Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

chattering teeth. "Stone Hillyard."
"I'm Geoff and this is Eli. We just need to get your coat off."
    Stone let his arms fall to his side and felt his coat slip from his body, the warmth of the house reaching through his shirt to his skin, and he couldn't suppress a sigh.

    "Take your shoes off and come sit on the sofa," Eli said softly.
    "T... t... thanks." Somehow Stone got his shoes off and walked barefoot to the sofa. He heard a gasp and then someone hurried up a set of stairs. Stone didn't really care what happened; he just knew he needed to get warm somehow. He heard feet descend the stairs at a run, and then he was enveloped in a big, puffy, warm quilt and he began to shake in earnest.
    "Adelle," he heard Geoff call into another room as he pulled the quilt up around his ears, which were starting to burn as the feeling returned. "Mr. Geoff." He saw an older black woman walk into the room. "What happened?"
    "I found him on the doorstep. Would you make him something hot? We need to get him warm. I think he may have frostbite, I know he's close to hypothermia." She hurried away, and Stone breathed a sigh of relief as his body shook and his feet throbbed with pain as the feeling returned. His hands tingled as well, but at least he could still feel those.
    The woman returned, and he tried to take the mug she offered, but his hands couldn't grip it well and it almost slipped from his hands. "It's okay, darling, I got it." She took the mug again and held it to his lips. "Just a few sips to start with."

    The liquid burned a little as it went down, and then he began to feel some warmth on the inside. He tried to drink more, but she pulled the mug back. "Take it easy. Too much will shock yer system." He nodded, and she waited a few minutes before bringing the mug to his lips again. This time, he was able to drink a gulp, and it went down smooth and warm.
    "Mmmm." Hot chocolate had never tasted so good in his life, and he took another drink and then reached for the mug, the warmth seeping into his hands. The tingling subsided and he felt the burning in his feet start to dissipate. "Thank you." He took a few more drinks and emptied the mug, closing his eyes as the thick liquid slid down his throat and hit his empty stomach, which growled loudly at being teased.
    "When was the last time you ate?" The woman fussed over him as other people came in the room, and he heard questions being asked and answered in hushed tones. Stone shrugged and looked into the four male faces that stood around the sofa. "You boys scoot and let me take care of him," the woman scolded.
    "Let's get everything closed up for the night; it's going to be very cold," Geoff said, and the men walked away, one of them making his way carefully upstairs.
    "It's okay, sweetie, you're safe for now. Just relax and get warm, I'll be right back." She walked away and he heard her working in the kitchen, humming softly to herself. She returned with a sandwich on a plate, and Stone found himself lifting one half and biting into it. After he swallowed, he finished the rest in a single bite and took the other half. "Lord, slow down. No one's going to take it from ya." Stone looked up at her smiling face and tried to take smaller bites, but his stomach screamed for more. When the sandwich was gone, another appeared, and Stone pushed down the tears that threatened to come to the surface. "There, there, just eat your fill."
    After three sandwiches and another big mug of hot chocolate, he was finally full and couldn't keep his eyes open any more. "Thank you, ma'am." She took the plate and mug. "You're welcome. Now just rest and I'll be right here."
    Stone closed his eyes and found himself floating. Music invaded his mind and memories he'd thought long gone came back to him. Images of his mother dancing around the living room with him, the two of them dancing happily, flashed through his dreams.

    Stone's eyes cracked open. He must have dozed off, but the music was still there. He recognized the tune as he listened, his breathing evening out again. He was truly warm and full--feelings he hadn't felt in a long time. Closing his eyes again, he felt himself fall into a deep, restful sleep.
    ITWASdark when he woke again. He felt, rather than heard or saw, someone else in the room with him, but he didn't want to move. Shifting on the sofa, he found a comfortable spot and drifted back to sleep, figuring he had to be dreaming. And if he was, he didn't want to wake up, ever. Maybe