The sweet aroma of cinnamon and freshly brewed coffee made his mouth water. Hearty laughter echoed against the pine-paneled walls of the large room with an eclectic collection of round and square tables. The room was mostly empty except for a group of men huddled near the counter where his aunt stood.

At Charlie’s entrance, the room went silent.

Lane looked over her shoulder and then back at the remaining customers. “Have y’all met Ms. Byrdie’s nephew?”

A tall man with a bristly beard of gray smirked. “Haven’t had the pleasure, but thanks to the Rubies I’ve heard all about you.”

“The Duke, huh?” The other man neared Charlie so close their toes almost touched. “Esther needs to get her eyes checked. Wayne’s taller. More meat to his bones.”

Rubies? Duke? Charlie grew hot under the collar and he was wearing a T-shirt. What were these guys talking about? He looked to his aunt for clarification, but she busied herself filling a bowl with cobbler.

“If I had a wife, I’d probably hear all about you too,” the third man perched on the stool chimed in. “And I wouldn’t like ya neither.”

Charlie swallowed and sidestepped the man still sizing him up. He might’ve been half a century older than Charlie, but there was enough muscle tone in the man’s arms to demonstrate he wasn’t enjoying the passive life of retirement just yet. “Um, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Wilbur, Clarence, and the ornery one on the stool is Ducky.” Lane patted the back of the one nearest Charlie—Wilbur? “And they were just saying good night.”

Aunt B set a bowl of cobbler on the counter. “Charlie’s here to keep you fellas in line.”

Charlie’s eyes grew round. “What? No—”

“Uh-oh.” The one called Ducky snorted and gave a gummy smile.

What was his aunt doing? Charlie didn’t want any trouble—though he did have age to his advantage, and he was pretty certain he could outrun Wilbur and Clarence. But Ducky, he looked scrappy. From the corner of his eye, he saw Lane with her arms folded, amusement lighting her eyes.

“Harrumph.” Wilbur scratched his beard. “Guess the Rubies are right.”

Clarence sidled up to his friend and squinted in Charlie’s direction. “It’s gotta be the eyes.”

“No, I think it’s the baby beard he’s trying to grow.” Wilbur nodded. “Don’t girls like that Grizzly Adams look?”

“He ain’t no Grizz—”

“Okay, boys, that’s enough hazing for now.” Aunt B giggled and put a hand on Ducky’s arm. “Let my nephew eat his cobbler while it’s warm.”

“Until next time.” Wilbur held out his hand.

Charlie shook it, and then Clarence’s. He still had no idea what was happening. Hazing?