She smiles back at him, happy, and releases his hand so he can access his wallet. Arlene had browbeaten about everyone in town to send her some cash as well as food to make up for lost shifts and hospital bills, and a fair amount of that money had ended up right there in Sam's wallet for expressly this occasion.

While she waits for them to conclude the business of checking in, she looks out the window, which has a line of sight straight to one of the white sand beaches below. "This must be a pretty nice summer job," she says, friendly, to the girl. "You get to use the beaches?"

"Yes, ma'am. It sure is, ma'am." The girl flashes her a slightly more real smile back, then peers at Sam's ID and runs his card.