Delayed Call Read online

  Her brows came together. “Is it Nate or Mr. NateWay?”

  “I like using both.”

  Rolling her eyes, she leaned her head toward his as she drew in air through her nose. “I don’t know him, and it scares me.”

  “He’s nice.”

  “I don’t know that, though.”

  “But I do.”

  Rod was so damn stubborn, always right in his eyes, and it drove Brie batty. She desperately wanted him to realize that anyone could take advantage of his sweetness, his good heart. She was determined never to allow that to happen again. He looked up at her, and she got lost in his sweet blue eyes as he begged, “I want to live at NateWay. I saw pictures online. Nate has even let me talk to some of the people, and they are so cool. I want to go, Brie, please. I want to.”

  Looking away, she closed her eyes as she squeezed his wrist, backing away slowly. “After Christmas.”

  “No, now! I hate it here. I feel like an animal. I want to be free. Brie, please.”

  Looking around the room, she shook her head. This was all she could afford because of her mom’s debts and the state funding. It wasn’t much. He had a bed and a microwave, along with a nice TV she had bought him for his birthday. Nothing else and nothing more. He didn’t have a space like she did, with the furniture and the home feel. This place wasn’t a home, it was a…cell. She had her brother in a cell, and if she didn’t change that, soon, he would lose it. He would be that animal he already claimed to be, and she couldn’t have that on her hands.

  “I’ll call when I get home,” she said suddenly, but Rodney was moving before she even finished her sentence. Producing a card, he held it out to her.

  “No, now. Make an appointment. Please. For Christmas. Make this my Christmas gift.”

  Holding his gaze, she didn’t reach for the card. “I don’t have the money for this.”

  “He said I can live there for free.”

  “Nothing in life is free, Rodney.”

  He reached out, gripping her wrist. “Love is free, and if you love me, you’ll give this to me. At least give me the chance. Please.”

  As she shook her head, her eyes burned into his. “Using Mom’s ‘love is free’ thing is rude, Rodney.”

  He grinned, and she couldn’t help it, she smiled back. He had an infectious smile, and it really did warm the hearts of all.

  “I’m ruthless.”

  She grinned as she took the card, taking her phone out of her pocket. “Yeah, you are.” Staring at her phone, she cut her eyes back and forth between the card and the phone. She didn’t know what to do. Something was holding her back because she just didn’t trust it. It had taken her forever to trust the people at Riverdale, and now she would have to trust someone else. She understood it was something that Rodney wanted, needed, so how could she leave and work when she was worried for him?

  “Please, B. I want this. I really want this.”

  Damn it.

  Rolling her eyes, she dialed the number as Rodney watched, his eyes intent on her as she waited for Mr. Way to answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi. I’m looking for Nate Way, of NateWay Homes for Adults with Down Syndrome?”

  Clearing his voice, he said, “This is Nate. Who’s this?”

  Wow, he did have a nice voice. Deep, and she was curious if Chrissie’s admiration of him had merit. He sounded hot. “Yes, my name is Brianna Soledad, and I’m calling on behalf of my brother, Rodney McAdams. He had given me your card.”

  “Brianna?”

  “Yes?”

  “Soledad?”

  “Yes?” She was confused. Why was he asking and saying her name like that?

  “Brianna Soledad?”

  “That’s me.”

  He paused. “And Rod is your brother?”

  “Yes, he is.”

  Clearing his throat, his voice dropped an octave. “Sorry, yes, Rod the Man and I go way back. I’m glad he gave you my card. I was starting to worry.”

  Rolling her eyes, she shot Rodney a look. “He basically stuffed it down my throat. We’d like to have a tour of your homes, but I want to discuss this scholarship program. You’ve mentioned it to him and have given him the literature on it that he also stuffed down my throat.”

  He laughed. A beautiful sound. “Yes, Mrs. Soledad—”

  “Ms.”

  “Ms. Soledad, excuse me. I assumed that since you two don’t have the same last name—”

  “Different fathers, and you shouldn’t assume. It makes an—”

  “Ass out of you and me. My bad.”

  Why was she smiling? Get it together, Soledad! “It’s fine. Frustrating day, but my budget is pretty tight just affording this place, so I can’t even get his hopes up if your place will cost more.”

  “It won’t. Rod the Man would live here for free but work on the premises to pay his way. A regular job, not some crazy sweatshop setup.”

  Too good to be true. Clearing her throat, she asked, “And that’s all?”

  “Yeah. I know it sounds too good to be true, but I get some really great funding from different outlets, and it’s working. We have nine residents as of now living in our homes.”

  “Homes?”

  “Yes, they are mini homes. Almost like one-bedroom apartments, but a bit bigger than one of those tiny houses from TV. A church is on the premises, a store for small items, the Walmart is just down the road, and the clinic is right by the main house where the property manager lives.”

  “You aren’t the property manager?”

  “No, I pay someone to do that. His name is Marl, and he drives everyone around, takes great care of them. He has raised two of his own kids, who both have Down syndrome. He’s a good man.”

  Her brows drew in. “And where are they?”

  “They live in the main house with him and Dawn.”

  “So do you even have space for Rod?” she snapped. She wasn’t sure why she was being so defensive. Okay, she did. She didn’t like this at all. It all sounded too good. Too easy, and nothing in life was easy.

  At least, not for her.

  “Yes, Ms. Soledad. I’ve had his house ready for two months now.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “And how did you find my brother? I find it odd that we didn’t contact you, but the other way around.”

  “Understandable. There is a resident at Riverdale by the name of Elaine Mendel, and her son, Arnold, lives here. She comes to visit every week and told me about Rodney. So I, in return, came to see him, and we clicked. He’s a good guy. He speaks fondly of you. Though, he only talks about you as B, not as Brianna.”

  “Old nickname. But okay, when can we have an appointment?”

  “Well,” he said, slowly hissing out a breath. “I’d want to do your tour, since Rod is comfortable with me and all. Plus, I’ve been the one talking to him. But can we do it after Christmas? I’ve leaving town for my other job for the next couple days, and then there’s Christmas, which I’m sure you’ll be busy with.”

  “That’s fine, I have to leave for work too. So let’s do the twenty-sixth?”

  “Perfect. Noon? We can have lunch here.”

  “Rod would love that, and I, of course, will have questions.”

  “I’m sure you will, and I look forward to answering them.”

  “Thank you.” She was trying to be civil, but it didn’t sound that way. Sounded more like she was in pain.

  “Don’t hurt yourself there, Ms. Soledad. Don’t worry, I’m not stealing your brother from you.”

  She glared even though he couldn’t see her. “Never thought so.”

  “Sure. I’m excited to see you guys.”

  “He is very excited. Thank you.”

  “You should be too. This will be great for him,” he reminded her, like everyone else had. Before she could say more, though, he said, “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas.” Hanging up the phone, she glared down at it as Rodney bounced beside her.

  “What did he sa