Read A Christmas Prayer: An Autistic Child, a Father's Love, a Woman's Heart (Christmas Romance) for Free Online

advice.”
    He evaded her question. Why? She’d have to see where this vein took them. “How so?”
    “Sometimes, you search for words to express the struggle inside of you. If there is nothing already out there, you have to make something up to express the hurt inside. Chances are you’re not the only one going through the struggle, which is why some songs resonate with folks. They identify with the pain you’re feeling. You give them words. Take White Christmas , for example.”
    “Don’t follow.”
    “It’s a song about home sickness. Who hasn’t felt homesick at some point in their lives?”
    “And how does A Christmas Prayer help people express their feelings?”
    “My long-standing alcohol addiction is no secret. One day, God got ahold of me. I decided it was time to clean up. A Christmas Prayer is a prayer for deliverance. There isn’t a human alive who hasn’t felt trapped by circumstances beyond their control.”
    Alexis shifted in her chair. Why wouldn’t Ethan tell the real story?
    “Any other reason?”
    “God coming to earth as a vulnerable baby helped me realize God understands our frailties. I surrendered my addiction. I’ve been sober for a year now.”
    His gaze, deep and penetrating, cracked her façade and bared her sin.

Chapter Five
    Ethan’s driver pulled the mammoth black limo against the curb near Alexis’s house. Sorry, Mr. Jacobs,” he said. “Too big to fit into Ms. Jennings’s driveway.”
    Though Ethan wanted smaller, the only other option on short notice was a sporty Bentley that sat four. Either he’d have to drive or leave someone at home. He hoped the leviathan of a vehicle didn’t make him appear phony or make Gib feel as though he’d been swallowed by a whale.
    Since he’d arrived a few minutes early, Ethan took the time to consider the events of yesterday and his hopes for the evening. Without Max’s help, Ethan had made the dinner arrangements himself and wanted the evening to go well. He shook his head, half in nervousness and half in pride for his forethought. Who said fame made a man helpless? He’d chosen to dine at Jack’s Oyster House near Albany, famous for their Cowboy Steak.
    He’d called Alexis to be sure she’d be content with the restaurant; her only concerns were Gib’s limited likes and unpredictability in crowded situations. To be on the safe side, Ethan had phoned ahead and asked the management to prepare fried chicken as a backup in case nothing on the menu appealed to Gib’s finicky nature. He also requested a private room and offered a large tip if the restaurant assigned wait staff who would be sensitive to a child with disabilities.
    He’d prepared to the best of his ability. Let the night bring on what the night willed.
    As for the rest of his hopes for the night, prayer wouldn’t hurt.
    He wanted a chance to be better acquainted with Gib before court. Jan MacKendrick had cautioned Ethan not to force attention on Gib, instead let the relationship develop naturally.
    “Given all Gib has been through, you may have to accept the fact you and he may never have a normal father-son relationship,” she’d warned.
    Ethan sighed with worry. He wouldn’t know what a normal father-son relationship looked like. Better to hold no expectations.
    Then, there was his hope to know the beautiful Alexis better as well. Too bad she had invited her friend along. His disappointment softened some when she explained Jasmine’s calming influence on Gib. The invite made sense in retrospect. Still, he’d like to find some way of being alone with Alexis. He’d felt a purr yesterday during the interview, like a motor running, more than an exchange of pleasant conversation. He’d like to think the glint in her eyes had been due to something more than irritating contact lenses. His mind filled with yesterday’s vision: her red blouse clinging to her skin, showing off a figure like a Miss October in one of those magazines he vowed he would never look at