Maid to Order (Man Maid Book 4) Page 9

  They talked about what had happened to some of their classmates since graduation. The fact that they’d both aged along with their other classmates hadn’t passed Danny by. He might be a little slower to understand some things but overall he got the fact that none of them were as young as they used to be. All too soon they made it to the lake and joined Ronnie, Seth and Ian by the water’s edge.

  By the end of the afternoon Rusty was sorry for having jogged Danny’s memories. Every stunt, trick and bit of mischief they’d ever gotten into was rehashed. His brothers in arms enjoyed Danny’s stories immensely and Danny was eating up being the center of their attention.

  Much as he knew they would, anytime one of them didn’t understand something Danny said, they simply had him repeat it until they did. They didn’t treat him differently or special… instead they pumped him for information on Rusty.

  Rusty tried not to be impacted by the stories Danny told but with each one his mind kept going back to the fact that Amy was making Danny stay at the group home when he obviously didn’t want to be there. And for good reason. He had to do something to help his old friend.

  Even if Danny hadn’t been his friend he couldn’t just sit back and look the other way now that he knew what was going on there. There had to be something Rusty could do. The trip to take Danny back was filled with more singing along to the radio while Rusty found himself stewing over what he would say to Amy.

  “Are you staying at Amy’s house tonight?” he managed to ask Danny, keeping as much of the growing agitation out of his voice as possible.

  “She’s supposed to take me to the library tomorrow to check on a movie I requested. We were supposed to go on Saturday to check,” Danny sighed and his face suddenly turned sad. “She’s so busy that she lives in a pigsty. That’s what she said… a pigsty… that’s a home for pigs. That means that her house is messy, Rusty. Did you see it?”

  When Rusty remained silent, Danny continued, “She’s too busy right now so I’m going back to the home so she doesn’t have to worry about the library tomorrow either. Maybe next time.”

  By the time they made it to the shop, Rusty was full blown angry. Not only did she not make time to properly exercise her obese and disobedient dog, she obviously didn’t make time for her brother either. Where were her priorities at? Upon entering the shop he found Amy behind the counter.

  “Go sit at one of those tables and write the answers to the application questions on a blank piece of paper first. Once we have all the answers on the blank paper then we can write them again… nicely… on the application,” Rusty said.

  “That’s a good idea, Rusty,” Danny smiled. “That way I don’t have to use my eraser on the nice application paper.”

  “Exactly. You got it, man. Just take your time and think before you write it down,” Rusty said.

  “Just like school, huh, Rusty?”

  “Yep, just like school.”

  Once Danny was settled at a table and had started in on writing things down on the blank paper Rusty turned to look at Amy. She smiled her most devastating smile yet but he wasn’t having any of it this time.

  Glancing at the display cases, it appeared they were nearly empty so it must be near to closing. That was good. Forcing himself not to stomp, he approached her and leaned down to quietly say, “In the back… now.”

  Then he walked past her and into the bakery area. She followed him and her earlier smile was replaced with a worried look. Taking a few calming breaths he faced her.

  “Are you aware that Danny doesn’t like staying in the group home?” he ground out.

  She suddenly leaned back on the heels of her feet and crossed her arms underneath her breasts, raising them up as if to show them off. He refused to allow his gaze to drop to the perky mounds of perfection, so he didn’t miss it when her facial expression changed to a self-protective one.

  “As a matter of fact, I am aware, Rusty,” she said defensively. “I’m looking for another place for him but the two assisted living communities I called don’t have any vacancies right now. It’s not like I have that kind of money right now anyway. This past weekend helped but last I checked I don’t have an extra four grand for all the initial move in expenses, including the first month’s rent and deposit, registration costs, testing and actual placement, just stuffed down in my purse. I got about twenty five hundred but it’s going to take a minute to get the rest. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Not my business?” Rusty asked in disbelief. “I’ve known that man since we were both five years old. We started kindergarten together, graduated high school together and were friends every day in between. So when my friend tells me he doesn’t want to stay there anymore… I listen… and when necessary I make it my business. Why can’t he stay with you until you find him an apartment?”

