Free Finding Faith (Love's Compass Book 4) by Melanie D. Snitker

well.
    Seeing the smile on Gideon’s face reminded him so much of Kenneth, he could almost hear his little brother’s voice. Memories Aaron had kept buried for years rushed to the surface. Holding one of his mother’s hands while Kenneth held the other. The happiness on her face as she swung their arms back and forth. The sounds of both of them laughing as she tickled their bellies.
    When he saw his mother now, it was difficult to imagine she was the same woman. He shook himself free of the thoughts, hating the swirl of emotion they always dredged up. 
    Serenity glanced over the menu that hung on the wall above the cash registers. Her brow wrinkled and she clasped her hands tightly together. When she stepped forward to place her order, she chose two of the most inexpensive meals on the menu. Aaron followed, ordering a double cheeseburger meal.
    After they paid for their lunches, they claimed a table next to three arcade games. Gideon excitedly slid into one of the seats and grasped the steering wheel.
    Serenity smiled at her son. “He loves these things and doesn’t care a bit that I’ve never put money into one.”
    Aaron laughed. “I remember doing the same as a boy.” He had a question that’d been plaguing him for a while. The words spilled out of his mouth before he could stop them. “Is Gideon’s dad in the picture?” Yeah, that was smooth. But he’d gone over the question in his head a million times and couldn’t think of a better way to ask. Blunt it was. He said a silent prayer that he hadn’t offended her.
    She took a long drink of her soda. He wasn’t sure she was going to answer his question when she drew a deep breath and pinned him with her gaze.
    “Jay never met Gideon. Getting pregnant during our senior year of high school wasn’t part of the plan. He left before Gideon was born and relinquished all rights the following month.”
    The way she worked her jaw told Aaron she still resented Jay — maybe even hated him. He realized his fists were clenched and consciously made an effort to relax them.
    She was silent a moment before continuing. “I was only eighteen. I suppose the stress of a pregnant girlfriend was more than he cared to deal with.” She shrugged, as though it hadn’t bothered her.
    Aaron knew better. “What he did wasn’t okay. I can’t imagine walking away from my child like that.”
    She kept her gaze straight ahead but there was no missing the moisture that had gathered in her eyes. “Thank you.” She swallowed hard. “I’m blessed to have a supportive family and an older brother who’s great with Gideon. It’s not the same as having a father, but a whole lot better than anything Jay might have attempted to do.” She paused. “I’m sorry. When you asked, I imagine this was way more information than you were expecting.”
    She paid an unusual amount of attention to the straw paper she held in her hand. If she didn’t normally tell people about Jay, he wondered if this meant she trusted him, even if just a little. She had to trust someone. “It sounds like you have a lot of family. Who’s your best friend?” He watched the range of emotions on her face.
    “Probably my siblings, Tuck and Lexi. I don’t have any friends left from school. Having a baby as a senior will do that for you.” She laughed, but there was no humor in the sound.
    His chest tightened as sadness shadowed her face. When Jay walked away, he must’ve stepped all over Serenity in the process. At twenty-three or twenty-four, she was way too young to be this sad and jaded. Not only was she raising a son on her own, but she’d given up her family’s support system in order to provide him with a better education and therapy opportunities. Didn’t Serenity realize how strong she truly was? Not everyone in her position would have been as brave. As far as he was concerned, she deserved the title of Super Woman.
    Aaron released his drink, his hands damp from the condensation, and dried them off