Love Means Courage - Andrew Grey Read Online Free PDF Page B

seems nice.” His mother knew he was gay, but sometimes, she just couldn’t help hoping. Len didn’t fault her for that. He couldn’t, because there were times that he hoped as well—hoped he could be normal, like everyone else.

    Len shrugged and sipped his coffee. “She’s very nice, and we have fun, but she’s not like Ruby.” No one was like Ruby. He sometimes thought that if he was ever going to marry a woman, it would be Ruby, except for the sex part.

    “I know. It’s hard when you lose your best friend. Imagine how hard it’s been for Cliff, losing his wife. Have you seen him since the funeral?” She began eating.

    “A few times in town. I saw him last week with Geoff. He’s the spitting image of his mother, and he’s walking now. It was so cute seeing him walking along, holding his dad’s hand.” He finished his breakfast and put the dishes in the sink. “Today’s payday, and I thought I’d take you to dinner.” “Don’t you have plans with Janelle?”
    “God, yes, I’d completely forgotten.” He raced back to his bedroom and got his things for work. “I’ll see you later.” He heard a muffled reply from his mother’s room as he closed the door and headed out to his car. It took him about ten minutes to drive to work, WKLA providing the morning news and weather. He arrived a few minutes later than usual and parked in his regular spot, entering the dealership through the service entrance and turning on 31
    Love Means Courage
the lights in the business office before getting everything ready for the day.
The day was busy and went unusually quickly for a Friday.
    Just before lunch, he received a call from Janelle, confirming dinner for that evening and letting him know that she’d meet him at the restaurant at six. He’d just hung up the phone when he saw the owner of the dealership standing by the door to the office. “Len, could I speak with you a minute?”
    “Sure.” He had been handing out paychecks as people stopped by, so he put the remainder in the desk drawer. He looked at Keith, the business manager, and saw the look on his face. He knew that look; he’d seen it before. Taking and releasing a deep breath, he followed the boss to his front corner office.
    “Please have a seat.” Len sat in one of the chairs and waited.
    “This is something I’ve tried to avoid.” The big man leaned forward, meeting Len’s eyes. “As you know, business hasn’t been very good the last few months, and while I’ve been hoping it would turn around, it hasn’t, and I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go.” Len had heard those words before, and the second time hurt just as much as the first. Both times he’d been working for over a year, and both times he’d just started to fit in and make a few friends, have people to eat lunch with. “I understand.”
    “Look, Len, I’m really sorry. You’ve done good work, and this has nothing to do with your job performance.” He passed an envelope across the desk. “When business picks up, I’d be more than happy to bring you back. You’re a good worker. The envelope contains a sterling letter of recommendation and a month’s severance pay along with your week of vacation pay.” He stood up, and Len did the same. “I’m really sorry.” Len didn’t know what to do, so he did the only thing he could 32
    Andrew Grey
think of, he held out his hand. The boss shook it, and then Len left the office, going right back to his desk, where Keith was waiting. “I’m real sorry, Len.”
“Me too.”
    Keith checked his watch. “Get your things together and go home.” He opened his desk drawer and retrieved his own paycheck from the stack of envelopes.

    “Thank you for everything, Keith.” He gathered his things and quietly left the building after saying a few good-byes.

    The drive home was amazingly short, and no one was about as he pulled into the yard and parked the car. Walking into the house, he put his things on the table and