“Thanks. We’re glad to help. This is Cole’s hometown and I feel like it’s mine now, too, because I’ve been here so much and everyone is so friendly. We’ve talked to some of our TCC friends in Dallas. I’ll let Cole finish this.” Aaron handed the mike to Cole, who received applause.
“It’s good to be home again.” He received more applause and waved his hand for quiet as he smiled. “We have friends here tonight from the Dallas TCC. They told us today that they wanted to make a presentation tonight. I want to introduce Lars West, Sam Thompkins and Rod Jenkins. C’mon, guys,” he said as each man waved and smiled at the audience.
Tall with thick brown hair, Lars West stepped forward. “Thanks, Cole. We know the TCC suffered damage along with so much of Royal. We talked to our Dallas TCC and we want to present a check to the TCC here in Royal,” he said, turning to Gil Addison. “We’d like the Royal TCC to have a check for two million dollars to use for Royal storm aid however the TCC here sees fit.”
The last of his words were drowned out by applause as the audience came to their feet and gave him a standing ovation.
Aaron motioned to Stella to join him and he introduced her to the men from Dallas. “Thank you,” she said. “That’s an incredibly generous gift and will do so much good for Royal.”
“We hope so. We wanted to do something,” Sam said.
They talked a few more minutes and then left the stage while Cole lingered and turned to Stella.
“I was about to go home,” Cole said. “I thought Aaron could do this by himself, but he talked me into staying for the presentation. There are other Dallas TCC members here for a fun night. These three guys insist on going back to Dallas tonight, so we’re all leaving now,” Cole told them as Gil shook hands and thanked the Dallas TCC members.
“Cole, again, thanks so much for coming out,” Stella said.
“I want to thank you, too,” Aaron added.
“I hope all of this tonight brightened everybody’s Christmas,” Cole said. He left the stage to join the TCC Dallas members, moving through the crowd. He passed near Paige Richardson, speaking to her, and she smiled, speaking in return, both of them looking cordial as they passed each other.
Gil left to put the check in a safe place. Aaron took Stella’s arm to go back to the great room where a band played and people danced. People stopped to congratulate Stella, to thank her. Some thanked Aaron for the TCC Dallas contribution.
“I’m going to dance with you before we leave here,” Aaron said.
“I just hope we didn’t miss anyone tonight in terms of the presents and money we’re giving to families.”
“Everyone could sign up who felt the need and some people signed up friends who wouldn’t come in and sign up themselves. I don’t think anyone got overlooked, but there’s no way to really know,” he said. “And with that, let’s close this chapter on Royal’s recovery for tonight and concentrate on you and me.”
Startled, Stella looked up at him.
“Let’s dance,” he said, taking her into his arms. “We can’t leave early, Stella. All these people came for you and they’ll expect you to stay and have a good time. They’ll want to speak to you.”
“Aaron, in some ways,” she said as she danced with him, “all my life I’ve felt sort of like an outsider. I’ve always been plain—I grew up that way and my mother is that way. For the first time tonight, I feel really accepted by everyone.”