She said he had sat at the counter for two hours over soup, tea, and a plate of toast.

He had asked for a pen and written something on a napkin, then folded it into his pocket.

Before leaving, he had asked if she knew the young mother who worked at the copy shop.

“I told him I wasn’t giving out information about a girl and her babies,” she said.

“Hope that was all right.”

“It was,” I replied, surprised at how grateful I felt.

“He looked disappointed.