He pulled open the door and stepped inside.
A young man rushed toward him. “Hi, can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Robert Kotke.”
The kid bit his lip and glanced over his shoulder toward the office. “He’s not available right now.”
“Thanks, but I think he’ll want to see me.”
Galen stepped through the swinging door and strode toward the office, ignoring the pleas for him not to go in. He pushed open the door, taking a minute to let his eyes adjust to the dim light. When they did, he discovered Robert sat, slumped over the desk, snoring. The smell of booze permeated the air. Galen understood why the boy at the front didn’t want him coming in. No one should see Robert in this state.
“Sir, you have to leave.”
Galen turned and found the boy, fear etched on his face. “It’s okay. Robert’s expecting me.”
“But—”
“What’s your name?”
The kid peeked into the office, then turned his attention back to Galen. “Brady.”
“Well, Brady, I wanted to say thank you. I appreciate you protecting Robert until I got here, but I’m going to ask you to trust that I’m here to help him, okay?”
“But—”
“It’s okay, Brady. He’s a friend.” The words were slurred, but they were a balm to Galen’s heart. He turned around and found Robert doing his best to stand, but he kept sliding into the chair.
“Why don’t you go ahead and do what you were working on? I’ll take care of Robert now.” He paused. “And Brady? If you need help, give Noel a call at the Park View diner. He’ll come down, I’m sure.”
One terse nod and Brady headed back to the desk.
Robert had given up the idea of standing and now sat slumped in the chair, his chin resting on his chest. Galen stepped over to the desk and found the mostly empty bottle of Korbel.
“Oh God… If you’re going to drink, at least make it something that’s not going to rot your insides.” Galen picked up the bottle and moved it onto the filing cabinet, then turned his attention back to Robert. He knelt down beside the chair and put a hand on Robert’s chest. “Hey, wake up.”
The snores told him that wasn’t likely.
Instead he went to the coffee maker that he’d seen on his first visit and started a pot that would curl the hairs on Robert’s chest. While it brewed, he went over and kissed Robert on the forehead. It was an oddly intimate gesture, but the overwhelming desire to take care of the man who spent so much of his life caring for others—including Galen—demanded it.
“When we get you sober, we’re going to have a talk, you and me. I have some things to say to you. But now? I’m going to take care of you.”
A sleep-filled voice whispered a hoarse okay.
When the machine beeped, Galen got up and grabbed a mug, filled it with coffee so dark that it might have been tar, and took it back to the desk.
“You might not believe me, but you’ll thank me in the morning.”
He blew on the coffee to cool it some, then held it to Robert’s lips. Robert wrinkled his nose but didn’t draw back. Galen kept the cup still, until Robert’s eyes cracked open a bit.
“I don’t want coffee. I just want to enjoy this feeling.”
“You mean the one that’s going to have you heaving your guts out in the morning?” Galen wanted to ask Robert why he drank so much, but admissions made when drunk didn’t count. He would have to be stone sober before they addressed it.
Robert pushed ineffectually at Galen, sloshing the coffee a bit. “Can’t you just leave me alone?”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Dave.”
Robert didn’t even react to the bad Hal imitation.
“Come on. Drink some coffee.”
Robert pushed up from the desk, swaying on his feet. His eyes were glassy and unfocused. “I don’t want any fucking coffee. I want you to leave me alone.”
“You know, I don’t think that’s what you want at all. I’m willing to bet you want to go sit on the couch and snuggle up with me and tell me what’s going on in your head.”
He took a step closer, but Robert held up his hands. “Don’t, Galen.”
There was a note of warning in his voice, but in the time he’d known Robert, Galen had come to believe the man would never willingly hurt anyone.
“I’m coming over there, and you’re going to let me.”
Like a balloon with a pinprick, all the air rushed out of Robert and he stumbled into Galen’s arms. “I killed her.” His voice was soft, broken. “She trusted me, and I failed. I didn’t sell her the drugs, but I killed her just the same.”
“You didn’t. You moved heaven and earth to get her help, but…. Well, we’re only human.”
Robert leaned back, his eyes twitching side to side. “But don’t you see? I can’t afford to be. I have to be strong, make things right for everyone. It’s what I’m supposed to do.” He barked a laugh. “I’m fucking up their lives, my life, and now I’m dragging you down with me.”
“How?” The notion was ridiculous.
He hiccupped, and the foul smell of the booze burst forth. “Noel asked me once if I wanted something for myself. I told him I couldn’t have the shelter and someone I loved, because the two were incompatible. Then you came into my life, and now? I-I-I don’t know what I want more.”
“Why don’t you drink the coffee and we’ll talk tomorrow?”
Robert reached out and grabbed Galen’s arm. “Why did you make me fall in love with you?”
Galen opened his eyes wide. He tried to remember that anything said while drunk should be largely ignored, but…. It was the same thing Galen had been whispering to Mouse for weeks. He’d fallen head over heels for Robert, his family, his life. He longed for Sundays, when he could hear about Robert’s week. They’d sit on the couch, one of them lying in the other’s lap, and just… talk. During the week he could scarcely wait for Sunday, and on Sunday, he wanted that day to never end.
