“I have to. I have to tell a few other people as well.” I replied as he raised a brow. “Fuck, if it’s money, I have that.”
“You would give him money to disappear?” Brent asked as my head started to throb.
“Fuck, I don’t know. I just want them safe.” I was starting to snap, and I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I need to think on this, but Jim Nichols wants me to get something together for his new place. I was going to work with Soledad at home tonight.”
“Do that. She’s safe there and I’ve got your back. Send me his name and I’ll do a little digging this evening.” Brent said as I looked at him.
“You’re the brother I never had,” I told him as he bumps fists with me. We went our separate ways and I saw that my mom was calling as I drove home. I answered it through my Bluetooth and she greeted me warmly. “Hi, Mom. How are you guys?”
“I’m impatient. I want to meet your new girlfriend and her daughter before she goes to college, I already barely see your sister.” She grumbled lovingly as I smiled tightly. I hadn’t told her what was going on since Mom tended to worry.
“I’ve been busy, Mom. She works with me a lot and we’ve just had time for that and Lindsay. I’m going to get them there for dinner and a long weekend soon.” I promised. She lived across Washington in the country by a pond. I knew that she felt lonely sometimes, but it was what it was. Alli went to college a few hours away and visited when she could. “She’s officially living in the loft now. I think it’s serious.” I talked to her when I could, and she wasn’t up on the newest info.
“I am so happy for you. They’re such beautiful girls.” I’d sent her pictures and I vowed to keep my promise to bring them to see her. “I can come and visit you.”
“The nanny is staying there too, Mom. It’s just for now since she watches Lindsay a lot of the time. I don’t have any extra rooms for you,” I told her as she squealed. “She’s not just a nanny. She’s like a mom to Soledad.”
“I love that you’re so involved in this.” Mom told me as I smiled. “I am going to be patient but please make it soon.” We talked for a bit longer about Alli and the house before ending the call just as I was pulling into the garage.
I missed Mom. I was so much closer to her than I was with my father. I’d tried with him, but it didn’t work out. I’d always appreciate the fact that his mother set aside some generous trust funds for Alli and I. Dad made his own money which was the reason my parents split in the first place. He worked too fucking much and I vowed not to do that to my own girls.
I got out of the car and headed to the elevator. I walked into the hallway, pushing back the image of Keith as I unlocked the door. I walked inside to smell chicken cooking and set my keys on the hook in the hallway. “Sol?”
“In here,” she called from the living room. I stepped down and looked at the couch to see them reading together as I smiled.
“I’m almost done with dinner. I’ll have it in half an hour.” Rosie called from the kitchen as I grinned.
“Thanks, Rosie,” I told her as I walked to the couch and sat beside Soledad. “How was your day?”
“Good. I got a little work in and we saw the new Incredibles movie. It was fun.” Soledad kissed my cheek. “I missed you.”
“I missed you. It’s hard handling everything on my own.” I joked as she smiled at me.
“Aren’t you going to go back to work?” Lindsay asked as she looked at her mom.
“Sure, I am. I’m just working from home for a bit,” she told Lindsay as she stroked her hair.
I watched as she read a book to Lindsay, who was familiar with a lot of the words. It was a combined effort now and I looked forward to seeing how she did in school. Once they were done, the girls helped set the table and we sat down to eat. I loved listening to morsels about their day and filling up on home cooked food. I left work early much more than I used to and Brent made a point of observing that on a regular basis.
Lindsay took a bath as usual and I started on the project in my room. Soledad assured me that she’d be in soon and kissed me before going to get clothes for Lindsay. I changed into lounge pants and settled on the bed with my surface pro, listening to a podcast in the background. After about an hour, Soledad strode in and pulled up her hair into a messy bun. “Hey, you.” I already had her computer on the nightstand and she leaned over to kiss me softly.
“She asleep?” I asked as I watched her pull away to stare at me.
“Out. I think she add
s a new stuffed animal every night. Thanks for having a big bed in there,” she thanked me as I grinned. “So, what’s the plan?”
“It’s a new brewery in town. Jim has several other restaurants all over the county but this one is going to be big. It caters to sports fans and families that want a night out for dinner, as well as date night.” I offered as I pulled up the images of the newest addition. It was a large restaurant that was centered around a big bar and kitchen with a lot of windows.
“It’s so pretty,” she said as she looked it over. “How many TVs does it have?”
“Thirty in total. He offers every sports channel out there and it seems to increase his business.” I replied as she nodded. We started talking about ideas as we sipped water and she threw in a few great things. We took a couple of hours to set up a good idea and I saved it for Jim before shutting down my computer. I watched as she did the same, resting her head on my bare chest as she looked at me.
“Am I staying home again tomorrow?” Her eyes were big as she met my gaze and I offered her a tight smile. “I guess so. What’s happening?”
“I’m being cautious, Sol. That’s all. You have the time to take off so enjoy it.” I told her as I kissed her forehead.
“Even if I didn’t, you’d take care of me.” She finished as I nodded. “I’m not used to being taken care of.”