Mending The Widow's Heart. Mia Ross

of yellow, perfectly suited to the elderly man strolling through the rear door.

      “May I help you?”

      “I know we didn’t call ahead,” Holly replied, “but do you have a chair available?”

      “I sure do.” Offering his hand to her, he added, “I’m Hal Rogers, and I’d know Daphne’s niece anywhere. And this young man,” he said, grinning down at her son, “must be Chase. She talks nonstop about you when my wife and I play bridge with her at our place, so I feel like we’re already old friends. What can I do for you?”

      “Mom says I need a haircut,” the boy answered in a disdainful tone that clearly said he didn’t see what all the fuss was about.

      Hal hummed, angling his head to examine one side of the kid’s head and then the other. With a completely straight face, he asked, “Which one?”

      When Chase laughed, Hal turned to Sam and said, “See? The classics always work.”

      “That’s ’cause kids haven’t heard ’em yet.”

      “I have, Papa, and I still like them.”

      Winking at a young boy reading in the waiting area, he said, “Thanks, Cody. It’s always nice to have a fan. Have you met Chase yet?”

      “No, sir.” Without prodding, he walked over and offered his hand. “I’m Cody Rogers. Nice to meet you.”