Arthur placed his fork down.
“I apologize if my breakfast has inconvenienced the establishment,” he said.
Martin blinked.
“No inconvenience, sir.”
“Then perhaps you could let the young woman return to her job.”
Martin walked away with the stiff back of a man who had lost an argument in public.
Emily reached for the coffee pot to hide a smile.
Arthur heard it anyway.
“You should laugh when something is funny,” he said.
“Some places charge extra for laughing.”
“The world has become terribly expensive.”
He ate slowly while Emily handled the rush.
When the diner quieted, she returned to refill his cup.
“Would you mind answering a question?” he asked.
“That depends on the question.”
“Do you remember a woman named Lillian Parker?”
Emily nearly dropped the coffee pot.
“That was my grandmother.”
Arthur sat completely still.
“Was?”
“She died when I was sixteen.”
“I am sorry.”
Emily studied his face.
“Did you know her?”
“I knew a woman with that name a long time ago.”
“My grandmother lived in this neighborhood her whole life.”
Arthur’s fingers tightened around the folded napkin.
“Did she ever talk about the summer the river flooded?”
“Only when she wanted to tell us how high the water got.”
“Did she talk about the people who came afterward?”
Emily shook her head before remembering he could not see it.
“Not really.”
Arthur pushed the unfinished toast toward the middle of his plate.
“Would you ask your mother whether she remembers the old ferry station?”
“My mother died two years ago.”
The room seemed to lose some of its sound.
Arthur turned toward her and spoke carefully.
“I am sorry, Emily.”
She could not remember the last time a customer had said those words without following them with advice.
“Thank you.”
He searched his jacket pocket and produced a worn leather wallet.
Emily told him the amount, accepted his money, and counted the change into his palm.
He insisted on paying the exact bill.
She refused the enormous tip he tried to leave.
“Please keep enough for your ride home,” she said.
“I have a ride arranged.”
“Then you can keep enough for your next breakfast.”
He laughed softly.
“That is a persuasive argument.”
He left five dollars and a little note printed in raised dots on a card.
Emily could not read the dots, but she placed the card in her apron because it seemed important.
Arthur stood and unfolded his cane.
