Page 34 of Galen's Redemption
“No, you canstay here. It’s fine.”
That weird grin again. “Okay, thank you.” He dipped his spoon in the chili. “Can I get you something?”
“Thanks, but we each had a big bowl, plus rolls, and three sodas because it was the extra-spicy.”
“Good. I’m glad you liked the place enough to bring your friend here.” Robert crumbled some crackers into his chili. “So, how have you been?”
God, how did he answer a questionlike that? On the one hand, he barely knew Robert, and Galen feared he might lord it over him that his father had screwed him big-time. On the other, it wasn’t like Robert didn’t know what kind of man Jonathan was. But on the third hand…. Roberthadsaid he didn’t blame Galen for anything that had happened. He brought Galen out to eat, so maybe he was telling the truth?
He could feel his cheekswarming as he dropped his chin to his chest. “I quit my job.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
No laughter, no condemnation. Just a question. Galen sighed. “My parents have a… history of not being able to keep their hands to themselves. I can’t tell you the number of people he and my mother have propositioned over the years. Maids, chauffeurs, gardeners. And it didn’t stop at home. Dad had to drag it out intothe office too. And I don’t mean that euphemistically, unfortunately. When I went into work yesterday, I found I had a new PA. Turns out he fired mine because she wouldn’t sleep with him. And then….” God, this was embarrassing. “And then he told me he wanted Lincoln back so he could fire me, because I’ve never been as good as he was.”
Robert reached for Galen’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, that’snot even the best of it.” He took a deep breath, then unloaded about the lawyers, the money, everything up until dinner with Andy.
Galen did his best to hold back the waterworks. He’d cried more in the last twenty-four hours than he had in a year. He didn’t want to seem weak in front of Robert.
“I’m sorry. I wish I had pithy words for you that could make things better, but I don’t. Is thereanything I can do for you?”
And Robert had just proven what kind of person he was. Other than Andy, anyone else Galen knew wouldn’t miss an opportunity to exploit the weakness. Robert was being thoughtful, considerate.
“No, but thank you. I’ll figure something out.”
“You could talk to Lincoln.”
That was an instantno. “I don’t want him to know about it. He and I aren’t speaking, and rightnow, I can’t be sure what he’d do.”
“He would say, ‘Galen, what can I do to help you?’ I promise.”
Oh, how Galen wished that could be true, but he’d burned those bridges already and left a trail of smoldering ash in their place. “No. Please, don’t tell him we met. I was awful to Noel, and I don’t think Lincoln will ever forgive that. Worse, I was terrible to him.”
Robert’s lips flattened intoa thin line. “I don’t like keeping secrets, but I promise I won’t say anything to him.”
“Thanks.” Galen tilted his head. “So what are you doing here? I didn’t think you ever left the shelter, and now I’ve seen you here twice.”
Now it was Robert’s turn to sigh. “Noel’s watching the place tonight. He and Lincoln said I needed to take a walk to clear my head.”
Galen leaned forward, elbows on thetable. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll figure it out.”
Without knowing why, Galen reached out and put his hand on top of Robert’s. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”
As he listened, Galen could feel the depths of Robert’s shame and pain. He wanted to do it all by himself, but no one could. The undertaking he’d started was monumental, and the need was growing with each passing day.
“I’m goingto have to agree with Noel here. You can’t do it all by yourself anymore. Maybe a few years ago, but now? You’ve already said there are more people every day. One person can only be stretched so thin.”
“Yeah, but how do I know who to trust? These aremypeople, and I can’t have them hurt. They’ve already lost so much.”
At least now Robert was talking Galen’s language. “You interview. Maybe anoffice manager? They could take care of the paperwork and things, which would free up your time to work on other projects.”
Robert seemed dubious. “I don’t know.”
“No, you’re right. You keep doing what you’re doing and then fail when you can’t keep up with the demand. You said you don’t want those people to lose everything, but they won’t have to, because your stubbornness is going to take itfrom them.”
