Page 13 of Club Royal: Calendar Collection
Christian kissed his neck. “Exactly. We did everything yesterday. We have time to focus on ourselves before we head in, okay?”
“Yes, Daddy,” he whispered, and though he wasn’t little right then, he knew when his Daddy had made sense.
“How about a nice, long shower together before we get ready?”
That nice, long shower was even longer than they expected because Christian wanted to help distract Oscar as much as possible before they had to leave.
Persuading him to eat was another feat, but he got some porridge into Oscar’s stomach.
They checked what they had to take with them, which wasn’t much, and then headed off, meeting up with the bodyguards as they left home.
The coffee shop was already in full swing by the time they got there. Not with customers but with friends helping to make sure Oscar didn’t have a heart attack before the end of the day. Before they entered, Christian grabbed Oscar’s hand and dragged him across the road.
“What are we—?”
Christian stopped and tugged him towards him, wrapping his arms around him from behind and leaning close enough that he could be heard without shouting.
“Just look, Oscar. Look at your coffee shop. Look what you’ve achieved.
” Oscar froze, his attention on the place as Christian wanted it to be.
“The flags on the outside advertise that people are welcome, but that welcome doesn’t have constraints.
It doesn’t need a flag to be there. It comes from here.
” He tapped Oscar’s chest. “Look inside. See the laughter, the love, everyone sharing the work. You’re not alone, Oscar.
We’re here to help on a day that will be amazing because you came up with a new idea for the place based on an old concept. ”
Oscar exhaled heavily. “Thank you.”
“Now, let’s give Windsor what they didn’t know they wanted.”
They entered the coffee shop, hand in hand, and when Hilary held out two rainbow aprons, Oscar looked at him as if to say he didn’t have to wear it, but just as he’d said before, everyone shared the work, and Christian didn’t mind wearing something that gave hope and joy to so many people.
He smiled and threw it over his head, wrapping the ties around his waist.
“Where do you want me?”
Oscar
As Hilary turned the sign to say “open,” Oscar fisted his hands, hoping his idea went as well as everyone thought it would. Several people entered straight away, and Oscar set to work.
The first customer came up to the counter. “Good morning. Could I get a coffee and a muffin, please?”
“Of course,” he said, passing the coffee order to Hilary and plating the muffin.
“Today, we are introducing a new idea. We’d like to ask if you’d be willing to buy a drink and a breakfast item for someone who is not in a safe place right now.
We’re opening this place to anyone who needs support, however that might show, but a lot of those in a terrible place don’t get to eat or drink as much as they should. ”
The older lady smiled. “Definitely. I’ll happily donate. Are you doing anything else?”
Oscar took a breath. “Actually, we’re also wanting to get a list together of people who might be willing to be a safe space.
Some people and businesses have stickers on their windows to show a place that is open to those needing help, but we’d like to go a step further.
By having names and phone numbers of people who have immediate space available, we can house someone very quickly if they need to disappear. ”
The lady was nodding before he’d finished. “I have one of those stickers, but I also have two spare rooms since my children left home. I’d love to be considered.”
He passed her the drink and muffin on a tray, smiling. “That’s great, thank you. If you speak to Christian at the end, he will take your information.”
The woman gasped and leaned closer. “The prince?”
Oscar nodded. “He doesn’t bite.”
The lady didn’t look so sure, but she went over to him after paying for her purchases.
Within seconds, the woman was laughing at something Christian said, and Oscar smiled as he served the next customer, still monitoring them because he wanted to see her reaction to the gift Christian gave her for supporting them.
He wasn’t disappointed. Hands shaking, the woman covered her mouth with one hand and took the box with the other.
It wasn’t anything big and flashy, but Oscar and the royal family had agreed to provide all those who were willing to offer a safe space a personalised keyring.
On it was the royal crest, the Book Drunk logo and the words “Safe Space Angel.”
And so it went. Chloe took over from him at the counter after an hour, each of them deciding not to stay at the front for more than that at a time as it could get overwhelming, especially when customers wanted to share their stories.
Oscar entered the back office and found himself wrapped in Christian’s arms. He sighed, closed his eyes and hugged him.
“You’re making a difference, Oscar. Even if you can’t see it right now, trust me to tell you the truth,” Christian whispered.
Oscar lifted his head and stared into his fiancé’s eyes. “I trust you, and I love you.”
When their lips met, everything fell into place, as it always did.
“I love you.”
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