“Maybe we should just get you upstairs to your room.”
“I don’t want to go there. I’m going to have the dreams, and I can’t handle them anymore.” Robert tapped his temple. “She’s in here. Always pleading for me to help her, to fulfill my promise. And I try, Galen. I try so fucking hard. But the more I try, the more I lose. And it won’t be long before everything is gone.”
“What are you talking about?”
Robert lowered his voice to a whisper. “I can’t keep up with the maintenance of the building, the food, the items people here need. I keep going out and trying to find new revenue, but it’s not as easy as it used to be. I wanted to be the hero and save everyone, and now I’m going to have to tell them I can’t help anymore.”
Robert crossed back to the desk, folded his arms atop it, and dropped his head onto them. From the way his shoulders were jerking, Galen could only assume he was crying.
“Hey….” He shook Robert’s shoulder. “Listen to me, okay?”
“I’m going to lose it all, and then, when I think I have nothing left to lose, I’m going to lose you too.”
Galen knelt beside the chair. “You’re not going to lose me.” He drew in a breath, knowing this was a bad idea. These conversations should only take place when both parties were sober. “I love you. Do you get that? I’ve never been in love before, but I know how I feel. And you’re not going to lose everything, because I’m going to help you.”
Soft snores greeted his proclamation. Galen wanted to laugh, but none of this was humorous. He couldn’t bear to see Robert hurting, and knowing that he played a part in it, even against his better judgment, didn’t sit right with him.
He got up and opened the office door. The young man who’d greeted him—crap, what was his name?—when he came in was still standing at the desk. Galen took a look at him as he pored over the work he had in front of him. He couldn’t be much older than sixteen or seventeen, slender, and was wearing a button-down shirt with big brown-and-white
checks on it. He had dark hair, deep brown eyes, and eyelashes that looked like they’d been sculpted to his face. He reminded Galen of a pixie, he was so damn cute.
“Hi, excuse me? I’m sorry. What was your name?”
He stood ramrod straight, his gaze not wavering in the slightest as he stared Galen down. “Brady.”
If this was the kind of trust and commitment that Robert engendered, then he wasn’t failing at all. He might have hit a bad patch, but Galen could—would—help. He had a lot to make up for in his life, and it would start here, in the place he found someone to love.
“Well, Brady… if you’re willing, we’ve got some work to do.”
Chapter Twenty
THE SUN, diffused by the crud on the windows, woke Robert. He sat up, surprised to find he was on the couch with a blanket covering him. He smacked his lips, his mouth tasting funky, not unlike how he’d imagine his old gym shoes would have. He moved slowly, trying his best to keep his stomach from heaving up what he hadn’t eaten last night. God, he was never getting drunk again.
He flicked on the light, then noticed the bottle of aspirin and a glass of water on the table. He grabbed it, took out four tablets, and washed them down. He rarely drank anything stronger than a few beers, so it was no surprise how wasted he got with the bottle of booze he’d gotten for a gift and stashed in the cabinet. What would Galen think if he—
“Oh my God. Galen.”
Everything rushed back to Robert all at once. He was supposed to pick Galen up for dinner last night. Breakfast should already be done and in the steam trays, meds should be given out, and a schedule for driving to appointments should be on the computer already.
Oh shit. He’d fucked up royally.
Robert leaped off the couch and rushed to the door. When he pulled it open, he was brought up short by the sight of Brady at the desk, confirming Elaine Cassidy’s doctor’s appointment. The smell of eggs, bacon, and hash browns scented the air. When he stepped out of the office, he found Galen slumped face-first on the keyboard of the computer that sat in the common room. Robert decided to let him rest and went to Brady, who smiled at him as he approached.
“What’s going on? Why are you here?” Robert hitched a thumb in Galen’s direction. “Why is he here?” Then, realizing how he sounded, he dialed down his animosity. “I’m sorry. Thank you for doing this. I can’t tell you how much it helped.”
A wide grin spread over Brady’s face. “It wasn’t me—it was Galen. He came out last night and asked me if I would be willing to come back this morning to help get everything done. I said yes, absolutely. Then he sat down at the computer and got to work. When I walked in this morning, I found him asleep where he’d been when I left.”
“Don’t let him give you that.” Galen sat up, his eyes bleary. He yawned, stretched, and then scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “This guy? He’s a lifesaver. I tried to help in the kitchen, but I was all thumbs. Brady took charge and told me what he needed me to do. Listening to him, we got the breakfast stuff done and ready a few minutes before people started showing up.”
Robert’s heart swelled at the thought that they’d done this to help him.
“And what were you doing there all night?”
“That’s something I think we need to discuss in private.”
Brady snickered and his cheeks pinked.
Galen’s eyes went comically wide. “No! It wasn’t anything like that, you brat.”
Laughter rolled out of Robert to see Brady and Galen playing with each other. Maybe Galen had finally started to realize that everyone needed to be treated with respect.
“Well, we can go into the office now.” Robert turned to Brady. “If you’ve got everything under control.”
“I think so. I’m able to read the schedules, but a few people have asked about changing some things. I’m not sure how to do that, but I told them to check back this afternoon.”
