Page 99 of Galen's Redemption
Chapter Twenty-Five
“GALEN, ROBERT!Happy Thanksgiving.”
Galen kissed Rachel on the cheek and shook Dwight’s hand, which ended up with him being pulled into a bear hug. “Thank you for having us.”
When Marco and Andy had picked them up, Galen sat in the back with Robert. They had snuggled together, with Galen’s head on Robert’s chest. He was nervous about spending the holiday with Robert’sfamily, but Robert assured him it would be fine.
As soon as they were pulled into the house, Galen’s fears melted away under the amazing scents that emanated from the kitchen.
“I’m going to be in the kitchen working on dinner. You guys go have a seat in the living room.”
Andy perked up. “Oh, what can we do to help?”
Rachel gave him a kindly smile. “You can go sit down and watch football withDwight. It keeps him from coming into the kitchen to snack.”
Marco snickered and wrapped an arm around Andy, following Dwight. Galen wondered at the warmth of the house and the people in it. How was it that this group of people were closer to him than his own family? Why did he feel such affection for them all?
When Tom and Brian showed up, they were absorbed into the group after they’d giveneveryone, including Galen, a hug.
Dwight was the perfect host. In conversation, he didn’t favor one person over another. He offered drinks, made a few bawdy jokes, and in general showed why he was king of the roost.
Rachel came out on occasion to ask the score, kiss Dwight, then disappear back into the kitchen. At one point she poked her head out the swinging door and called for Galen.
“Ooh,someone’s in trouble.”
He stuck his tongue out at Robert, who collapsed into a giggle fit. Galen got up and went into the kitchen, where he found Rachel washing some pots and pans.
“You wanted me?”
“Sit down, please.”
He glanced at the chair, then stepped up to the sink and grabbed a towel to dry. If Rachel was surprised, she didn’t show it. They worked together in companionable silence fora time, before Rachel cleared her throat.
“Are you happy?”
Galen frowned. “Of course I am.”
“I’ve been following the news about your father.” She held out a pan to him. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”
He shrugged. “A lot of it is my own doing. I was too much of a coward to step up when I knew what was happening.” He finished drying, then put the pan on the stove. “Olivia, the woman who usedto be my assistant, is happy because they’ve lifted all the noncompetition agreements we all signed, which means we can finally get back to looking for jobs that make us happy.”
“And will you do that?” She was fishing for answers, and he had no problems giving them to her.
“I’ve got a job I like. Working with Robert, helping the people at the shelter? All that fulfills me in a way I never knewanything could. I keep looking back on the past and wondering if that was a dream and now I’m awake in reality.”
“Good answer.” She turned the water off and dried her hands. “The reason I called you in here is I want you to say grace tonight.”
“What? But… I can’t.”
She regarded him with a hint of amusement. “Why?”
“I’m not religious.”
That made her chuckle. “Honey, no one here is. In ourhouse, grace isn’t necessarily a religious thing. You say a few words, then give thanks for what you have and tell people why you’re grateful for it. Then we go around the table and everyone does the same.”
He peered down at her. She seemed so hopeful, and Galen warmed at the thought that she was including him. “Okay. I would be honored.”
“Good. Now get back to football before Dwight comes inhere to see where you are.”
