Page 32 of Galen's Redemption
“I do. There are volunteers and—”
“And you let them help grudgingly. Brady told me he practically has to beg you to find him something to do.”
Robert’s frustration got the better of him. “Because this is my dream! Why should other people have to suffer so I can get what I want?”
Noelthrew his hands in the air. “Seriously? You think Brady is suffering? He was living on the streets, trading sex for a place to crash or a fucking McDonald’s cheeseburger. You found him, brought him to the shelter, and got him cleaned up.Thenyou went out and got a family to take him in. He doesn’t sleep in the alley anymore. He doesn’t have to scrounge in garbage cans, hoping to find food. Youmade his and my dreams come true. Why can’t you take those as wins and let us help you to make other people’s dreams come true?” Noel regarded him curiously. “Or is it that you want all the credit for yourself?”
Robert flinched. Was Noel right? Robert had been doing this for decades and couldn’t deny he loved the acclaim. He still liked being out in front of the camera, extolling the virtuesof the shelter so he could find investors. But funds were scarce lately, and being homeless took less precedence than other things. Was it possible that Robert was risking everything to fulfill his own life?
Shit.
“I don’t know.” At least it was an honest answer. “I never thought about it like that.”
Noel gave him a smile. “I don’t think that’s it, you know. I believe you’re so invested inthe lives of all of these people, you’re not sure you can trust anyone to care like you do. I asked you once what you wanted for yourself, and the only answer you could give me was for these people to be as happy as I am. Let someone else in, let them help you, and maybe you can make everyone’s dreams come true. Give that person a chance to show you they can love youandbe part of the world youlive in.”
Was it really as simple as that? Robert honestly couldn’t see how. He gestured toward the door. “I’m going to go take that walk now.”
“Okay. I’ll do bed check, make sure everyone is tucked in and safe for the night.” Noel started to walk away, then turned back. “Robert?”
“Yeah?”
“When I found the job at the diner, you fired me. You told me that I needed to get out and live my life.I can’t fire you, but I can hope you’ll do the same. Finding one dream doesn’t mean giving up another.”
For the first time in forever, Robert wondered if he could have it all. Someone to love him, who would understand his desire to help others. A man who wouldn’t abandon him when things got rough.
Nah, that was never going to happen, and all the wishing in the world wouldn’t make it so.
“SO, WHATdo you think?”
Galen was giddy watching Andy devour his chili. They’d gotten the extra-spicy bowls and had to go back three times for another soda, but the food was too good to push away.
“This is…. Oh my God, I thought an orgasm was good, but this is definitely a close second. Hell, it might even top some of them. I have no idea how I missed this place.”
“I never had chili beforethis. No idea it was this good.”
“And you came here with that guy from the homeless shelter?”
“Uh-huh. His name is Robert, and he’s… I don’t even know how to describe him. He’s got a weird sense of humor. I think they call it dad jokes. But he brought me here and introduced me to it.” He grabbed the basket of bread. “Here, take one and run it through the chili.”
Andy snickered. “I get thatyou grew up privileged, but most of us have had chili at one time or another.”
“Oh.” Galen put the basket down. “Sorry, I didn’t think….”
“Why are you sorry?” Andy grabbed a roll. “This is delicious, and it’s good to see you smile.” As he swept the remains of the bowl up with his roll, Andy regarded Galen with a curious expression. “So, let me ask you something. Did you like this Robert?”
“What? Hell, no. He was opinionated, arrogant, and he works with street people.”
“And that’s bad?”
“He has no vision. He could be making bucks by partnering with some firms. For the cost of advertising for them, he could be raking in good money.”
Andy chuckled. “I get the feeling you may have checked up on him.”
Oh, Galen had. He wanted to know if Robert was all he seemed, and to his amazement,he found out that the man was so much more. He’d volunteered his whole life, given so much to the community, and refused to take money from businesses who would only have asked for some good PR in return. Who does stupid things like that?
“You like him.”
“What?” Galen blew a raspberry. “No.”
