Free Nolan by Kathi S. Barton Page A

around the shelter. It was nicer
than their last home and a good deal better equipped. There was a small store
that people could come to and use credits to purchase things like soap and
toothpaste. The credits were earned by doing chores around the building, from
sweeping to washing down the bathrooms.
    “I thought it would give them some worth. And
there is a list where they can sign up to take turns running the store, too. I
even offered to have potential job seekers use it as a sort of part-time job to
put on resumes.” He frowned and she waited for the put down, as she’d begun to
call them. “My mom suggested that we put in the extras like laundry items. I
was just going to give them to them, but she said that it gave them something
that would be theirs, paying for items that they needed.”
    “This thing? Is it a family project then?” He
didn’t answer her, and she stopped him from moving again. “Nolan? What is going
on here? Your mom tells me you have this great plan and what it’s doing for the
community. You tell me that it’s your family’s, and that other than the start
up, you have no part of it. I’m still trying to figure that one out since
everyone but you says it’s yours. And there is the way you keep telling me that
it’s not what you wanted. What is it you wanted? To have your name engraved on
each wall and floor?”
    “I started it some time back. And then when
my family found out about it, they sort of barged in.” She knew it was more
than that and asked him again. “I had gotten myself down to being broke. Not
just where I couldn’t pay for all the things here, but I wasn’t going to be able
to pay my rent on my apartment. So they came in and took over.”
    “Took over, or you gave up?” He didn’t say anything,
but she knew that she’d touched a nerve by the look on his face. “What have you
done to help them, when this was your project and they’ve helped you out?”
    “Nothing.” It sounded defensive, and she felt
her own temper rise up to meet his. “You should know that I’m a big
disappointment to them. Getting myself in a hole that I can’t get myself out
of.”
    Rylee hit him. Not hard, but enough to get
his attention. She could tell that his cat was close…it was almost as if she
could touch him, but he needed his head put back in place, and she was going to
do it. Taking his arm, she dragged him over to two men that were standing there
acting like they had nothing to do but hold up the broom that one of them was
holding.
    “This man, do you know him?” The bigger of
the two of them shook his head. “He’s the one that started this thing. His
family is helping him out.”
    “Yeah, that’s Nolan Bentley. Did you know
that they’re going to have food here? And a place I can shower every day
instead of when I can get me into a station with a sink.” He nodded to Nolan. “I’m
even working today.”
    “Good for you.” She moved to the next group
of men and woman. “This is Nolan Bentley. He is the one that purchased this
building and started this project before his family came in and took over.”
    “Family is good. You don’t get but one chance
to have a good one. Them helping you, they’s made it so we can have a nice
place. Thank you for getting us a warm dry place to sleep and live again.” The
man standing there shook his hand.
    The woman spoke next. “You got us the beds
too, I heard.” Nolan nodded and told her how they’d been stored in a warehouse
that he’d purchased. “A bed. Do you know how long it’s been since I slept in
one? More’n I like to think about. Thank you.”
    As they moved deeper into the building, she
could see the doctor’s office as well as a pharmacy. She knew that he’d done
that; his mother couldn’t say enough about the things that had been in place
before they’d come to help him. She stopped by the day care and looked inside
at the two people in there setting it up, as well as a handicapped young