“Perfect.”
“You guys go ahead. I’ll bring you a plate of food in a few minutes.”
Robert started to protest because Brady had already done so much, but when Brady narrowed his eyes, practically begging Robert to argue, he held up his hands. “Food sounds good. Thanks very much.”
“Now go with Galen and let me get to work.”
Robert snickered and saluted. “Yes, sir!”
“Everyone’s a smartass,” Brady mumbled as he turned back to the desk, but he had a wide smile too.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Galen gathered up reams of paper and followed Robert into the office. He sat at the desk, then pointed to the chair on the opposite side. “Sit.”
Robert grinned. It must be opposite day, because everyone was acting a little out of the ordinary. Still, he sat.
“Okay, I’m tired and I need to get home to check on Mouse before she tears through Andy’s clothes again.” Galen laid a stack of paper on the table and flipped it open to the first page. “This is a list of state and federal government agencies that will give grant money to shelters and the like. This is money you don’t have to pay back, but they’ll expect to see your results and will require an inspection at least once a year.” He flipped to the next page. “These are businesses that would be glad to partner with you. They’d ask for the right to mention support for the shelter in advertising and might ask to interview people, but I told them that would only happen if you okayed it in advance. They were willing to negotiate on that point.” He flipped again. “This is a list of service organizations who will come out and help get the building into shape. They’d do it free or at low cost, and they all have excellent references.”
Robert’s head was spinning. How had Galen gotten this together so quickly? “What’s all this? I don’t need—”
Galen frowned and held up a hand. “Stop. Don’t do that, please. Last night you were crying that you were going to lose everything, and if you keep going the way you are, you will. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I glanced at the books, and you’re in the red, so unless you want to be the one to tell these people they have to go elsewhere for help, sit down and shut the hell up.”
Holy…. Who was this man?
“You look like Galen, but….”
“That’s the Galen who loves you. This is the Galen who’s going to help save the shelter and the people in it.”
Robert froze. “The Galen who….” He paused, letting the enormity of the admission sink in.
“Loves you. Yes, I said it, and no, I don’t want to take it back.”
“You love me?” They were words Robert had been dreaming of hearing for months. “Like, love love?”
“Yes, Robert. Love love. Now shut up and let’s get back to business.”
There was no way Robert was going to be able to hold back. He pushed out of the chair and rushed around the desk. He grabbed Galen’s arm and pulled him up, then spun him and crushed him up against the wall. He mashed their mouths together, not caring that each of them probably should have brushed first. Galen melted, and when his hands started stroking Robert’s back, he leaned against him.
God, he wanted to take him right here, on the desk. He’d been waiting, making sure Galen wanted the same thing.
“Does this mean we don’t have to wait anymore?”
Galen snorted. “I was ready the first day.” Then he pecked Robert on the lips. “But you were right. I needed to see myself as worthy before I let myself fall into the same pit I always had. You? You make me feel that way, and it’s what makes me love you. However—”
Robert groaned. “Now you’re going to make me wait.”
“At least until Sunday, yes. We have a lot of work to do. Applications to file, people to contact, contracts to sign. I know that I took that money from you, not realizing how desperately you needed it, but I swear to you, I’m going to help you get it back tenfold.”
“I love you.”
“I know. Now, let’s get to work.”
They sat down and started crunching numbers, pausing f
or a few minutes when Brady knocked, then brought their breakfast over and set it on the desk. Then they jumped right back to it. Robert was amazed to see Galen in his element. He effortlessly pulled facts from the papers, gave suggestions on who he needed to talk with, recommendations on the best people to help with renovations, and also warnings as to who should be avoided. He made it all seem so simple that even Robert understood.
“And the best part? With the money you’d have coming in, you could hire a small staff, complete with benefits. They’re the people who could work with the volunteers, train them, help them find the place they’d best be able to use their talents.”
“Could I hire an office manager?”
Galen pointed to the printed spreadsheets. “Yes, it would definitely be in the budget.”
That was all Robert needed to know. He got up and held out his hand. “You’re hired.”
GALEN BLINKED at Robert. “I’m what?”
“Hired. The job is yours.”
“But—”
“Uh-uh. Don’t even argue with me.” He gestured to the pile of papers Galen had put on the desk. “All this is your work. It wouldn’t have happened without you, so who better to see it through?” He reached out and grabbed Galen’s hand. “This could work for both of us, Galen. You pointed out I need help, and you’re not wrong. I hate to admit it, because this has been my passion since I gave that man a crappy McDonald’s burger. I can’t deny it anymore, though. I’m floundering here and can’t see a way out. I’ve been too damn stubborn to admit it, sure that I’d be able to pull myself out of this hole. But if… no, when I fail, these people are the ones who will pay. They need to come first, not my ego. So what do you say? Will you take the job?”
Galen shook his head. “My father won’t allow it. He’s going to make me suffer until he’s good and ready to move on to something else.”
“Your father doesn’t have a damn thing to say about it. I won’t be calling for references, and I sure as hell don’t need his permission to hire you.”
Galen's Redemption Page 19
