Poor Grace Brown. No one cared about her before she drowned at Big Moose Lake. But suddenly, her death had made her a legend. Poor, pregnant and rejected, Grace had few options but to beg Chester to do the honorable thing and marry her. Instead, he killed her to keep his sin a secret and his hope for wealth alive.
Poverty makes people desperate.
Alexis looked at her plain clothes. She’d experienced some of the good life in Los Angeles. A life she missed at first, but gladly renounced to take care of Gib. Now, seated across from Ethan, she felt poor, unable to provide Gib with the basic resources he needed to stay out of trouble and lead a productive life. If he stayed with her, would he become another poverty statistic?
She should rejoice at Gib’s good fortune to have a rich father and resources far beyond what her parents left him. She tried to picture Gib in his new digs, surrounded by nature, horses, pets, and shadow companions. Certainly a different life than he lived now. Would it be enough to keep him from the ravages of teenage rebellion gone ballistic as often happened when kids with these disorders hit puberty?
Judge Richards looked up and addressed Jan MacKenrdrick. “I understand Gib ran away again yesterday?”
Jan rose. “Yes, your honor. Mr. Jacobs found him and brought him back to Miss Jennings’s house.”
Alexis whispered to Don. “Everyone calls it my house. It’s not. It’s willed to Gib, and I’m the trustee.” A complication no one seemed to consider. Once Gib moved in with Ethan, what would happen to her parents’ legacy to Gib?
Ethan’s attorney approached the bench. “Your honor, Miss MacKendrick and I have had several conversations and I believe we have an option that may please the court as well as Social Services. May we have a few minutes in chambers?”
“Very well, my chambers, now. Court is still in session.”
Alexis bit her lip. Why drag this out? Make the ruling and sever her hopes quickly.
She glanced at Ethan, handsome in his dress slacks, sport coat, and normal shoes, and still the best-looking-man-on-the-planet. A pity they never got to define their indescribable kiss. Once Gib moved in with Ethan, dating would be far too awkward.
She glanced at the wall clock. Time passing as slowly as watching water boil, yet, not daring to move. Gib kept his head down, every few minutes turning in his seat and gawking first at Ethan, then at the court reporter and the social workers sitting in the back sections until Jan MacKendrick’s assistant tapped his table, a reminder for Gib to sit up and look forward.
Finally, the group emerged from chambers and took their places. Judge Richards addressed the courtroom. “Let us proceed to the matter of Gibson Jennings’s probation violation.” She rattled off a bunch of numbers for the court reporter. “The county attorney recommends twelve months of continued probation. Gib, do you understand the conditions?”
Jan MacKendrick prompted Gib to stand. “I have to see my probation officer once a week. I have to have drug tests. I can’t do any more borrowing.”
Judge Richards swallowed her amusement. “Do you understand what will happen if you do any more … borrowing?”
“I may have to go to a special home.”
“And you’ll need to make restitution. Do you know what restitution means?”
Gib leaned in toward Jan who whispered to him. He nodded. “I have to go once a week and sweep the floors to pay back for the things I borrowed.”
“Do you agree to the conditions explained to you?”
“Yes.”
Judge Richards peered over her half glasses. “So ordered. Let us move to the neglect petition filed by Department of Social Services against Alexis Jennings regarding Gibson Jennings, a child in her care.”
Alexis stood as expected, her throat tight, barely able to breathe.
“Social Services requests custody of Gib. Furthermore, if you agree to placement, DSS will amend the neglect petition to request an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. Meaning, if you adhere to the conditions ordered by this court, the charges will be dismissed in twelve months.”
At least she wouldn’t go down in history as a neglectful guardian.
Judge Richards continued. “Mr. Jacobs, will you stand as well? You have petitioned this court for physical placement of Gib.”
“Yes.”
“Probation has completed a home study, and I find no preclusion to the arrangement.”
Alexis glanced over to Gib who balled his fists. Would he bolt or start moaning in front of the judge?
“Mr. Jacobs, your attorney has proposed an interesting settlement which the court finds reasonable. Since there is no official finding of neglect against Miss Jennings at this juncture, Social Services has agreed to continue physical placement with Miss Jennings at your request and verifiable support as indicated in chambers which will not be made public in this courtroom due to confidentiality concerns …”
Chapter Fifteen
Christmas Day
Jasmine opened the large box from Ethan, a pair of brick-red Tony Lama boots especially for women. She kicked off her flats and put them on, a perfect look with her studded, rear pockets jeans. She walked the length of the room, a model on her hardwood runway.
Ethan held up his gift from Jasmine. “I’ll enjoy the scarf and gloves. I actually didn’t bring any with me. Thanks.”