  “This conversation is over! I don’t have to explain myself to you! I don’t even know you,” she said angrily.

  “You’re right… I don’t know you either! Which begs the question, how the hell can you be his sister if I’ve never seen you before in my life?” Rusty asked.

  “Something else that’s none ya business,” she said smartly.

  “He’s not going back to that home, Ms. Carlton, so it just became my business,” Rusty said angrily.

  “You think you can take better care of him then I can? Is that it, Rusty? You haven’t seen him in more than twenty years! You wouldn’t last a week living with him. He’s stubborn as hell and a serious neat freak amongst other things!” she said angrily. “I’m sorry he has to be there right now and I’m looking to fix that situation as soon as I can but… for now… just butt out!”

  “What makes you think I couldn’t take care of him? I’m pretty damn sure I can keep track of one adult man for more than just a week! I kept track of younger men than him… for a whole lot longer! I may have almost got them killed once but…” he said with a pause. “And for the love of Christ, stop calling me Rusty!” he finished angrily.

  The shocked look on her face told him that he had in fact said the part about almost getting them all killed out loud. Even his attempts to cover it by chastising her about using his first name didn’t detract from it.

  In the course of three days she had him experiencing everything from laughter, to arousal to anger and once again back to sadness and guilt. He couldn’t seem to control himself in her presence. That inability had just made him spill information she neither wanted nor needed to know.

  “Or what, Rusty? Are you going to make me drop and give you twenty, Sergeant… Sir?” she asked after she processed everything he’d said. Then she looked him over in a way that he could actually feel physically and continued, “Or give you something else?”

  “I’m tired and I want to go back to the home now,” Danny said in a sad tone from the doorway of the bakery area making them both jump.

  It was time to put an end to all this nonsense before it went any further or he spilled his guts some more. It was also obvious from the look on his face that Danny was uncomfortable with his friend and sister arguing. Rusty couldn’t blame him. Overhearing your own sister’s lack of regard for your predicament couldn’t be a pleasant experience.

  “How about you get in bed early tonight, man? Get a good night’s sleep when you get back to the home this evening. Then in the morning, pack some of your things, all your records, and come stay with me for a few days?” Rusty asked him.

  “My mom’s dead and so is your grandpa. That means it would be just us, right, Rusty?” Danny asked, his smile returning.

  That was one of those things about Danny that was unique. He often had no filter when mentioning unpleasant topics. Danny would sometimes blurt out things that made other people uncomfortable. It had never really bothered Rusty but he could see Amy flinch at the matter of fact tone Danny had used when mentioning the deceased.

  “Yep… just us,” Rusty said. Then looking directly at Amy he said, “No Les…”

  She wouldn�
��t even look at him but by God she was going to do right by her brother whether she wanted to or not.

  “That will be good. I can help you with your chores, Rusty. I can make sandwiches now and I can wash dishes, except for sharps,” Danny replied. Then he turned and headed back out of the bakery, completely sidetracked from the argument Rusty had been having with his gorgeous sister.

  “What? No more snappy comebacks there, Ms. Carlton?” Rusty asked, sarcasm dripping no matter how much he tried to rein it in.

  “One week… and it’s not for you! It’s for him!” she spat, pointing in Danny’s direction. Then taking a deep breath she calmly said, “I’ll go to the home in the morning and let them know.”

  “Fine,”

  “Fine. You’re welcome, Sir,” she huffed, turning her back to him.

  “No, Ms. Carlton… you’re welcome,” he replied and then walked out of the bakery. After saying goodbye to Danny he left and headed home.

  By the time he drove home, Rusty wasn’t nearly as angry. Now he was just confused about why he was even getting involved in all this. In some regards Amy was absolutely right. It wasn’t his business at all and he hadn’t seen Danny in more than twenty years.

