4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
R egina held onto Brew’s shoulders as he took them toward their third stop. They’d already stopped at a reloading point and added bags for their next two stops. Having all her kids home made this Christmas especially perfect; plus, add in the wedding, and her heart was full.
Now, if her next-to-youngest could find his one, she could relax. She’d found her love with Baron and wanted each of her kids to have the amazing life that she’d had. Three of her kids were married in the last year if she counted Roam’s wedding tomorrow. That only left Brew to be married.
He pulled in and parked his bike close to the house. She’d wanted to check on Mrs. Hall, and Brew had a gorgeous voice, so he could do Mrs. Hall’s yearly special request.
Regina wished that Mrs. Hall would take them up on their offer to live on the compound. Regina worried about her being out here all alone, but she understood Mrs. Hall’s thinking. This was where Mrs. Hall’s family had lived. It was home.
“C’mon, Mom. You know I love you a lot if I’m willing to sing and play the piano for Mrs. Hall. I mean, I could have been at one of the reloading points, playing cards and hanging out,” Brew said.
“I know you do, and you’ve made me very happy this Christmas. Not as happy as Roam has, but you’re close,” Regina said, snickering at Brew rolling his eyes at her.
“Mom,” he whined.
She chuckled. Her kids grew into adults, but sometimes, they still whined like they were teenagers.
“I just want you as happy as your dad and I are. It’s what I’ve wanted for all of you,” she whispered, then knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Mrs. Hall called.
Regina opened the door and walked in, with Brew following behind her carrying the sack. Mrs. Hall was rocking in her chair. She laid her needlework down as they walked in.
“Ho, ho, ho! It seems you’re on the nice list, Mrs. Hall,” Brew said.
Mrs. Hall’s face lit up. “Oh, I didn’t know you were home,” she said, holding out her arms for a hug. Brew dropped the sack and leaned over, wrapping his arms around Mrs. Hall and lifting her into the air.
“Merry Christmas!” Brew said, twirling Mrs. Hall around.
“Oh, I thought you’d grown up, but you’re still the cheeky rascal you were when you worked on the farm for us,” Mrs. Hall said, grinning ear to ear.
Regina adored seeing the woman so happy. Mrs. Hall had led a hard life in the last years, and seeing her smiling was a joy.
“Now, set me down. I thought you’d be by. I made snickerdoodles. They were always your favorite when you worked here,” Mrs. Hall said.
Brew set her down and followed her into the kitchen. Regina trailed behind them. Each year without Kathryn was bittersweet, but this year, seeing all the younger generation take over made her realize Santa’s Slay MC had become more than she and Kathryn could have imagined. Her best friend would have been proud of how it had grown.
Regina sat sipping the hot cocoa and eating the snickerdoodles, just enjoying listening to her son and Mrs. Hall catch up. Tonight, as they were spreading hope, it was also about reconnecting with loved ones and the friends they’d made along the way.
That first Christmas with the Bluff Creek Brotherhood MC had changed her life. The men who had welcomed her and her twins as if they were family. Those men had shown her boys how real men acted.
She could never have imagined back then how tonight she’d be blessed with watching her youngest son as an adult giving back to one of the women who’d helped him along the way.
Mrs. Hall slid an envelope over to Brew. He stared at her for a second.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“Each year, when you all drop by my house, I send something back with you to help Kathryn’s Wings for the next year. My investments did very well this year, so tell Remi I hope it allows you all to help more people. You should get on the road. I don’t want you all to miss any houses,” Mrs. Hall said.
Brew slid the envelope in his pocket and stood. He leaned over and kissed Mrs. Hall on the cheek.
“Would you like me to play Silent Night for you?” he asked.
Regina held back the tears as Mrs. Hall nodded and wiped her eyes with a tissue. Sometimes, Christmas wasn’t a joy when people were missing loved ones who had passed. Regina followed Brew out to the front room, where he sat down at the piano.
The first notes of Silent Night rang out, and then Brew’s deep voice joined in with the melody as he sang and played. She listened as her son gave a woman who’d lost so much a reminder of years past and a Christmas memory tonight.
As the last note hung in the air, Brew stood up, slid his arm around her shoulders, and led her out to his motorcycle.
“I love you, Mama,” he said, kissing her on the cheek before getting on his motorcycle. She nodded and slid on behind him.
“I love you too, Brew. Thanks for coming home for Christmas,” she said.