Alexis reached under the tree for the last gift—an oblong box containing a guitar. She was glad Ethan checked with her before buying one himself. Ethan’s would have been far better. But after much argument, he agreed to let Gib have the one she’d already purchased, her idea and her resources. Whether Gib appreciated her efforts or not, she wanted to do one thing for him on her own.
Gib tore off the paper in three seconds. “Yeah man!” He rose from the couch and danced. Good to see him happy again. She remembered the many holidays with Mom and Dad and how much Gib loved Christmas. She had prayed he might find joy in the holiday once more.
At Gib’s request, Christmas dinner would consist of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn with banana cream pie and vanilla ice-cream for dessert. Ethan had brought sparkling grape juice to celebrate new beginnings. Gib liked the idea of having something bubbly.
He strummed the guitar. “When do I start lessons?”
Ethan moved over to the couch. “Did you look in the case?”
Gib hauled out a book of chords.
“I taught myself how to play with this book. It’s yours now. I’ll work with you every day until I go back on tour next month.”
“Cool.”
“You’re smart, Gib. I expect you’ll learn a lot on your own. Alexis tells me Mike Deshane will be spending time with you on the weekends. I hear he’s pretty good with a guitar.”
Gib nodded. “He plays with the worship team at church. Mike’s cool.”
Alexis turned off the lights and lit the candles. “Gib, wash your hands while Jasmine and I put dinner on the table.”
“Aww man!” He obeyed with only a tiny scowl.
Alexis went into the kitchen while Jasmine helped set the table with the iridescent accessories Gib picked out. Alexis tried to steer him toward more conventional paper plates. No convincing him. She had to admit, the assorted bright colors perked up the dining room. Who said Christmas had to be all about red and green?
Max shot Jasmine what he probably thought was a secretive glance, except his intent was as plain as day. Even Gib caught on. “So, you two are liking each other? Cool.”
Max blushed. “If you don’t mind, Jasmine and I will pass on Avatar. We’re going to her place after we eat. We have a different movie to watch. Several, actually.”
“Hey, you’re my ride home, Max.”
He tossed Ethan the keys.
“So I’ll see you, when?”
“Much later,” Jasm
ine said.
Ethan pulled Alexis into a quick embrace and an even quicker kiss before Gib returned from the bathroom. “Ecstatic.”
“What’s that?”
“The kiss … at Taberg Tower.”
“Good word … not descriptive enough.”
“We’ll experiment on the right word after Gib goes to sleep. We’ll have a few weeks before I resume my tour if we still can’t figure out how to describe it. I’ll be back as often as I can.”
For her or for Gib? “Everything’s on the table. Let’s eat.”
Ethan gave thanks, and before long, the meal took on an ambiance of normal. How her mother made things special year after year was a mystery. Hardly the kind of Christmas she’d grown used to as a child. And what would a future Christmas bring? She looked into Ethan’s eyes. Did love loom on the horizon? If they were fortunate enough to find it, would it survive the constant buffeting Gib’s needs would hurl at them? Only God knew.
Epilogue
Christmas One year later
Alexis glanced at the blushing bride and groom now making their way through the tables. A beautiful wedding thanks to Ethan’s generosity.
Jasmine glowed in her Vera Wang, pink princess gown, but Alexis felt heavy in her matching purple maid of honor dress. Or maybe it was her heart that weighed her down.
She glanced at Jasmine’s bridal bouquet she’d left as a centerpiece for the head table, a cascade of purple and pink roses. Alexis’s spray of carnations was a nice complement to the men’s pink and purple boutonnieres. The Guilford residence had been decked with purple and pink mums throughout the house. A double celebration on Christmas Day.
Yet, Alexis didn’t feel like celebrating. Too much was changing too fast.
While she rejoiced for Jasmine’s happiness, she could not help but ponder what her own future held. A wedding? She’d like to hope for it. But, most of her time with Ethan had been spent helping Gib transition into his new life as the son of a Country Music star.
Where did that leave her?
Not that she felt rushed nor believed the label “married woman” completed God’s purpose for her on this earth. Yet, when she was with Ethan, a longing lingered in her soul for more of him. Or was it a fairytale dream?
Alexis helped Jasmine take her seat when the couple came back to the head table. “How I’ll miss you. Max, why do you have to take my best friend so far away?”
“The world’s a small place in this day and age, Alexis. Planes fly to Los Angeles, you know.”
“I know, but it’s different when we don’t see each other every day.”
Max laughed. “Not forever, Alexis. We’ll be back in a year once Ethan’s Hallmark movie contracts are done. And we’ll be here probably more than we aren’t. Or, didn’t he tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“His last tour will be in March. He likes being a dad and wants more time with Gib.”
