Page 57 of Gideon's Gratitude

Gideon was absolutely rigid.

“A few minutes. Then you get carrots and milk.”

“And a cookie.” A younger, more demanding voice.

A pause. “Sure, a cookie.”

Gideon relaxed a fraction.

Do I bring the graphics back? What would make this situation better?

After a long awkward silence, Gideon spoke. “You be good to Papa and Trevor, okay? I love you so much, sweetheart. I would do anything to be there, if I could.”

“Gideon.” The warning tone was clear.

“Just a minute. Just one more…”

“Say goodbye, Mel. I’ll get you a cookie.”

“Bye, Daddy. I love you.”

“Bye, Mel. Bye, Trevor.”

The words hung, but nothing more came. The camera turned off and Gideon was left looking at his own image. He slammed the netbook closed.

I didn’t give a shit. I pulled him into my arms. Held on for all I was worth as the slighter man sagged into my arms. Sobs wracked him, and I teared up as well. That’d been heartbreaking. Something I’d witnessed before, but today felt different. Like I was more invested.

Like you care.

I did, damn it. And I was angry at Leo for the callous way he treated Gideon, as well as the blatant manipulation of the children. Parental alienation was the one thing I wouldn’t tolerate. My clients knew better than to pull crap like that around me. Did it likely happen? Possibly. But I’d never condone it, that was for sure.

“My babies.” A sobbing hiccup. “He didn’t even want to see me. He’s going to forget me. It’s like I’ll have never been there.”

What could I say? If Leo didn’t keep his spirit alive with the children, then yes, they’d likely forget over time. Maybe not Melodie, but Trevor was young. So heartbreakingly young.

Gideon pulled out of the embrace.

I ruthlessly pushed down the discomfort at the loss of contact.

“You see why I don’t want to keep doing this?”

No shit.“But you will keep doing this. You have to. Those kids mean everything to you, and you can’t stop fighting.”

“I have nothing left to fight with.” Whispered words.

“Well, let’s start with the counselor. Perhaps if you spend time with her, you might figure some things out.”

God, I sounded like an idiot. I didn’t know if going for counseling was going to help. Would the courts look on it favorably? If done in an earnest attempt to get help, then yes, they likely would. But Gideon needed to go for another reason. I recognized despair when I saw it. Could see a man teetering. I wasn’t qualified to help talk him down off the proverbial ledge. And maybe this hadn’t gone as far as that, but even I could see the pain. The anguish. The loss of the will to fight.

“I’m going to have a shower.”

A good sign. “Great. I have a few things to wrap up, and then we can head out.” I gazed out the window. “The rain is coming down pretty hard. How far is this place?”

“About fifteen minutes.”

“Then we’ve plenty of time.”

He met my gaze for the first time. His nose was red and his eyes puffy. “The counselor said I could bring Lucky. I’m thinking maybe you could drive my car…?”

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