Page 22 of Galen's Redemption
Chapter Seven
“I KNOW,Mom. I tried to explain to him that I wasn’t talking down to him or his family, but this one’s got prickles on top of his burrs. He’s like that old barn cat that used to come around. He loved it when you paid attention to him, but the moment he thought you were payingtoomuch attention, he lashed out.”
He’d called his mother after he got home and said good nightto Noel, who told him that everything went fine and that he needn’t worry. He didn’t tell Noel about Galen, because he’d given his word. Plus, when it came to Galen, Noel was pretty prickly himself.
“Then what do you do? Walk away and leave him to fend for himself?”
That was funny. “He’s rich, so it’s not like that’s a hardship.”
Mom sighed. “Robert, we’ve told you and Tom time and time again.Material things don’t make you rich—they make you wealthy. What makes you rich?”
Those lessons had been drilled into him from the time he could sayMamaandDada. “Family. Friends. Helping out when you can.”
“And do you still think this…. What did you say his name was?”
She knew damn well what it was. She was just trying to get him used to saying it.
“Galen.”
“Do you still think he’s rich?”
It wasn’t a fair question. He didn’t know Galen at all. Robert’s interactions with him had been in flux at best. From the surly man who came to insist Robert give back the check, to the guy who was happily sopping up the last bits of chili from his bowl. But which was the real Galen? And could he separate the two halves?
“I don’t know. I haven’t had the chance to get to know him. You do knowhe came and took back the check, right?”
“And you know people see the world differently. You said he’s wealthy. What was lifeblood to the people you work with was only money to him, and no amount of it can buy him the kind of education you have.”
“Why does it matter?” It wasn’t like he was going to see Galen again anyway.
“Do you remember how you were with that cat? No matter how many timeshe scratched you, it didn’t stop you from trying again.”
Unbidden, he glanced down at his arms. Even though a few decades had gone by, he imagined he could still see the streaks of blood. “And he never let me hold him.”
“So you want to hold Galen?”
Damn it! His parents had a way of twisting his words around. “I never said that.”
“And you also never call this late either.” She chuckled. “Whydon’t you tell me what’s really on your mind? That way we can both get some rest.”
Crap. He didn’t even think about the time. “I’m sorry, I just needed… I guess I needed to talk to my mom.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m glad you called. We don’t see much of you boys, so it’s always nice to hear from you. So what do you want with Galen?”
That was an interesting question. “I don’t know that I want anythingfrom him. Maybe just some perspective?”
“Which you could have gotten from Noel.”
Robert snorted. “Noel hates Galen.”
“And can you blame him? Has Galen done anything to deserve being forgiven by Noel?”
After Noel told Robert what Galen had done, Robert was inclined not to like the man either. But the day he came to the shelter, there was something there, buried deep below the surface, and afterdealing with homeless people for so many years, Robert had learned to trust his instincts.
“No, I suppose not.”
“So what do you want? And be honest with yourself about this.”
Robert pursed his lips. “I don’t know. I think there’s a decent person under that exterior, but it’s going to take a lot of work to get it out.”
