Delayed Call
Page 37
He loved everyone in this place with his whole soul. There was no denying that. Yet, he had lied to her. To her face, over the phone, the whole nine. The problem was, she wasn’t sure she could hold that over his head for much longer. She didn’t think that excuse could last long because Rodney was in love with the place. Hell, she was too. It was perfect, and from the moment they pulled up, Rodney had been beside himself with excitement. He wanted this so badly, and she wanted it too. But could she let go of the awful feeling circling in her gut and trust Vaughn? Trust the people he had in charge to care for her brother?
They all seemed amazing. Marl was a little grumpy, but he lit up the moment his girls were around, and even around the other residents. Dawn was a complete godsend, and from what Brie heard, the nurse practitioner was amazing too. Plus, the residents loved Rodney. For a moment, she was pretty sure Vaughn had paid everyone off, but then they all just clicked. There were five other men and four women, plus Dawn’s two daughters. Once all the guys got together, Rodney was in heaven, especially when they started talking about Pokémon. It was perfect, and she loved seeing her brother so happy, but still, she worried. The anxiety was overwhelming, but thankfully, she had time. With Rodney’s surgery and recovery, she wouldn’t have to make any kind of decisions for another month, much to Rodney’s dismay.
Vaughn’s, too.
She could tell that Vaughn wanted this badly for Rodney. She really didn’t understand why he wanted to take the blame for all this. That wasn’t like him. He didn’t care about anyone else. Or, at least, she thought he didn’t. One day with him on this farm, and he was like a totally different dude. And if she were honest, she was completely attracted to him too. More than just the sexual side. He was kind, sweet, and so damn gentle. It was a lovely thing to behold.
But she still hated him.
She had to, or she was going to fall face first for him.
Like an idiot.
“So, Vaughn tells me you’re a reporter for the Assassins. That must be an exciting job.”
Looking up from the cake she was devouring as she had an internal battle with herself, she found Dawn grinning at her. She was older, maybe in her fifties, but with bright brown eyes and a smile that was unstoppable. She looked like a grandma, someone you could cuddle with, and a part of Brie could really use a hug from someone like her. Deciding that was a bit weird, she just nodded. “Yup, I love it.”
“He also told me you guys leave a lot, though. That must be hard with Rodney and all.”
Brie’s lips curved into a grim smile. “It is, hence why I’m nervous about moving him. He’s already established, and everyone understands my crazy there.”
“Oh, of course. I couldn’t imagine, but I can promise you, you have nothing to worry about if he does come here. We love our babies. All of them.”
Brie watched as Dawn looked out at the dining room, everyone from every walk of life around the table, eating and laughing, all smiles. Every single person was so happy, but all Brie saw were Vaughn and Rodney, both smiling from the inside out. “Even the big lug at the end of the table. He’s my favorite, though.”
Brie grinned. “I can tell.”
“We lived in Colorado, right down the road from him and Nathan. Natty would come and stay with us when their daddy and Vaughn had to work. But when Vaughn had hockey, Natty’d sit in that damn rink for hours, just watching Vaughn. He was such a sweet boy, so full of life. When we lost him, we were all so crushed. But Vaughn, bless him…” She shook her head. Brie wanted more, but when she glanced back to Dawn, she knew it wasn’t Dawn’s story to tell. “It was touch and go for a while, but here we are. Two NateWays and almost forty beautiful, amazing adults with Down syndrome with loving and supportive homes. I’m a happy camper.”
“There are two?”
“Yup, one back home in Colorado and then this one. Vaughn is looking into building one in New York and then Florida, before heading out to the West Coast.”
That impressed the hell out of her. Who would have thought Vaughn Johansson had such a huge heart? It was obvious this place wasn’t cheap, especially if he was paying the way of some of the residents. “Wow, that’s amazing.”
Dawn nodded. “He’s got some big plans—and an even bigger heart.”
Glancing to where Dawn was staring, she saw that Vaughn was wrapped up in a hug between Rodney and Mitch, Rod’s potential neighbor. Vaughn’s face was full of bliss as he laughed loudly, holding the two men like brothers. If she’d thought he was stunning before, nothing could touch the beauty of the euphoric look on his face at that moment. Looking away because it was too much, she felt her heart actually ache. She wanted to say no, she wanted to tell him to fuck off, but not only did he look pleased as punch, but she could see Rodney belonged.
This was his home, and for some reason, that scared her.
“Oh, Trish! Over here.”
Following Dawn’s gaze, Brie saw a slender woman enter the room, but before she could even get to Dawn, everyone was demanding hugs, and she was more than happy to give them. She looked about Brie’s age, very beautiful and kind-looking with long blond hair and big brown eyes. When Trish finally made it to Dawn, she hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry I’m late. There was an emergency at the hospital that I did not expect to happen. So I apologize. Oh! You must be Brie Soledad, Rodney’s sister?”
A little taken aback, Brie took her hand as she said, “Yes, that’s me.”
“Oh, jeez! Sorry, creeper. Ha! I’m Trish Merota, the NateWay nurse practitioner.”
Brie grinned. “I figured. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. We are so excited to have Rod, he’s so funny.”
“He is,” she agreed, looking back at her brother who was now doing his impression of Justin Bieber. Dork. “He’s a mess for sure.”
“He’s got spunk. So, I was going to ask, if you can have them release his medical files to me, that would be awesome. I want to get ready for when he comes home after his surgery. I figured I’d stay on site for at least a week. Is it okay if I stay in the guest room, Grams? Or better yet, I might even stay in his house if he’s okay with that. And you, of course, if you’re okay with it.”
