little surprised at how quickly Brian went from serious to humorous, but the transition seemed very natural. Everything about Brian Younger seemed natural.
“I will go first, since I was the first one to meet the pretty lady.” Victor stood and walked to the front of the room. “I am Victor. I am fifty-seven years old, and I am from Cuba. I moved here twenty years ago with my family. I work asan auto mechanic until this year, when I get fired for not talking good English. So I am here. Señor Brian teaches me English and he teaches me Bible, and I go back to work soon because of his good job.”
The group members clapped, and Victor pointed to the man sitting beside him to go next. One after the other, the members spoke of moving from their home countries. Natalia understood their tears.
But they have sacrificed so much more than I have. Their families, their reputations. Everything. She was humbled at the joy the people had in spite of their difficulties. And her respect for Brian grew, hearing his praises from so many of the members.
Natalia was sad to see the evening end. She kissed each of the people as they left, feeling a connection with them she never could have imagined.
“They’re great, aren’t they?” Brian threw an empty carton of cookies in the trash. “I knew you’d get hooked.”
“Hooked?”
“Reeled in?”
Natalia had no idea what he meant.
“You like them.”
“I do.” Natalia snapped the cap on a container of orange juice. “I feel very at home with them.”
“So what’s your story?” Brian sat down, his blue eyes exploring hers.
The gaze was more than Natalia could handle. She took out her phone. “Oh dear. It’s already nine thirty. Maureen is probably sitting out in the parking lot. I’d better go.”
“I can give you a ride next week, if you want.” Brian stood, and Natalia could tell he was confused by her actions.
“No, that’s fine.” Natalia nearly stumbled out the door. “I will see you—later.”
Natalia rushed out to the parking lot and threw herself into Maureen’s car. How can an evening be so amazing and so frustrating at the same time? And how in the world will I be able to do this every week this year?
Chapter 19
Y our dad is a senator, you’re majoring in premed, and you’re working here?” Brian looked at James.
He grabbed Brian’s crowbar. “Watch out for the wire.”
Brian sucked in a breath. “Good thing you’re studying to be a doctor. You may need to use those skills on me before the summer’s out.”
James slowly peeled a layer of drywall off. “Let’s hope not.”
“Seriously, man. Why work demo?”
“My parents want me to appreciate manual labor.” James shrugged. “I was just going to work here one summer, but I got hooked.”
“It is kind of fun.” Brian pulled the rest of the drywall down and threw it to the middle of the room. “Helps me get out my aggressions.”
“Like Spencer Adams?”
“How’d you guess?” Brian began working on another section of the wall.
“I knew guys like that when I was in high school.” James grunted. “I know guys like that in college.”
“You don’t know Spencer.” Brian looked at James. Brown hair, a tan, and muscles. Wasn’t that what all the girls wanted?
“My dad knows his dad.”
Brian mimicked Mr. Adams’s commercial. “‘Car accident? Hurt on the job? Call the law firm of Adams and Finley. We’re here to help.’”
“Adams supported my dad in the last election.”
“You don’t sound happy about that.”
James grimaced. “His support came with a whole lot of strings attached.”
“Really?”
“He and my dad ended up having a huge fight.”
“Why?”
“Dad wouldn’t give him what he wanted.”
“Mr. Adams didn’t like that, huh?”
“Not at all.” James grunted again.
“Explains why Spencer always expects to get his way.”
“He learns from the best.”
Brian took a sip of water. “Thing is, Spencer pretty much does always
“I will go first, since I was the first one to meet the pretty lady.” Victor stood and walked to the front of the room. “I am Victor. I am fifty-seven years old, and I am from Cuba. I moved here twenty years ago with my family. I work asan auto mechanic until this year, when I get fired for not talking good English. So I am here. Señor Brian teaches me English and he teaches me Bible, and I go back to work soon because of his good job.”
The group members clapped, and Victor pointed to the man sitting beside him to go next. One after the other, the members spoke of moving from their home countries. Natalia understood their tears.
But they have sacrificed so much more than I have. Their families, their reputations. Everything. She was humbled at the joy the people had in spite of their difficulties. And her respect for Brian grew, hearing his praises from so many of the members.
Natalia was sad to see the evening end. She kissed each of the people as they left, feeling a connection with them she never could have imagined.
“They’re great, aren’t they?” Brian threw an empty carton of cookies in the trash. “I knew you’d get hooked.”
“Hooked?”
“Reeled in?”
Natalia had no idea what he meant.
“You like them.”
“I do.” Natalia snapped the cap on a container of orange juice. “I feel very at home with them.”
“So what’s your story?” Brian sat down, his blue eyes exploring hers.
The gaze was more than Natalia could handle. She took out her phone. “Oh dear. It’s already nine thirty. Maureen is probably sitting out in the parking lot. I’d better go.”
“I can give you a ride next week, if you want.” Brian stood, and Natalia could tell he was confused by her actions.
“No, that’s fine.” Natalia nearly stumbled out the door. “I will see you—later.”
Natalia rushed out to the parking lot and threw herself into Maureen’s car. How can an evening be so amazing and so frustrating at the same time? And how in the world will I be able to do this every week this year?
Chapter 19
Y our dad is a senator, you’re majoring in premed, and you’re working here?” Brian looked at James.
He grabbed Brian’s crowbar. “Watch out for the wire.”
Brian sucked in a breath. “Good thing you’re studying to be a doctor. You may need to use those skills on me before the summer’s out.”
James slowly peeled a layer of drywall off. “Let’s hope not.”
“Seriously, man. Why work demo?”
“My parents want me to appreciate manual labor.” James shrugged. “I was just going to work here one summer, but I got hooked.”
“It is kind of fun.” Brian pulled the rest of the drywall down and threw it to the middle of the room. “Helps me get out my aggressions.”
“Like Spencer Adams?”
“How’d you guess?” Brian began working on another section of the wall.
“I knew guys like that when I was in high school.” James grunted. “I know guys like that in college.”
“You don’t know Spencer.” Brian looked at James. Brown hair, a tan, and muscles. Wasn’t that what all the girls wanted?
“My dad knows his dad.”
Brian mimicked Mr. Adams’s commercial. “‘Car accident? Hurt on the job? Call the law firm of Adams and Finley. We’re here to help.’”
“Adams supported my dad in the last election.”
“You don’t sound happy about that.”
James grimaced. “His support came with a whole lot of strings attached.”
“Really?”
“He and my dad ended up having a huge fight.”
“Why?”
“Dad wouldn’t give him what he wanted.”
“Mr. Adams didn’t like that, huh?”
“Not at all.” James grunted again.
“Explains why Spencer always expects to get his way.”
“He learns from the best.”
Brian took a sip of water. “Thing is, Spencer pretty much does always
Similar Books
