Sam used to work. “About time. Sure do miss their coffee though. There was a girl who worked there—made the best damn cup of joe I ever had.”
Doc knew exactly who he was talking about. “Sam.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Sammy Appelhoff. Do you know her?”
“Sam’s married, and she lives at Sanctuary now.”
“I think Kate did tell me that once, now that you mention it,” Mr. O’Farrell mused with a nod. “Her grandpa was a good man but an old-school, fire-and-brimstone type. Couldn’t handle it when his only daughter came home pregnant and demanded she give the baby up for adoption.”
He paused, as if allowing the memories to funnel back to him. “She ran away shortly after that, if I recall, and he was never the same. He didn’t even know about Sammy until family services showed up on his door years later. Not sure what happened to the boy.”
Doc knew that Sam’s mother had had mental problems and died by her own hand. Cage had dug up that information as part of their covert investigation when Sam was kidnapped by a deranged psycho several years earlier, but the identity of Sam’s father remained a mystery.
Did Mr. O know who Sam’s father was? And if he did, would Sam want to know? Doc made a mental note to mention something to Smoke about it later.
“Park in the free lot,” Mr. O’Farrell directed when Doc was about to make a second pass along Main Street, looking for a good spot along the curb.
The old penny meters were still in place, but no one had been checking them for years as far as Doc knew.
“Are you sure?”
“Everything I need is within a few blocks, and the walk will do these old legs good.”
They went to Hoffmeier’s Florist first, where a cheerful woman named Penny promised Mr. O’Farrell she’d design a special bouquet and have it delivered the next day. She also inquired about Kate and asked Doc to pass along a hello, which he was happy to do.
Next was the candy shop, Lindström’s. The moment they walked in, they were hit with the scents of melted chocolate and freshly roasted nuts. While Mr. O’Farrell hand-selected an assortment of candies, Doc picked up boxes of caramel cashew clusters and chocolate-covered raisins with their next movie night in mind.
As they were walking back to the car, two elderly women in puffy pastel coats were coming toward them on the sidewalk. Mr. O’Farrell grabbed Doc’s arm in a surprisingly strong grip and tugged him into the nearest shop.
Once inside, the older man peered out the window from behind Doc’s much bigger frame. He exhaled in relief when the two women passed by.
“The Schaeffer twins,” Mr. O’Farrell said in explanation. “If they see me with a box of Lindström’s, they’ll want to know who it’s for. Especially Lydia. She’s had the hots for me for fifty years. Not my type though. Too skinny and proper. I like a woman with a little meat on her bones and fire in her soul.”
Doc chuckled as an image of white-blonde hair and sparkling pale blue eyes came to mind. He couldn’t agree more.
“Can I help you with something?”
Doc turned at the male voice to find Kate’s father glaring their way from behind the counter of Handelmann’s Hardware. His scowl deepened when he recognized Doc.
Mr. O’Farrell either didn’t notice or didn’t care. “Eric, my boy,” the old man said jovially. “Good to see you, lad. How’s the ticker? Heard it was giving you some trouble a while back.”
Mr. Handelmann’s eyes moved to the older man, his jaw unclenching slightly. “Better than ever, Mr. O’Farrell.”
“Good, good. Glad to hear it. Don’t mind us. Just taking port in a storm, and then we’re going back to enjoy some of Kate’s cooking.”
Eric Handelmann stiffened at the mention of his daughter’s name.
“Fine, fine girl you raised there, Eric. You should be proud.” The old man tapped Doc on the arm. “Okay, son, I think the coast is clear. Good day, Eric. Tell Beth I said hello, will you?”
Without waiting for a response, Mr. O’Farrell pushed out the door, leaving Doc to follow.
“The man’s a damn fool,” Mr. O muttered as they continued down the sidewalk. “Never would have believed he’d treat his own daughter that way, especially Kate, but there it is. Everyone has their priorities, I suppose, and if you ask me, his are grossly misplaced.”
Yet another thing they were in full agreement on.
Errands completed, Doc drove them back to Mr. O’Farrell’s place and warmed