Page 58 of Galen's Redemption
Chapter Fifteen
ROBERT RACEDto the door as soon as the car pulled up. He wasn’t sure why, but he’d been nervous as hell when Galen told him Marco would be bringing them instead of Robert picking them up. He was here now, though, and that was what mattered. Robert pulled open the door and winced when Galen got out of the car, his face a storm cloud of anger. Andy and Marco strode up, Galentrailing behind them. He stopped when Andy and Marco got to where Robert stood. Marco shook hands with Robert, and then Andy pulled him into a hug.
“What’s up with Galen?”
Andy leaned in. “He’s in a mood. I told him that Marco asked me to go away for a few weeks, and he’s all bent out of shape about it.”
Well, great. They’d just gotten here, and Galen already looked ready to bolt.
“Come onin. My mom and dad are in the living room. I expect Tom and Brian to get here shortly.” Robert ushered them inside, pointed in the direction they needed to go, then turned and went back out to where Galen stood pouting. He got close, leaned in, and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. It took a few moments, but Galen eventually sighed and kissed back.
When Robert stepped away, he was happy to seeGalen chasing the kiss. He looked a lot less upset now too.
“What’s going on?”
“He’s leaving me.”
Thehehad to be Andy. “It’s just for a few weeks. Why is that so hard?”
Galen blew out a breath. “You don’t understand. It’s a few weeks now, but if they continue to hit it off, Andy will eventually live with Marco. So either he’ll move out or Marco will come live in Andy’s place, which meansI’ll have to go.” He closed his eyes. “Everyone always leaves.”
That statement was very telling as far as Robert was concerned. In his years at the shelter, he’d learned to hear the subtext of a conversation, and Galen wasn’t angry that Andy was going—he was hurt he was being left behind.
Robert slipped his hand into Galen’s. “Come on. I’d like you to meet my parents.”
Galen balked. “I thinkI’d rather go home.”
Robert had promised if Galen was uncomfortable, he would take him home, but….
“Please, I’d like it if you’d stay. It would mean a lot to me.”
The conflict in Galen’s eyes had Robert aching to pull him close again, but Galen needed to make the decision on his own.
“If you want to go, I’ll take you.”
“Why are you so nice?” Galen kicked at the dirt. “If you were smart, you’djust let me go home.”
“I’ll tell you right now, I have never been accused of being smart.”
Galen grinned, and that made Robert relax a little bit.
“Ready to meet the family?”
“What do they know about me?”
Okay, now was the time for honesty. “They know who you are. They know about the check. But, and please listen to me very carefully, my parents never, ever accept one side of a story. WhenTom and I were growing up, if we had a fight, they sat us both down and listened as we each gave our version of why we were pissed at each other. Only once they’d heard both would they render their judgment.”
“You make them sound like judge and jury.”
Robert snorted. “Believe me, quite often they were the executioners too. I can’t tell you the number of times we were grounded or had our gamestaken away. One thing I will admit, though, is that they were fair. Back then I would have sworn they weren’t, but they were. No punishment was ever too light or too severe. They had this knack of looking at each other and, without even discussing it, doling out the perfect thing to fit the crime.”
“They’re going to hate me.”
Robert kissed him again. “They’re not. They don’t even know you. Givethem a chance to see in you what I do. I know there’s compassion in your heart, Galen. You’re a kind soul who just needs to let it out.”
“Fine.” Galen blew out a breath. “Let’s go.”
As they headed for the house, a car pulled up. When the driver’s side opened, Robert broke into a huge grin.
