Read Online Gideon's Redemption by Maddie Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

cool.”
    Gideon saw the hurt that Eli’s little rebuff had caused. He was at that phase, no longer a little boy and ready to test his independence. He remembered those days himself, of trying to portray a tough, manly exterior, but that shield vanishing like dust in a rainstorm at the first sign of hurt, disappointment, or fear. He still needed his mother and would for a very long time. Gid just wanted to be there for them both, to support, to protect, and to love. Starting to feel a bit maudlin, he grabbed her hand and continued the tour.
    He showed them the formal dining room and his office, both with French doors leading out to the patio and views of the ocean. The den with the 70 inch flat screen caught Eli’s attention as well as the game room fully equipped with pool table, ping pong, and an X-box connected to another flat screen—this one just a bit smaller.
    Eli started bouncing with excitement again, whipping off a list of games and wanting to know if Gid had them in his library. Gid opened the doors of a large bookcase and revealed hundreds of games and five times as many movies. “We’ll have to separate the kid’s movies from the others; there are some that your mom might not want you to watch. G and PG, I assume, Shannon?”
    She nodded vaguely as she watched her son’s eyes glaze over like a kid in a candy shop—or a video library, as the case may be.
    “Look, Mom, Batman. He’s got all of them.”
    Gideon pulled Shannon close and whispered, “You can help me go through them and we’ll put the PG-13 and R’s in the locked cabinet.” When she just nodded, he asked, “You okay, babe?”
    “Yes, it’s just very overwhelming. We’ve never been around such luxury, Gid. I’m worried about Eli.”
    “We’ll keep him grounded, but I would like to spoil him a bit, if that’s okay. I’ve missed out on a lot.”
    Looking down at her clasped hands, she wasn’t quick enough for him to miss the single tear that tracked down her cheek. “Baby, that wasn’t a dig. I was just stating a fact.” He pulled her into his arms and she went eagerly, pressing her face into his chest.
    “Why is my mom crying?”
    Gid looked over at Eli’s mutinous face and knew they were going to have to talk about their situation sooner than later.
    “It’s nothing, Eli. These are happy tears. You know how emotional girls can get.” Shannon wiped her face with her hands, blinking rapidly as she tried to clear her eyes of the tears. “Sorry for getting all mushy on you guys.”
    Eli wasn’t convinced and he got quiet and watchful as they moved upstairs.
    “This is your room, bud. You can redecorate however you like.” It was a huge room, as big as the great room in their old apartment. He had his own private bath and French doors just like the other rooms. Gideon opened the doors to the small private balcony. “Remember the rule about hanging or climbing on the railings. It’s a long drop from the second floor.” Looking at Shannon, he reassured her, “We can lock the doors if you think its best, babe.”
    “What do you think, Eli? Can we trust you not to play on the patio?”
    “Cross my heart, Mom. This room is awesome and the playroom downstairs is even awesomer. I’ll probably hang out there, or in the den watching TV, or in the pool.”
    Shannon smiled and hugged him tight.
    “I think we might have to build you a treehouse out back for climbing,” Gid suggested. “I have the perfect spot. That way, you’d have your own special place to go besides your room.”
    “That’s sick! I’m hungry, when are we gonna eat?”
    “Let me show your mom the rest of the upstairs first, and then we can find something to eat. I think I have pizza fixins’.”
    “Way sick! Can I stay here and put away my stuff, Mom?”
    “Sure, we’ll pick you up on the way down. Okay?”
    Having her approval, he’d already started unpacking his backpack. She smiled as he unloaded his comic books, batman action figures, and his