Page 52 of Cold Winter Nights

“We actually have a fuckin Starbucks…I mean come on.” Stone winked. “And you know how glad I was when we got our own Ace Hardware.”

Royal rolled his eyes. “Yeah my ass felt how happy you were for an entire month.”

Stone hugged him closer and growled against his throat. “I’m not near done thanking you either.”

“Okay you two, enough already. Pastor Shaun is ready to say the blessing, dinner’s about to be served.”

Mrs. Pearl was shaking her head at them like she always did when they were all over each other. But tonight she had a mischievous glint in her eyes that made him suspicious.

Stone raised an eyebrow. “What are you looking so cute about?”

“Oh nothing.” She grinned, beckoning for them to hurry.

Royal walked back into the dining room and the smell of his favorite baked rolls and roasted venison made his stomach growl.

The conversations in the dining room had been loud and boisterous when he’d been on the balcony, now everyone was eyeing him, and murmuring in hushed tones.

“What in the world is up with you guys?” Stone grumbled before he pulled Royal’s chair out at their table.

“Royal, oh my lord, honey is that you?”

His ass almost missed the chair and he would’ve hit the floor if it wasn’t for Stone’s quick reflexes.

After all the years of silence, as if he were still ten years old, he recognized her gentle voice.

“Mom,” Royal gasped, scanning the room.

Stone turned him towards the doors.

She rushed towards him with her arms outstretched, his father moving a bit slower behind her.

Her eyes shone with unshed tears and Royal opened his arms as shock, joy and relief slammed into his chest.

“Look at you,” she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug.

His father stood beside her with a faint but proud smile tugging his lips.

Royal could feel the emotion bubbling and threating to spill over any second. He stared in disbelief.

He could’t believe how much they’d aged, but the love and affection in their gazes was still there, timeless compassion bringing back a rush of memories.

His mother’s hair was all silver and cropped short, and his dad’s posture was a bit more stooped, but his warm brown eyes and kind smile could still light up the room.

His father squeezed his shoulder while his mom held him tight, refusing to let go.

“What are you guys doing here?” he choked out.

“Mayor Rebekkah is a good friend of your mother’s, son. She called and said wehadto come and see what you’ve done here. See the lives you’ve touched.”

And there went the tears as people stood and clapped for him.

Royal hadn’t noticed his baby brother, and when he did, he thought the tears would never end.

“Cam,” Royal said around a watery laugh. “Shit, you’re huge now.”

His brother laughed and stepped in for a hug. “It’s great to see you, bro. We missed you man.”

Royal squeezed his little brother until he grunted. He thought they’d all washed their hands of him. His mother had responded to his letters and sent him greeting cards on the holidays but he’d never called them, afraid of getting the cold shoulder.

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