He schmoozed with customers, filled their orders and made small talk with the women of town, and then in the afternoon he’d help pick orders for the next day’s deliveries. Moving back into his own room at Mary’s with the excuse that he didn’t want to disturb her with his snoring, he was walking a fine line between keeping things civil with her and telling her he was leaving to move back to Cate’s. It didn’t take long before he regretted moving in with Mary so quickly, even as a tenant, forcing her to take money for the room so she couldn’t accuse him of freeloading.But on the day when Boyd Dalton told Frank and his attorney about Alan’s claims, everything would change for him. Frank and Ellen returned to the garage and took the sign closed until further notice down. The occupants of the businesses up and down Main Street saw the sign go into the trashcan on the curb, watched as cars arrived for service pulling into the bays or waiting on the street. Ellen was silent, reading her book, thinking of the amazing story Frank had told her as they sat in the car outside of Ralph Scott’s office.“The stranger meant you no harm,”
