The Eden Series: The Complete Collection by Janelle Stalder Read Free Book Online Page B

garage and appear busy. So far it had worked, because his mother had yet to come out and find him. He sat on one of the lawn chairs in there and watched the cars drive by. It wasn’t much fun, but it was better than doing more chores. Around three thirty Ethan came up the driveway and saw Aiden sitting in the garage.
    “Hey,” he called out. “What are you doing in here?” he asked, looking around.
    “Hiding,” Aiden replied honestly.
    “Hiding? From what?”
    “My mother,” he replied. “She has been on me ever since I got suspended. She keeps giving me all these things to do around here, and it’s driving me nuts.”
    Ethan chuckled, grabbing a seat beside him. “Well, I guess it is her job to punish you, right?” Aiden looked over at him like he had just been betrayed. “Sorry,” he said, laughing and holding up his hands. “You’re right: that evil woman! What was I thinking?”
    “Whatever,” Aiden replied, kicking at a pebble on the floor. “So how was school today?”
    “Boring as usual, so don’t worry—you haven’t missed much. Although Melissa did ask about you today.”
    Aiden sat up and looked at him in shock. “Really? What did she say?”
    “She just asked what happened to you, and when I told her you had been suspended, she asked if you were all right.”
    “Really?” Aiden smiled. She had actually asked if he was all right. She cared about how he was.
    “Yes, really.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “She also professed her undying love for you, and said she can’t wait to bear your children.”
    Aiden shoved him, almost sending him right off his chair. “Shut up,” he said. Ethan laughed in response, telling him he was a lovesick fool. The two of them sat in the garage for a while, before his mother finally found them. She told Ethan he had to go, reminding Aiden that he was grounded and therefore was not allowed to see his friends. Ethan said his goodbyes, and once again Aiden was left alone in his prison.
    “Come inside and watch your sister for a bit,” his mother said, waiting for him to get out of the garage before closing it. His one last sanctuary was gone. “I need to go to the store and grab some things for dinner.”
    After they ate, Aiden went up to his bedroom and hid from the rest of his family. He was exhausted from the day’s chores, and looked at his bed with longing. He still had too much homework to do, though, so sleep would have to wait. Turning on his computer, he waited while the thing booted up. Ethan chatted to him while he worked, and before he knew it, it was already ten. Letting out a long yawn, he told Ethan they’d talk tomorrow and shut down the computer. Walking down the stairs toward the bathroom, he passed by Eddie’s room and saw her standing in the crib.
    “Why, hello, little one.” He smiled, entering the bedroom. She smiled back, reaching up for him to grab her. “It’s bedtime,” he said quietly, lifting her into his arms. Sitting on the rocking chair that sat in a corner of her room, he picked up a book that lay beside it and started to read to her as they rocked. Eddie sat contently in his lap as he read, resting the back of her head against his chest.
    “What’s going on in here?” he heard his mother say. He looked up to see her standing in the doorway.
    “Just a quick bedtime story,” he answered, smiling.
    “Sucker,” she said. “Looks like she knows who’s wrapped around her finger.” He shrugged, knowing it was the truth. There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for his sister. He finished reading and then passed her off to their mother, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. Heading toward the bathroom, he wondered what it must be like to be a baby. Everything was done for you. There were no responsibilities, no problems at that age. How nice it must be, he thought.
    Climbing back up to the attic, he called out a quick goodnight to his parents before shutting the door.
    “See you in the morning, buddy,” his dad