Page 5 of Blessings in Disguise

“Don’t sell her short.”

Harlan’s brown eyes searched his face.

Caleb said, “Maybe you can talk to me then.”

The boy blurted out, “My father came back home.”

“And you don’t want to see him?”

“He don’t wanna see me.”

“Are you sure?”

“He tried to kick me out of the house. But my Ma madehimgo instead.”

“Did he want to kick you out because you were sent here?”

“No, that happened afterward. Ma was miserable and it was my fault.”

Caleb waited, hoping Harlan would go on.

“He hates me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“He called me an abom… I don’t know the whole word.”

“An abomination?”

“Yeah. That’s it.”

“What could you have done to deserve that?”

A very long pause. “He found me and Jimmy having sex in a car.”

“Ah. Too many people call those who love the same sex that word. For the record, I think those people are despicable.”

“You do?”

“A lot of people do. And I can guarantee that Dr. Kendrick feels the same way.”

“Yeah, but this is about having sex.” Harlan sighed. “I can’t say those things to her.”

“I think you need professional help, Harlan.”

The boy waited a long time. Then, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Can I see you, talk to you more? You said you were a psychologist.”

He didn’t know the protocol here. “I don’t know if they allow outside counselors at Pathways.”

“They’ll let you in.”

How would Gemma feel about that?

Put the kid first.

---