Buckets of water spilled from dull, black clouds and flooded the streets. The town’s sewer system backed up and the water that didn’t make it to the nearby river flowed through the tiny hamlet without restraint.Granny Relda wrapped herself in a rain jacket. Uncle Jake stood beside her holding an umbrella over her head. Sabrina recognized it as the same umbrella Mr. Canis had held over her the day she and Daphne arrived in Ferryport Landing. At first the children were told they had to stay home. Then Granny seemed to realize they’d sneak out anyway, and so she agreed to let them come along to say good-bye, but they were not to watch the execution. Sabrina knew it might be the last chance she had to apologize to the man who had been her family’s protector for almost two decades. She wanted to tell him how wrong she had been about him. He had never deserved her distrust.The family drove to Main Street in their old jalopy. Sabrina sat remembering the times she had had with Canis. For the first time, the chaos and noise of the car went unnoticed.They parked on a side street and walked up the block.
