A Christmas Prayer: An Autistic Child, a Father's Love, a Woman's Heart (Christmas Romance) by Linda Wood Rondeau Page A

sighs turned into moans as soon as they returned to the lobby. Kicking over the coffee table, he screamed, “Nobody’s going to tell me what to do anymore!” Before Alexis could grab him, Gib was out the door and out of view.

Chapter Twelve
    Alexis parked the car in her driveway. Should she wait at the house as Kyle suggested, in case Gib came home, or join the search? She checked the weather report on her cell phone. Twenty degrees and dropping to five below overnight. Gib had no coat. She now wished she had let him wear his Stetson hat like he’d wanted. A hat would at least have kept him a little warm. Her cell buzzed. Jasmine … not Kyle with good news as she hoped.
    “Girl, no arguments. I’m on my way over.” She disconnected before Alexis could rebut. Their editor in Los Angeles would have expected both of them to return to work and let the police do their job. There was something to be said about a small town where locals looked out for one another. “Buck said for us to take all the time we needed.”
    Over the years, she and Jasmine had taken turns holding each other’s hands and praying through crisis upon crisis. Alexis was there for Jasmine when her sister took her last breath, another casualty of Sickle-cell Anemia. Alexis wondered what she would have done without Jasmine’s presence and counsel since coming to Jasper Falls.
    When she arrived, Alexis fell into her friend’s embrace. Jasmine stroked her hair with all the love of a mother. “Ssh, girl. It’ll be fine. You’ll see. God’s got it!”
    “I’m scared, Jasmine. The last few times Gib’s bolted, they found him in the quarry, asleep behind a big boulder. Kyle’s checked every place Gib’s hidden before. Nothing.”
    “Gib knows enough to get out of the cold. Maybe he found a barn to hide in. They’ll find him.”
    They fell into silence; best friends didn’t need to say everything aloud. Jasmine put water on to boil, steeped Alexis’s favorite tea, and put the cup in front of her. “Drink it. No arguments.”
    “Should I call Ethan?”
    “What for? Between Kyle and the law guardian, he’s apt to know more than you.”
    “I should call Buck and beg off on the Mayor’s Dinner. There are plenty of more important people than me who can present the award to Ethan. I’d rather not. Things are weird enough between us. I’m keeping civil for Gib’s sake, but I won’t lie to you. It’s an act.”
    “I’ll handle the Mayor’s Dinner if you want.”
    The cell rang. Alexis checked the number. “It’s Ethan. Should I answer it? I don’t think I can talk to him. Who does he think he is waltzing into our lives like he owns Jasper Falls? What does he think he’ll gain by getting custody of Gib? Maybe he wants to make Gib the poster child for his fund raising efforts with Gideon Foundation Network.”
    “Alexis .. you’re rambling. Answer the phone.”
    “Ethan?”
    “Alexis, I’m at rehearsal. Any word on Gib yet? Anything I can do?”
    “I don’t think so. You’re the reason he ran off.”
    “Me? I haven’t seen Gib since Sunday. And I’ve been at rehearsal last night and all morning.”
    “Gib doesn’t want to live with you.”
    “He said that?”
    “Not in those words.” Her body shook with rage. “He said he wants to stay with me.”
    “Not possible, though, is it?”
    “Apparently not, especially after this latest episode. There’s no way the court will reconsider. In their eyes, I’ve only proven I’m unfit to manage him. Heck, even I think Gib’s safer with you.”
    “Really? Are we friends again?”
    “Only in matters related to Gib.”
    “Alexis, I’ve been thinking.”
    “Don’t Ethan. Don’t think. Whatever happens Thursday, we’ll deal with it.”
    “Alexis … I—”
    Alexis heard a car pull into the driveway and checked through the window. Jasper Police. Probably Kyle. “Have to go. Kyle’s here. Maybe there’s news.”
    * * *
    She had disconnected before he’d had a chance