The Long Way Home

The next morning Armand sat on the bench overlooking the village. Olivier and Gabri waved to him from the bistro. And he waved back.

He saw the pines sway in the slight breeze and smelled the musky forest and the roses and the lilies and the strong coffee in the mug beside him.

He tilted his head back and felt the warm sun on his face.

Beside him Henri slept, the ball in his mouth and his tongue lolling.

Snoring slightly.

And in Armand’s hands was the book, closed on his lap.

Clara joined him on the bench. They sat in silence, side by side. Then Clara leaned back, her body touching the words someone had freshly carved into the wood. Above Surprised by Joy.

A Brave Man in a Brave Country

She looked out, across to the mountains and the world beyond. And then her eyes returned, as they always would, to the calm little village in the valley.

Beside her on the bench Armand opened The Balm in Gilead to the bookmark, took a deep breath, and started forward.

Clara held the letter in her hand. From Peter. That had finally found its way to Three Pines.

And she opened it.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR


LOUISE PENNY is the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling author of nine previous Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels. She has won numerous awards, including a CWA Dagger and the Agatha Award (five times), and was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. She lives in a small village south of Montréal. Visit her on Facebook or at www.LouisePenny.com.