Page 71 of Stained Hearts
Dad nodded. “I agree.” He turned to us. “Your mother and I are thinking about selling the house and moving into something smaller. This is too much for the two of us, and we think we’ll be happier in a condo.”
The news hit me like a sledgehammer between the eyes. This was my childhood home. It was where Brian became family. Where Galen came to understand he wasn’t his father but the son of Rachel and Dwight Kotke. It was where Marco, Andy, Aiden, and Olivia were welcomed with open arms. So many of my memories were wrapped up in this house.
“It’s not a guaranteed thing. We’re still discussing it. And before we make any decisions, we’d talk with you all first. It’s just…. Okay, here it is in a nutshell. After more than forty years in this house, we want something different. Your father and I would like to get out and travel. We want to buy a camper and go where the wind takes us. We raised you kids, and now we want to reap the joys that come from being together. Does that make sense?”
As much as I hated to think it, yeah, it did. Mom and Dad were like a lot of parents. They put their kids first and foremost, sacrificing so others could grow up and move on with their lives. A wave of shame washed over me as I realized I was thinking about me and not about what they needed.
“Sounds like a good plan. If you need help getting it ready, let me know.”
Dad smiled at me. “I will. And Tom? Thanks.”
“Robert and I will help too,” Galen added.
“And Marco has a van, so he and I can help you move.” Andy turned to Marco. “I’m sorry. That’s okay, right?”
“The van is pretty small, but we can rent a truck. I want to be a part of this.”
Galen puffed up his chest. “It’s settled, then. You tell me what you need, and I’ll make sure it’s ready.”
As annoying as he was when Robert first brought him around, Galen had pulled himself up and made this family his own. I couldn’t imagine anyone more well-suited to Robert than the somewhat fussy Galen. And since he was there working in the trenches every day with Robert, donations had gone up. They were working with a few corporations to bring in money, and the building renovations were nearly complete. Somewhere along the line, Galen had gone from being the son of a serial abuser to being our family, and I was glad for it. The same could be said for Marco and Andy. Somehow Mom made them fit perfectly with the rest of us, and having them here seemed right.
The rest of dinner was conversations about places Mom and Dad would like to go. He wanted to see the Grand Canyon. Mom wanted to walk around the vineyards in California. Me? I wanted them happy. Still, I would miss the house. There was something about it. A perfect place for a family to grow.
And that got me thinking about having a family of our own. Aiden had so much love to give, it would be a shame if he didn’t have a chance to share it. And secretly, I thought being a father would be amazing. If I was a tenth as good as my dad, then the kid would know he was loved.
“Tom, where’s your head at today?”
I jerked my head up and found everyone staring at me. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Marco asked if you’d pass the cranberry sauce like five minutes ago.”
I checked out the table but didn’t see it.
“Don’t worry, Aiden did it.” She cocked her head. “Did you need to talk?”
Talk? Oh hell no. “No, Mom. I’m—”
“We’ll be back.” She got up and beckoned me to follow her into the kitchen. Her sanctum. I was in trouble.
I leaned closer to Aiden. “I guess I’m going to talk with my mom.” I kissed him. “Be back.”
To a chorus ofooh, I got up and trailed behind Mom. When I got into the kitchen, she handed me the dish towel and started the wash water.
“So, talk.”
I wasn’t sure what she wanted me to say. Well, that wasn’t true. I did know, but I wasn’t ready yet. For some reason, dragging my heels had become my new standard. Weird for a guy who always went for what he wanted.
“Nothing to say? Okay, how about I start?”
“Please don’t. Really.” I sighed, knowing that wouldn’t stop her. “Everything is fine, really. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
She stuck her hands in the soapy water and washed out a pot, which she then handed to me. Seemed as though my protests were going to be ignored.
“Is it something to do with Aiden?”
Well, damn. Was I that obvious? “Christmas is coming, and I want to do something special for him.”
Yes, it was a lie, but if she believed it, then things would be okay.
