* * * at that same moment a blonde woman was sitting across from her only friend smoking a cigarette and sipping on the coffee that the man behind the counter brought out to her . bates stand before me , with the family standing around you closely and holding on to you tightly . it will be waiting for us at the town wharf . ' the dogs went back and circled him . they grow almost year round , the roots store through the winter , and they have just about every vitamin you need . 