Free [Finding Emma 03.0] Megan's Hope by Steena Holmes Page B

there, eyes glued to the screen, and then head into his bedroom, notepad in hand, and draw the images he ’ d seen. The blood-splattered sketches were lifelike, and not for the first time she hoped that somehow this gift of his would get tapped for something big.
    “ Gabe? ”
    Her son barely managed to lift his hand up in a half greeting before he grunted, and Julia closed the door, satisfied that their morning ritual had been completed. He ’ d lie there for another ten minutes before walking zombielike to the bathroom, where he ’ d step into a cold shower.
    She had no idea how he could shower that way, but it worked for him.
    Even though her son was sixteen, she still liked to make his breakfast. It was almost as if, despite all the other mistakes she ’ d made raising him, this one thing she could do right. She took out the last of their eggs and bacon, set it on the counter, and then grabbed some fresh herbs she ’ d picked up yesterday. She needed to head to the store today to replenish their empty pantry. It was time to talk to Gabe about getting a part-time job so he could start helping with groceries, especially considering he was the one eating the majority of them. Except, after everything that had happened lately, she wasn ’ t sure who would hire him.
    “ I ’ m starting breakfast, ” she called out when she heard Gabe ’ s bedroom door open and the heavy tread of his footsteps along the wood floors. “ Don ’ t take too long. ”
    “’ Kay. ”
    She shook her head at his one-word reply. Typical boy — or so she hoped.
    Gabe wasn ’ t a typical boy, though, so she never really knew what to expect when it came to his behavior. She thought of the pile of parenting books on her nightstand and wondered whether she would ever truly understand him.
    No one else in town did either. She dreaded the upcoming talk she needed to have with him.
    “ Hey, Mom, there ’ s no towels. ”
    Julia set down the egg she held in her hand. “ Did you not bring up the laundry like I asked last night? ”
    “ Sorry, ” he called out.
    She heard the bathroom door close, and the pipes groaned as he turned on the water.
    Obviously she was expected to do his chores for him. She headed down the stairs into the basement, saw the folded towels, and shook her head. So he ’ d come down and done half his chore but couldn ’ t bring up the basket?
    She hefted it into her arms and climbed the stairs. Setting it down in front of the bathroom door, she knocked.
    “ Maid service. ”
    “ Thanks, Mom. ” Gabe opened the door a smidgen and stuck his hand out. She picked up a towel and gave it to him before walking away.
    Be patient but firm. That was what all the books advised when it came to raising teen boys. Patient but firm. Everything in her wanted to put the towels away in the closet, but she didn ’ t. Gabe needed to be self-sufficient, and she ’ d tried really hard not to raise a mama ’ s boy.
    Julia went back to making breakfast. By the time the bacon was crispy, Gabe was out of the bathroom. She heard him fumble over the laundry basket, and when he mumbled low enough that she couldn ’ t hear the words, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from chuckling. It was a little mean of her to place the basket directly in front of the door, knowing he wouldn ’ t have thought to look for it otherwise.
    She had his breakfast ready on the table and was in the midst of pouring him a glass of orange juice when he came up behind her and wrapped her in a hug. She smiled, knowing she needed to cherish this moment.
    “ I ’ m sorry I didn ’ t finish my chores, ” he said.
    “ Is it all done now? ”
    He shook his head. “ I ’ ll put the towels away after school. Promise. ”
    “ As long as it ’ s done before I get home, that ’ s fine. ”
    They ate their breakfast in silence, Gabe wolfing down his eggs and bacon while she toyed with hers. When he was finished, she pushed her plate toward him.
    “ You sure?