Whoa, she talked fast, but that wasn’t what had Brie’s head spinning. Soon, she pressed her lips together, unsure what to say. She hadn’t agreed to anything, and this chick was acting as if it was a done deal. Had Vaughn lied even more to these people? And now she was going to be the asshole saying she wasn’t bringing Rodney here. They hadn’t even decided on anything. She was just warming up to the idea of saying yes, but she figured Rodney would go to Riverdale until he was better. She would be a mess if he were here.
They all seemed amazing. Marl was a little grumpy, but he lit up the moment his girls were around, and even around the other residents. Dawn was a complete godsend, and from what Brie heard, the nurse practitioner was amazing too. Plus, the residents loved Rodney. For a moment, she was pretty sure Vaughn had paid everyone off, but then they all just clicked. There were five other men and four women, plus Dawn’s two daughters. Once all the guys got together, Rodney was in heaven, especially when they started talking about Pokémon. It was perfect, and she loved seeing her brother so happy, but still, she worried. The anxiety was overwhelming, but thankfully, she had time. With Rodney’s surgery and recovery, she wouldn’t have to make any kind of decisions for another month, much to Rodney’s dismay.
Vaughn’s, too.
She could tell that Vaughn wanted this badly for Rodney. She really didn’t understand why he wanted to take the blame for all this. That wasn’t like him. He didn’t care about anyone else. Or, at least, she thought he didn’t. One day with him on this farm, and he was like a totally different dude. And if she were honest, she was completely attracted to him too. More than just the sexual side. He was kind, sweet, and so damn gentle. It was a lovely thing to behold.
But she still hated him.
She had to, or she was going to fall face first for him.
Like an idiot.
“So, Vaughn tells me you’re a reporter for the Assassins. That must be an exciting job.”
Looking up from the cake she was devouring as she had an internal battle with herself, she found Dawn grinning at her. She was older, maybe in her fifties, but with bright brown eyes and a smile that was unstoppable. She looked like a grandma, someone you could cuddle with, and a part of Brie could really use a hug from someone like her. Deciding that was a bit weird, she just nodded. “Yup, I love it.”
“He also told me you guys leave a lot, though. That must be hard with Rodney and all.”
Brie’s lips curved into a grim smile. “It is, hence why I’m nervous about moving him. He’s already established, and everyone understands my crazy there.”
“Oh, of course. I couldn’t imagine, but I can promise you, you have nothing to worry about if he does come here. We love our babies. All of them.”
Brie watched as Dawn looked out at the dining room, everyone from every walk of life around the table, eating and laughing, all smiles. Every single person was so happy, but all Brie saw were Vaughn and Rodney, both smiling from the inside out. “Even the big lug at the end of the table. He’s my favorite, though.”
Brie grinned. “I can tell.”
“We lived in Colorado, right down the road from him and Nathan. Natty would come and stay with us when their daddy and Vaughn had to work. But when Vaughn had hockey, Natty’d sit in that damn rink for hours, just watching Vaughn. He was such a sweet boy, so full of life. When we lost him, we were all so crushed. But Vaughn, bless him…” She shook her head. Brie wanted more, but when she glanced back to Dawn, she knew it wasn’t Dawn’s story to tell. “It was touch and go for a while, but here we are. Two NateWays and almost forty beautiful, amazing adults with Down syndrome with loving and supportive homes. I’m a happy camper.”
“There are two?”
“Yup, one back home in Colorado and then this one. Vaughn is looking into building one in New York and then Florida, before heading out to the West Coast.”
That impressed the hell out of her. Who would have thought Vaughn Johansson had such a huge heart? It was obvious this place wasn’t cheap, especially if he was paying the way of some of the residents. “Wow, that’s amazing.”
Dawn nodded. “He’s got some big plans—and an even bigger heart.”
Glancing to where Dawn was staring, she saw that Vaughn was wrapped up in a hug between Rodney and Mitch, Rod’s potential neighbor. Vaughn’s face was full of bliss as he laughed loudly, holding the two men like brothers. If she’d thought he was stunning before, nothing could touch the beauty of the euphoric look on his face at that moment. Looking away because it was too much, she felt her heart actually ache. She wanted to say no, she wanted to tell him to fuck off, but not only did he look pleased as punch, but she could see Rodney belonged.
This was his home, and for some reason, that scared her.
“Oh, Trish! Over here.”
Following Dawn’s gaze, Brie saw a slender woman enter the room, but before she could even get to Dawn, everyone was demanding hugs, and she was more than happy to give them. She looked about Brie’s age, very beautiful and kind-looking with long blond hair and big brown eyes. When Trish finally made it to Dawn, she hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry I’m late. There was an emergency at the hospital that I did not expect to happen. So I apologize. Oh! You must be Brie Soledad, Rodney’s sister?”
A little taken aback, Brie took her hand as she said, “Yes, that’s me.”
“Oh, jeez! Sorry, creeper. Ha! I’m Trish Merota, the NateWay nurse practitioner.”
Brie grinned. “I figured. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too. We are so excited to have Rod, he’s so funny.”
“He is,” she agreed, looking back at her brother who was now doing his impression of Justin Bieber. Dork. “He’s a mess for sure.”
“He’s got spunk. So, I was going to ask, if you can have them release his medical files to me, that would be awesome. I want to get ready for when he comes home after his surgery. I figured I’d stay on site for at least a week. Is it okay if I stay in the guest room, Grams? Or better yet, I might even stay in his house if he’s okay with that. And you, of course, if you’re okay with it.”
Whoa, she talked fast, but that wasn’t what had Brie’s head spinning. Soon, she pressed her lips together, unsure what to say. She hadn’t agreed to anything, and this chick was acting as if it was a done deal. Had Vaughn lied even more to these people? And now she was going to be the asshole saying she wasn’t bringing Rodney here. They hadn’t even decided on anything. She was just warming up to the idea of saying yes, but she figured Rodney would go to Riverdale until he was better. She would be a mess if he were here.