  That wasn’t Danny’s fault though, it was his. Despite him having Down Syndrome, Danny had always seemed to be miles ahead of him on understanding what made people tick. As for Danny’s stubbornness, that was the only indicator that he was in fact related to Amy, the dimpled temptress. She had also inherited the stubborn gene.

  Surprisingly, he again slept like a rock, without waking even once throughout the night. That was as new to him as experiencing emotions again after so many years of just existing.

  A shell of the person he’d been in his twenties made feeling this way now even harder to acclimate to. Guilt and just a bone deep sadness had been his only emotional companions for so long, having anger, jealousy, humor, and an overwhelming case of lust suddenly make an appearance, left him totally out of sorts.

  Rusty noticed he had a missed a call and a voicemail was on his cell phone when he got out of the shower. Listening to the message from Amy had him feeling a little remorseful. She sounded so sad when she’d told him that she’d stopped by the home already and signed a paper stating that Rusty would be providing Danny’s care for the remainder of the week and the upcoming weekend. She went on to explain that Danny was all packed up and ready to be picked up whenever, so if he changed his mind to please call her immediately.

  Amy’s hot molten anger and passion he could take, sounding as sad as Rusty often felt, though, was really hard for him to handle. A part of him wanted to go by Amy’s apartment before going to pick up Danny and hand her back the short stick and let her know that it was her turn to jab him now. Instead Rusty headed to the other side of town to pick up her brother from the group home.

  As Amy had promised, Danny was all packed and ready to go. A large duffle bag of his clothes and two boxes were waiting by the front door of the home along with the smiling man. Looking around at some of the other occupants of the home, Rusty knew that he couldn’t just rescue Danny, while leaving the others behind to face ‘Les’ by themselves. An older woman approached him and he held out his hand to her.

  “Are you Martha, by any chance?” he asked, shaking the woman’s hand.

  “Yes…” she replied.

  Turning to Danny, he said, “Why don’t you carry your things on out to the car one at a time and put them in the back seat. Your bag should go on the floor behind the front passenger seat. Okay?”

  “I can do that all by myself, Rusty,” Danny replied with a proud smile.

  When Danny headed out the door carrying one of the boxes, Rusty turned back to the woman and said, “Do you know of an employee named Les?”

  “Yes, he’s one of the weekend shift caregivers. Why?” Martha asked.

  “That’s unfortunate for the residents here, since most of them probably can’t complain. They’ll be left at his mercy. However, I’ll be damned if Danny Carlton will be anymore. You make sure you let ‘Les’ know that. As a matter of fact, why don’t you give him my business card here and tell him to stop by my house and call my friend a retard in front of me,” he said, handing Martha the card he’d fished out of his pocket.

  Martha gave him a curious look but took the card from his grasp. They shared a look that spoke of understanding as Danny came back in the door. Rusty handed Danny the other box and picked up the duffle bag himself.

  “You take care of yourself this week, Danny,” Martha said, eyeing Rusty again. “There may be some changes around here when you get back.”

  Rusty nodded his head at the woman in silent agreement while holding the door open for Danny with his free hand. Then he followed Danny to the car and, soon enough, they were leaving the home behind.

  He probably shouldn’t have been so crass about the whole situation with Martha, since she had nothing to do with it, but he was just so angry, it was hard not to be. If Amy was unwilling to say anything about it, then that was on her. However, he’d tell anyone who cared to listen including ‘Les’ that he had issues with anyone talking shit to or about any of his friends.

  The rest of the afternoon was spent helping Danny get unpacked and situated in the spare bedroom that Ian had used for a while before he and Courtney got married. Rusty was impressed with how well… and how much… Danny had managed to pack into a large duffle bag and two boxes.

  Some of Danny’s records and even the actual player had made the trip, just as Rusty had suggested. Rusty moved his lazy boy rocking chair into the small bedroom for Danny. With Danny settled in for the evening, Rusty headed out to the living room knowing that his mind would eventually find its way back to Ms. Carlton.

