“I will. I’ll be with Malcolm for a couple of hours.”
Ashley looked up at him. “You’re a good man, Noah Farman. You make me very proud.”
The Forest Assisted Living Centrewas an hour away from Ashley’s house. Malcolm had been thrilled when he’d moved in. It was vital to Noah that despite Malcolm having Down’s syndrome, he lived as independently as possible.
He drove through the gates and under an arch which readSpruce Court.There were four buildings on the plot. Each named after a tree. They all faced a courtyard where everyone hung out in the summer months. Today a huge Christmas tree with bright coloured lights shining dominated it.
Noah had just got out of his car when the man himself burst out of the door and ran into Noah’s arms.
“Hey there, superstar,” Noah said. “Happy Christmas to you.”
One of the residential staff, Mrs Brownbill, came out. She was a friendly woman with a shock of pink hair. Malcolm adored her.
“Hi, Noah,” she said. “Season’s greetings.”
“And to you.”
Malcolm stuck to him like a limpet. Noah inhaled his smell. He’d missed him.
“Thank you for everyone’s gifts too,” Mrs Brownbill said. “You really do spoil us.”
Noah had sent a raft of gifts for Malcolm, his friends and the staff. Although he had a ton more in the boot for Malcolm. Mainly football things because he was more obsessed with the game than Noah.
“You’re all worth it.”
Malcolm had wrapped up warmly. It touched Noah that he had on a Brockton FC puffa jacket although he didn’t remember sending him one.
“Is this new?” he asked.
Malcolm nodded.
“You know I can get these things for free?”
“I wanted to buy it with my own money.”
Malcolm had a job in a large office in Birmingham. He worked in the post room and loved it. Noah had persuaded him not to share with his colleagues about his connection to Noah. People had a tendency to play on Malcolm’s trusting personality. Although he’d probably blabbed it all over the office by now. One thing about his brother, he couldn’t keep a secret to save his life.
Noah had been nervous the first week that Malcolm had started. In fact, Noah worried about Malcolm a lot of the time. Malcolm’s manager had contacted him after a month to tell him how wonderfully Malcolm had settled in. It had been such a welcome relief.
“I got you this,” Malcolm said, proudly holding up a small package covered in Christmas wrap. It was the first gift he’d ever bought Noah.
Noah frowned. “What’s this?”
“He spent his first pay packet on it,” Mrs Brownbill explained.
With a lump in his throat, Noah ripped off the wrapping. Inside was a jewellery box. Noah popped it open to reveal a ring in the style of a football.
“Do you love it?” Malcolm asked, excitedly.
Noah took the ring out and slipped it onto his finger. It fitted perfectly.
“I love it,” he replied. “I’ll never take it off. Thank you. You didn’t have to spend your money on me.”
Malcolm hugged him again.
“I got myself one,” he said, holding it up. “Brothers forever.”
This was getting way too emotional.
