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

Richards sat at her bench peering over Gib’s thick case file, Alexis gazed around the courtroom. When she had first moved to Herkimer County, she thought the area far too provincial to connect with. At least until she did a series of articles on area history, including the Chester Gillette trial, the stuff of novels and movies, held in this same court house, as imposing now as it must have seemed to Chester as he sat on the witness stand arguing his innocence.
    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