I also ordered an iced tea, which was as sweet as I remembered. The South is famous for sweet tea, and I savored every drop. Claude then slid a bowl of small, brown soggy things toward me.
“What’s this?”
“Boiled peanuts. It comes with every order,” Claude explained. “I started that a couple of years ago. It’s my wife’s recipe, and there’s a pot going near the register. You can buy some before you go. Most people do.”
I cautiously tried one, surprised by its salty goodness. Claude turned away and dumped some frozen fries from a bag into hot oil, before slapping a burger on the grill. Off to the side, Callie was stocking some shelves, but if she’d noticed me, she hadn’t let on.
“Don’t I know you?” Claude asked. “I think I recognize you.”
“I haven’t been here in years, but I used to come all the time with my grandfather, Carl Haverson.”
“Oh, that’s right,” he said, brightening. “You’re the Navy doctor, right?”
“Not anymore. But that’s a story for another time.”
“I’m Claude,” he said.
“I remember,” I said. “I’m Trevor.”
“Wow,” he said. “A Navy doctor.” Claude whistled. “Your pappy sure was proud of you.”
“I was proud of him, too.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. I sure did like him.”
I shelled another peanut. “Me too.”
“Do you live around here now?”
“I’m staying at his place until June or so.”
“Great property,” Claude said. “Your pappy planted some fantastic trees. Really pretty this time of year. My wife has been making me slow the car whenever we pass by. Lots of flowers. Are the beehives still there?”
“Of course.” I nodded. “They’re doing well.”
“Your pappy used to let me buy and sell some of his honey every year. Folks love it. If there’s any left from either of last year’s harvests, I’d be happy to take it off your hands.”
“How many jars would you want?”
“All of them,” he chortled.
“That good?”
“Best in the state, or so they say.”
“There’s a ranking?”
“I don’t know. But that’s what I tell people when they ask. And they keep buying it.”
I smiled. “Why are you at the grill? If I remember right, aren’t you usually working the register?”
“Almost always. It’s cooler and a whole lot easier, and I’m not covered in grease by the end of the day. But Frank is my regular grill man and he’s out this week. His daughter is getting married.”
“Good reason to miss work.”
“Not so good for me. I’m out of practice on the grill. I’ll do my best to make sure your burger isn’t burned.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
He eyed the sizzling grill over his shoulder. “Carl used to come here two or three times a week, you know. Always ordered a BLT on white toast, with French fries, and a pickle on the side.”
I remembered ordering the same thing when I was with him. For some reason, BLTs never tasted quite as good anywhere else.
“I’m sure he loved the peanuts, too. These are great.”
“Nope,” Claude declared. “Allergic.”
“To peanuts?” I squinted in disbelief.
“So he always told me. Said his throat would swell like a balloon.”
“The things you don’t know about a man,” I mused before recalling that Claude’s father, Jim, and my grandfather had always been close. “How’s your dad doing?” I suspected that Jim had gone the way of my grandfather, as they were close in age, but Claude only shrugged.
“Same as always, I guess. He still likes to come by the store a couple times a week and sit in the rockers out front while he has lunch.”
“Yeah?”
“As a matter of fact, your grandfather used to join him when he came by,” Claude said. “They were a regular pair. I guess Jerrold has sort of taken your grandfather’s place since your grandpa passed. Have you met Jerrold?”
“No.”
“He used to drive a truck for Pepsi. His wife passed on a few years back. Nice guy, but he’s an odd duck. And frankly, I’m not sure what either of them gets out of it. My pa’s deaf as a doornail and definitely slipping mentally. Makes it tough to have a conversation.”