Page 100 of Galen's Redemption
Galen went back to the living room and was pulled down next to Robert.
“You’re saying grace, huh?”
“How’d you know?”
“We all have to go through it. This year it was your turn. Next year she’ll tap Andy or Marco.”
Galen glanced around the room. Dwight, with a bottle of Miller in hand, was focused on the screen as some guy ran a ball down the field. Tom was curledup on the oversized chair, Brian’s head resting on his lap. When he saw Galen looking, Brian gave him a smile, which Galen was only too happy to return. Andy and Marco were sleeping, Marco’s arms wrapped protectively around Andy.
It was then Galen realized that this was his family. His brothers, his mother, his father, his lover. They were the ones who took him in and made him feel welcome. Theyknew of his past but were able to look beyond it and see Galen for the man he was becoming. He sat there, digesting this new information, and a slow smile spread across his face as he finally understood what family really meant.
A few hours later, Rachel came out from the kitchen and announced dinner was served. Robert stood, held out his hand to Galen, and followed him into the dining room.Galen’s jaw dropped. Rachel had gone all out. The food was spread on an eight-foot banquet table, covered in a white cloth. Each item was served in an elegant bowl or tureen and had a small white card listing what was there. She’d made a turkey, a Tofurky, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole with tiny marshmallows, biscuits, cranberry sauce, two kinds of stuffing, and apple,pumpkin, and pecan pies for dessert.
Once they were all seated, with Rachel at the head of the table, she smiled at everyone. “Galen is going to be doing grace tonight. So if you’ll all join hands.”
Robert took one hand, and on his other side, Brian took the other. He gave Galen a squeeze, which was comforting.
“Um… I’m not really sure what to say here, so I hope you’ll indulge me. Earlierthis year, I did something reprehensible. I took money from the shelter that was meant to help the homeless. I could make excuses or try to explain why I did it, but in the end, it’s all on me. Robert could have—shouldhave—been angry with me. Hell, I was angry with me. Then one night he saw me out at a bar. A gay bar. And he had the perfect opportunity to make my life a hell. He didn’t, though.He was kind, considerate, and asked me out for chili. I couldn’t understand it. Why wasn’t he shouting to the world that I was gay? Ruining my life like I ruined others? But he’s not that kind of man, and realizing that started me on a path that brought me to this time, this place, and this family. I learned that not everyone was out to screw people over. That there were good, decent people inthe world. Instead of closing myself off to it, I opened my heart. It’s that which I’m thankful for, because I’m learning to be a decent human being.”
He looked up and found Rachel dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “That’s beautiful.”
Galen grinned at her. “Thanks… Mom.”
Her eyes went wide, and for a moment, Galen thought he’d said the wrong thing. Then she turned to Dwight. “Told you he’dsay it today.”
“You were right. As always.”
His gaze darted between the two of them. “How did you know?”
“Because we both knew how badly you wanted to belong to something real. And this family is about as real as you’re going to get. And you’re welcome here, just like any of the rest of our sons.” She looked around the table. “You are all our family. Either by birth or by shared love, we havenever been as proud as we are today, surrounded by those who make our lives rich and full. Now, I believe it’s Robert’s turn.”
And that was it. They went around the table, each person saying something and expressing their love for the family. Even Marco and Andy said they were happy to be members.
It was the best holiday Galen ever had, because it was the day he made his new family. And it gothim thinking about how he wanted to ask to draw in his other family, Lincoln and Noel.
Because it was finally time for him to man up and step forward to take responsibility for the wrongs he’d done.
ROBERT GROANEDas he loosened his belt another notch. His mother had outdone herself this year. The spread put every one that had come before it to shame. The biggest surprise was when Galenstarted calling Robert’s parents Mom and Dad. They beamed a smile at each other, and after dinner, they’d enfolded Galen in their arms and told him he was loved. Robert was so grateful for his parents and the fact that there was no such thing as someone who wasn’t family to them.
“You seem serious about this guy.”
He turned and found Tom standing beside him. “I am.”
Tom reached out and ruffledRobert’s hair. “Good. I was afraid you’d work yourself to death and never take the time to stop and see what’s in front of you. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being married to Brian, it’s you have to remember every day how precious they are to you.”
It seemed Tom wanted to talk but was hesitant.
“I’m going in the backyard for some air. Want to come?”
Tom blew out a breath. “Yeah, okay.”
They opened the door and stepped out into the tree-lined yard from their youth. The leaves had all fallen and their father had mulched them into the grass, but for Robert anyway, it still held so many memories of when they were kids. Even then, Tom had been the best big brother.
“So what’s up?”
Tom was quiet for a minute. “Brian had a doctor’s appointment last week. The cancer’s spread again.It’s reached his brain.”
“Oh shit. I’m sorry.”
