologize. When we know we’ve made a mistake that’s what we do, we say we’re sorry,” Darcy said.

“I’m still not a hundred percent sure that it isn’t true. Am I a terrible person for thinking that way?”

“No, you’re just learning to trust yourself again. It’s human to have doubts. You have been through a lot with Bradley and the guy before that. Don’t beat yourself up. Sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning.”

“Darcy, I am in love with him! This is terrible, I didn’t want to be, it just happened.” Her shoulders heaved as she sobbed.

Darcy got up to get some tissues and then took her little sister into her arms. “Annie you and Gabe are probably the last to know that you’re both in love with each other. It’s been obvious to the rest of us.”

Annie smiled through her tears, “You think he is in love with me?”

“Duh.”

“Even if it’s true that it’s his baby, we could get through that, I just can’t handle lying.”

“Like I said, sleep on it, the answers will come. Your bed is here is ready and waiting.”

“Maybe I can convince one of the dogs to endure sleeping with me instead of you,” Annie said.

“If not, bribing works wonders with these beggars.”

“Good point,” Annie said, already feeling calmer. Getting up from the couch she grabbed a dog biscuit from the bowl on the counter, “I guess I’ll head to bed now I’m fried. Fannie, will you sacrifice yourself for the greater good?” Annie said holding the treat out temptingly.

Fannie barked her enthusiastic reply. “Let’s go then, night sis,” she said, and they both headed to the guest suite.

26

“Any ideas of who might want to sabotage you or Parker Farms?” Police officer Connie Gibbons was doing the questioning, while her partner surveyed the scene and took photographs.

Gabe and Sam both shook their heads no.

“Any disgruntled ex-employees, or clients that lost a pet and think it’s your fault Dr Parker?”

“Nothing comes to mind,” Sam replied.

“Any jilted lovers that might have a vendetta against either of you?”

Gabe pinched the bridge of his nose looking down at the ground, “Not anyone that would do something like this,” he said.

“You never know what a person is capable of, especially it there is jealousy involved,” she said. “If someone comes to mind, best to tell us about it so we can either clear them or arrest them for vandalizing your property.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t her, for one thing I could tell it was a dude, and apparently she is pregnant so I can’t see her leaping over that fence and running like the person last night did,” Gabe explained.

“She could have someone who would do her dirty work for her,” Officer Gibbons replied. “You board horses here, you might want to check with each of the owners to find out if they have had any run-ins with anyone lately.”

“We’ll do that. We need to inform them about what happened anyway. They have a right to know. I have a security company coming out this afternoon to give us an estimate on installing cameras and alarms,” Gabe said.

“Not a bad idea in this day and age, sad fact.” She glanced at her partner who nodded, letting her know that he had all he needed.

“We’ll file a report back at the station, in the meantime it’s important that if you think of anything that you forgot to tell us or anything that comes to mind even if it seems insignificant, call me,” she said handing them each a card.

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