Rhys did not expect his heart to hurt at what she said, but it did. He smiled at the man and stretched out his hand. "Rhys." He muttered.
The man smiled back and gripped the outstretched hand. "Raul. I'm a friend of Sophie's."
Sophie had helped herself to a seat in the man's store, and Raul gestured to Rhys to join her. He took the seat opposite them and smiled again, still unable to believe his eyes.
"Did you come for the festival?" he asked.
Sophie shook her head. She had pulled out her notepad, and she wrote into it.
"I'm paying Aunt Eliana a visit."
"Oh, your uncle. I heard about his sudden illness. Folks have been up there to see him, but I haven't found the time. How is he?"
"A shadow of his former self. I cannot bring myself to ask Auntie what sickness it is."
