"What about you, sir?" Madelyn asked.

The middle-aged man replied, "I've got heart problems. There's a surgery coming up, and honestly, I'm not sure about the outcome."

Madelyn hesitated, then whispered, "You'll be fine." She wondered if she was saying it for his comfort or her own.

The man looked up from the newspaper, folding it and placing it on his lap as he crossed his legs. His amber eyes met hers, and a warm smile spread across his face. "Thanks for the kind words. I gotta head out." He cast a wary glance at a group of tough-looking people coming their way. "Mind if we hug real quick?"

Madelyn hesitated.

"It's strange, I know," he said, "but you remind me of my wife who passed away. I miss her. Let's call it a bit of solace before my operation."

He spoke so gently that Madelyn nodded. "Okay." They hugged briefly, and he dashed off, forgetting his newspaper. As Madelyn reached for it, a shadow loomed above her.

"Enjoying the breeze?" Zach asked, slipping his black blazer o