  He heard one of Danny’s records start playing not long after and smiled in spite of himself. His nostalgia was interrupted by someone knocking on the front door. Opening it, he found Courtney and Ian on his doorstep. He invited them inside and offered them a drink.

  “We can’t stay long. We were actually just heading home when all the sudden she insisted we stop by and see you. I think its hormones… but I’m not sure. Either way, it’s just easier to let her have her way,” Ian said with a goofy smile. “Hope we’re not interrupting.”

  “Nope. Got a houseguest, though. Danny’s going to be spending the week with me,” he replied.

  Glancing at Courtney, Rusty found himself fidgeting beneath her clinically assessing stare. He often wondered, whenever she was around, if he had something written on his forehead that all shrinks, like her, could see. Perhaps, a sign that read something like ‘Unstable’ or ‘Basket Case.’

  She didn’t say anything to indicate what she was thinking but instead simply smiled, placed her hand on Rusty’s arm and then said, “We can go now. I just wanted to stop by and see that you were okay, Rusty. You should come by for some coffee sometime… I’m off work now until the girls are born. Besides, it’s been a while since we’ve seen you. Maybe you can bring some cupcakes with you.”

  Her knowing wink made Rusty wonder if she could also read his mind.

  Then, as if she was satisfied with his current level of craziness or sanity… whichever… Courtney turned and headed right back out the door. Ian simply shrugged his confusion and followed after her, shaking his head as he closed the front door behind himself.

  Rusty felt his cell phone buzzing in his pocket. Pulling it out, he noticed the number for AmyCakes showing, so he answered, “He’s enjoying his music right now, Ms. Carlton. I’m afraid it’s too late to talk to him.”

  “He’s okay though?” she asked softly.

  Sighing he replied. “He’s fine. Give it a day or two for him to settle in and then you can come by and see him… just like at the home. He really is pretty self-reliant so I still don’t see why you can’t just let him stay with you until you find someplace better for him, but you’re welcome to come by here this week to see him.”

  “Stop by my apartment sometim
e this week and I’ll show you why, Rusty,” she said in that husky voice of hers. “Then maybe you’ll stop judging me.”

  Before he could defend himself and explain that he wasn’t judging, he realized she’d hung up on him.

  Chapter Seven

  Amy spent all day Monday cleaning. First she worked on finishing what Rusty had started in her kitchen. Not that there was much she could really do in her apartment to clean or organize without throwing out everything she owned. There was simply no room in her tiny little apartment. It was basically just about organizing piles into tighter stacks.

  Unfortunately even though rent on the place suited her bank account… the overall size of her apartment didn’t work too well. After doing what she could in the small kitchen, she moved on to the bakery and shop. So by the end of the day she had completely worn herself out and just dropped into bed without even bothering with dinner.

  Danny got some disability money from the state now that both his parents were gone, but not enough to house him anywhere but in a state run facility, which Amy would never allow. At least the group home that he hated so much was privately run and offered him day trips to the library, to a local recreation center and various other activities.

  It wasn’t cheap though, so it took some additional money on her part, combined with his money, to make that happen. Not that she had a lot of extra money to spare, with still trying to get the shop up and established. Her mother was forever trying to give her money, but Danny was her responsibility, not her mother’s.

  Things were quiet at the shop most of the following day as she and Renee cleaned up, until Renee finally said, “Everything okay, Sweetie?”

  “I’m fine.” Then deciding to stop lying, especially to her best friend, Amy said, “That’s a lie. Is it wrong to be angry because…” She stopped in an attempt to keep herself from spewing off a string of profanities that might bring about dark clouds, thunder and rain-showers of epic proportions. Losing the battle with her frustration over the situation she continued. “That man spent two days here and you would think he’d been a professional pastry chef for the past twenty years, not a military sergeant. Then he spends a single afternoon catching up with his old pal, Danny, and has my brother eating out of the palm of his hand. One day! One. I mean, seriously?”