Page 81 of Galen's Redemption
Chapter Twenty-One
GALEN PUTtwo cups of coffee on the table, then took a seat opposite Olivia. She gave him a grateful smile as she took hers.
“Thank you.”
“You’re looking good. How’s the new job?”
She pursed her lips. “It’s a job. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s okay. I like my boss, but…. Well, he’s not you. I really enjoyed working for you, being in the thick of all the action.Seeing you in your glory as you tried to balance two worlds on a knife’s edge.” She sighed. “And now I’m in the glamorous world of sorting and collating. It’s a different life, but it still lets me take care of Aiden, so I’m happy to have it.”
“And how’s Aiden doing?” He didn’t want to ask the question, since Father had fired her and taken away the good health insurance Primal provided.
“He’sokay. His legs ache quite often, especially if he overdoes trying to walk. The little shit refuses to slow down and is constantly working on an art project or going to class, or…. He’s a whirlwind, and he’s determined to milk every drop from life that he can.”
“Art project?”
She practically shone when she talked about Aiden, and it was a joy to see that much love in her expression.
“He goesto a stained-glass studio downtown for their classes.” She sighed and took a sip of her coffee. “He wants to live an independent life, and he’s hoping to make money from his works. I think they’re excellent, but he insists that since I’m his sister, I’ve got a responsibility to say that. He can be a little shit. He keeps talking about wanting to move out, and I’ve told him he can stay with me aslong as he wants, but he thinks I need to get out and find a boyfriend or girlfriend or multiple people.” She snickered. “He’s very open-minded about things.”
“He sounds amazing.”
“He is. I think you’d like him.” She drained the rest of her coffee. “He goes to that diner Lincoln owns on occasion. He and Noel had some classes together, or they did until Aiden finished his courses.”
“Please tellme Noel’s not one of the people giving him a hard time.” Galen had already come to terms with how horrid he was to Noel, and he hated the idea that he wasn’t all he seemed.
Her eyes went wide. “What? No! Noel is probably one of the best friends Aiden has. He’s worked projects with him at school, and when he goes into the diner, Noel’s very attentive and always gives him a hug when he leaves.”She gave a wistful sigh. “I think those hugs mean a lot to Aiden. He’s under the impression that no one is going to want someone who already gets around like an old man.”
Another thing his father had to answer for. How many other people had he propositioned and then fired? How many lives had he ruined, and he’d done it without a shred of regret. Galen wished he could take away all the pain hisfamily had caused.
“I’m sorry for everything. The fact that Aiden’s hurting, that my father is a dick.” He squeezed his cup. “I guess I’m just sorry for everything.”
She waved him off. “Don’t be. This is on Jonathan Merriweather, not his son. I have to say, how you and Lincoln were born from that…. Ugh, I can’t even think of words vile enough to describe him.” She winced. “I’m sorry. That waswrong.”
“Oh, hell no. Call the bastard what he is. I’ve moved past him.”
She cocked her head. “You have. I can see the determination in your face, and it looks good on you.”
Galen grinned. “There’ve been some changes. I have a new job. A boyfriend. A cat. Oh, and an idea.”
She leaned forward, her elbows on the table. “Boyfriend?”
Galen preened. He would happily talk about Robert all day.“Yes’m. His name is Robert Kotke, and he runs the shelter on Tenth.”
“Well, all right!” She reached out and cuffed him on the arm. “I’m proud of you. So what’s this job?”
“I’m going to be the office manager for the shelter. I’m helping Robert put together a plan to get a larger inflow of money to bolster their reserves. I’m… I’m going to help him find the money that I took from them.”
She cluckedher tongue. “That was money your father took.”
He frowned and fiddled with his coffee cup. “I’m the one who did it. If I’d had the balls to refuse—”
“He would have had someone else do it. Listen to me, Galen. You’re a good man. You got dealt a shitty hand in the parent department, but you’ve come out of it a better person. Don’t beat yourself up over the past—use it to make a better future.”
And that was why he had loved working with Olivia. She tempered his irrationality and kept him on a more even keel.
“So what’s this idea you had?”
Oh, he was so glad she got him back on topic. He’d been buzzing ever since he’d thought of it. In careful detail, he laid it out for her, watching as her eyes grew larger and larger. A few times she gasped and asked if he was sure, but Galen simplysmiled and said he was totally certain.
