Free Nolan by Kathi S. Barton

think in the end, it will.” She asked if
Rylee was human. “Yes she is, for now. How did you know?”
    “I told you, I know your grandmother. And
there is a pistol if I ever met one.” Joey asked if she meant Katie Bentley. “Oh
my, the stories I could tell you about her in her younger days. And Howie? That
man…well, that is for another time. But you should ask them about the cruise
that our families took together. That will give you a whole new view into your
grandparents.”
    Joey left with the promise of getting in
touch with her in a few days. And she told him that if she got the results back
sooner, which she said she would, she’d let him know. Joey had a feeling things
were going to be just peachy around the Cole household in a few days.
    I just left Mrs. Cole’s home. And she is a
believer. It took her about five minutes to have her doctor come in and get a
sample from her. Nolan thanked him again, but Joey could hear the frustration in his voice. What’s
going on? Something happened?
    Yes. I have to…I’m going to take Rylee over
to the shelter today. Mom mentioned the charity thing and she said that I
should take her. Sounded reasonable, but not enough to frustrate him on it. I didn’t think to
ask her to this thing, and she’s sort of put out that she needs to use my money
to buy a dress.
    Put out or pissed? He told him both. Good.
You should have told her about it. Not to say that you haven’t had a lot on
your mind, but you need to be more open with her. Have you…have you bonded
yet?”
    It was a personal question, he knew that, but
he also knew that things were moving much faster than Nolan was moving right
now. Joey understood that he wanted to help her understand things, but if David
Cole came for them, they had to all be ready.
    Are you going to try and tell me how to do
this too? Joey wasn’t sure what to say to Nolan, so he didn’t say anything. His temper of
late was touchy, and it seemed to take very little to set him off. I’m
sorry. I have…this isn’t going well here. I have to get a house, and I don’t
have the funds right now. And please don’t tell me you can give them to me. I’d
like to do this on my own.
    Nolan, what’s wrong?” He’d asked him that
before, and had, in the past, gotten either a nasty answer or none at all. He
was expecting them both right now. I want to help you.
    I’ve been…stupid. Joey wasn’t sure he
could have disagreed with him so kept his mouth shut. I don’t know what to
do. I’m not even sure I know what’s wrong with me. Maybe…maybe I’m just…I don’t
know. Joey, I’m afraid.
    Of what? He wanted to reach out to his brother
and look into his head. He could now, thanks to the magic that he’d gotten from
Chris. But he was afraid to. He wasn’t sure what he’d find when he looked. What
are you afraid of, Nolan? Tell me.
    I’m such a disappointment. Before he could
speak, shock making him speechless, Nolan said he had to go. I’m going to
the shelter today so that I can show Rylee what you guys have done. Later.
    The connection wasn’t just closed, but seemed
to be slammed shut. He tried twice to reach Nolan but until he was sure, he
wouldn’t hurt him by forcing his way in. He was going to talk to Chris first.
    He reached for his grandda, knowing that if
anyone could help him it would he him. Grandda, of course, had plenty to say,
but very little of it was going to be helpful.
    You leave him to me. I’ll talk to your
grandmother too. She can do all kinds of things that we menfolk can only think
about. She’ll bring that boy…what did he tell you that makes him think…? Good
heavens, he’s a doctor. How would…? It’s this shelter thing. I knew it. I’ll
talk to him.
    Joey was a little nervous now. Pushing the
gas pedal a little harder, he wondered if he’d made a mistake talking to Grandda.
Wondering what else could possibly go wrong, he made his way to Micah’s house
to talk to him.

 
    Chapter 5
     
    Rylee looked