The two men walked down the stairs and into the foyer of the boardinghouse, where Mary was arranging some fresh spring flowers on the counter. She turned as the men approached.
“Thank you for washing my clothes for me,” Todd said.
“Land sakes,” Mary replied, “that weren’t no problem. Happy to help out. ‘Morning, Samuel.”
“Good morning, Mary, and I need to add my thanks to Todd’s.”
“Tush,” she said. “If a body can’t help out a friend, then they aren’t much of a friend.”
Sam gave her a warm smile. He was going to miss her.
“Garrett’s waiting in the dining room,” she said, going back to her flower arranging and nodding in the direction of the doorway.
“Garrett?” said Todd, turning to Sam.
Sam just smiled. Putting his arm around the young man’s shoulder, he steered him through the door
