We drove on.
I saw it before we left the street. My father did too. I know he did.
The sign.
GORDO’S.
He didn’t say anything.
I didn’t either.
GREEN CREEK HADN’T CHANGED in the year I’d been gone. It looked as it always did. Oh, some of the stores looked as if they’d gotten a fresh coat of paint, and the awnings were new, but it was still the same town I’d left behind. Lights had been hung up on lampposts and garland placed along benches and signs.
And the people.
All of the people.
They heard us coming.
They appeared in the doorways.
On the salted sidewalks, the melting snow shoveled off the curbs.
They filled the streets.
Kelly slowed the truck to a halt before turning it off.
“Why are we stopping?” I whispered.
I felt him looking at me. “You know why. They’ve been waiting for you.”
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
He said, “You can. I know you can. After everything, you deserve this. They’ll want to see you.” And then, remarkably, he laughed. “Mr. Mayor.”
I groaned. “Holy shit. I forgot about that. How the hell did that happen?”
“I have no idea,” Kelly said. “Everyone is going to yell at you.”
I looked at him. “They know?”
He nodded. “They do. They… they aren’t pack. But most understand what it means. Or at least the idea of it. They know you’re important to us. To this place.” His smile trembled. “To me.”
I reached over and wrapped my hand around his neck, pulling him close. He pressed his forehead against mine. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Never giving up on me.”
He breathed me in. “You’re my brother. I would never let you go. And you made me a promise once.”
“That I’d always come back to you.”
“And you did.” He laughed again. “You did.”
He climbed out of the truck. People swarmed him, all talking excitedly. They waved at us through the windshield, standing on their tiptoes, trying to see me. To see us.
I looked at Gavin. “All right?”