Page 60 of Christmas in the Shadows

She blinked and quickly put her hand down before anybody else could see it.

Tex had sent this. But why? Had he discovered something new?

Whatever it was, it sounded like he wanted her to get out of here. To get away from Gilbert.

When Tex stepped back into the kitchen he sent her a look that made it clear he was asking if she had gotten his message.

She sent him a subtle nod.

Tex sat back at the table and apologized again.

She was desperate to talk to him. To find out what exactly was going on.

But that wasn’t going to happen if she stayed here.

She suddenly let out a fake cough.

“Everything okay?” Gilbert asked.

“You know, I’ve had the feeling that a cold is coming on. I’ve been sneezing a lot today, and my throat’s been scratchy. Now it’s hitting me like a ton of bricks.” She turned toward Tex. “Do I feel warm?”

He put his hand to her forehead, and his eyes scrunched. “Actually, you do. Maybe you should go home and lie down. I’d hate for you to be sick for Christmas.”

She frowned and glanced at her half-eaten plate. “I hate to leave when you spent so much time preparing this meal for us.”

“We hate for you to leave too,” Anna said. “But if you don’t feel well, then by all means you need to take care of yourself. I can give you a box so you can take the rest home.”

“That would be fantastic. I guess I shouldn’t have come over. I hope I don’t get anyone else sick.”

“You don’t worry about that. Just get some rest and feel better soon.”

As Anna went to get a plastic container, Chelsea stood. She picked up her fork to put the rest of her food into the container, but her fork trembled against the plate.

Tex stood and took over for her. “Here, let me help you.”

She was so grateful for him. Grateful for the time they’d had together.

There was a point in her life where she wouldn’t have been able to say that. But now she could see where forgiveness and restoration were needed.

Not that the two of them would necessarily ever go back to where they had been. But at least maybe one day she wouldn’t think of him with such heaviness in her heart.

“I’m going to walk her home, but I’ll be right back,” Tex announced.

Gilbert and Anna nodded.

Tex put his hand on the small of her back and led her outside. As soon as the back door closed, Chelsea turned to him. “What’s going on?”

“A lot,” he muttered.

He kept walking, getting her farther away from the house as if it was going to blow up at any minute or something.

They paused only when they reached her back door. Chelsea wasn’t going any farther until she had some more information.

“Gilbert has been extorting the foster kids who stayed with him years ago. Asking for anything from money to drugs to favors. Otherwise, he’ll spill the secrets he knows about them.”

Her mouth dropped open. “What? That’s terrible.”

“I know. He’s clearly desperate and I don’t think you should be around him a moment longer than you have to be.”

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