Page 104 of Analysing Her Assets

Single Mom

(27 days to end of year)

50. Gideon

Gideon unlocked his apartment’s door, wishing he had more than a few hours to spend here. He forgot the last time he slept in his own bed. His old, easy-going life at Peaks seemed to belong to a different man.

The operation on his father was successful, but he’d developed a fever and couldn’t be discharged home. Naomi hired a hospital nurse to be there when they couldn’t. But she hated to leave her husband without a family member, so Gideon either spent his time at the hospital or at Berdiplast.

He entered his study and smiled at the standing mirror, which he moved back from his bedroom. An image of a kneeling, impossibly sexy Tamar stirred his cock. He didn’t know what was going on with her. She should have talked to him about her suspicions, but she said she was going to and he should have listened and believed her. He was no longer angry with her, and he wished he didn’t cut her out so decisively.

He stared at his phone, then placed the call.

Adva, a.k.a. Aaron from Beer Sheva, answered the unrecognized phone number, hesitation in her voice.

“Hello, yes, who is it?”

“It’s Gideon Se...I mean, it’s Gideon Berdichevsky, Yehoshua’s son.”

“Oh! Has something happened to Yehoshua?” she asked. Sharp lady.

“Yes,” he answered and launched into an explanation about his father’s medical condition. She was quiet and didn’t interrupt him with questions, not once.

“Thank you,” she said when he was finished. “I was wondering where Yehoshua had disappeared to. I thought it had something to do with Berdiplast, he was worried about something there.”

She had a low voice, and she sounded very cool and collected.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t visit him at the hospital,” Gideon said. They only let family members visit the intensive unit care. Besides, he wasn’t going to risk his mother running into Adva.

“Of course not,” she answered immediately.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized again. “It must be hard for you.”

“Not so much. I’m used to fending for myself, and I’m used to seeing Yehoshua only occasionally, and only according to his schedule. I’ve always viewed myself as a single parent. Actually, I’m doing better than most single moms, because he is a very generous provider. I’m good. Your father, when he comes, it’s nice, but I don’t really need him.”

“Will...will my brothers be okay?” he asked.

“Yes. They’ll be fine. They are used to long separations. Your father has never spent a whole night here,” Adva said, surprising him, “Your mother hates sleeping alone. Yehoshua doesn’t leave Naomi for long periods, not if he can help it.”

Her intimate knowledge of his family bothered him.

“Your brothers know about you, Gideon,” she added. And he knew about them. But he didn’t want to conduct a secret relationship, with a secret family, behind his mother’s back. He remained quiet, wondering how to end this call. Then, he yawned hugely unable to help himself.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I haven’t slept properly for days.”

“Thank you for calling me, Gideon. I know it wasn’t easy,” Adva said, and they disconnected. Despite everything, he liked her.

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