“Maybe the girlfriend is always the last to know.” Ethan had proven to be the closed type, not quick to offer information. He claimed he was afraid of her criticism. They had some things to work on as a couple—if they were to be one. Ethan gave no hint he wanted more than what they had and Alexis could not define their relationship beyond a few dates when Ethan came to roost at Guilford.
Love? Yes. She loved Ethan. Did he love her? He’d said so many times. His home again/away again lifestyle made any talk of a future difficult. Was that the kind of life she wanted? Love messages by text instead of in her ear every night? His whole career had been on the move. Would he truly be happy settling down to take care of Gib?
Probably selfish, but how she wished she’d been the reason Ethan wanted to stay in Jasper Falls. She turned her attention back to Jasmine and Max. “I’m surprised you want to live here, Max.”
“Kind of got used to the quiet life after being at Guilford off and on over the past year.” Max elbowed Jasmine.”And Jasper Falls is a great place to raise a family.”
Jasmine put her hands on her hips. “Not so fast, Max. Plenty of time to think on that family thing. No need to get our lives mapped out so far ahead.” She leaned in toward Alexis. “Next thing I know, he’ll have our retirement plans set before we have our first kid.”
If one good thing came out of the turmoil, it was Max and Jasmine. As for Alexis and Ethan? They were good together, when Ethan was around. Such was the life of a celeb, she supposed.
She wondered what would happen when Ethan became a permanent fixture at Guilford. Ethan managed to fly to Jasper Falls during Gib’s school vacations and the occasional break in his hectic schedule where Gib would spend time at Guilford with Ethan. Gib would come home excited and happy after his visits with Ethan. Occasionally, he said he’d like to live there and why couldn’t Alexis move in with them.
“Not that simple, Gib,” she’d say and wish in her heart she could. How much simpler that option might be if she didn’t yearn for Ethan’s embraces during those few times they were alone. No, moving in with them at Guilford wouldn’t be appropriate. Unless … not likely.
And if Gib moved in with Ethan, where did that leave her? The house was Gib’s. The honest thing to do was to sell it for him and find somewhere else to live. Where? Now that Gib knew Ethan was his father, Alexis was excess baggage in Gib’s life. She laughed that everyone thought they had to tread so lightly on that truth. When the counselor told Gib, he took it in stride. “Cool,” he’d said. “Can I still have a horse when I’m done with my probation?”
Might as well face it. Her role in Gib’s life was as big a question mark as her future with Ethan Jacobs.
Lord, you know what is best for all of us.
Max scanned the reception area. “Where is Ethan, anyway? Have a question to ask him.”
Jasmine shook her head. “Max wants the keys to Ethan’s cabin at Lake Tahoe for the weekends. Sure has turned into a nature lover.”
“Honey, I’d climb Everest as long as you’re with me.” Max brought Jasmine into a kiss to the guests’ applause.
“Ethan took Gib out to the barn to see his horse.”
Jasmine laughed. “Sure loves that animal. Best bribery Ethan could have come up with to keep Gib on task with his probation requirements.”
Alexis smiled. “Gib’s had an amazing year, for sure. Now that his probation is over, he wants to keep working at the store even if he doesn’t get paid.”
Her cell chimed. “That’s Ethan. Really? He couldn’t come back inside?”
Jasmine joined in Alexis’s laughter as she read the text: Come out to the barn. Gib has something to ask you.
He expected her to walk from the house to the barn in heels? What about her gown? Did she want it to smell like manure and horse? Oh well. Stuffy in here, anyway. Fresh air would feel good. And the old cobblestoned path had been cleared of last night’s light snowfall. She grabbed her coat from the rack and stopped when she came to the bay window.
Ethan knelt in the middle of the path, a small black box resting on his palm. Gib stood on the stoop holding a spray of yellow balloons with the message, “Alexis Jennings, will you marry me?”
Another Christmas Prayer answered.
She ran to the patio doors and flung them open, shouting to the wind and anyone else who might hear. “Yes!” She ran into Ethan’s embrace and accepted his hungry kisses as he put the ring on her finger.
“Remarkable,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Our first kiss at Taberg Tower. The word … remarkable.”
“I like it. Why did you choose that one?”
“It means worthy of attention. It awoke something in us—something remarkable—something that will endure.”
She took the balloons from Gib and held Ethan’s arm as they walked back to the house. She’d keep thei
r engagement quiet, only telling Max and Jasmine when they were ready to leave for their honeymoon. Ethan agreed. “We don’t want to intrude on their parade. We’ll make the announcement tomorrow.”
Alexis pondered the seas ahead. Their love had grown in spite of the buffeting Gib’s needs pressed against each of them—calm waters, rare respites on turbulent seas. Oh, but how much better the boat would steer with two to row.
THE END
A Christmas Prayer: An Autistic Child, a Father's Love, a Woman's Heart (Christmas Romance) Page 9