A Forever Christmas(54)

To the surprise of all of them, Angel shook her head. “Actually, Eduardo changed his mind. He’s decided to stay on a little longer.”

Gabe had seen how happy she was, going to work at the diner every day. She really enjoyed cooking. This news had to have devastated her. “Well, he can’t do that,” he declared, feeling indignant for her.

“He can and he did. But it’s all right,” she assured Gabe, placing a calming hand on his arm, which no one in the office missed. “Miss Joan decided that since business has picked up so much lately, there’s more than enough work for both of us.”

She seemed oblivious to the little detail that she was the reason why it had picked up so much, Gabe thought.

She leaned forward now, as if sharing a secret even though she said it loud enough for all three deputies and the sheriff to hear. “She said having me there will keep Eduardo in his place.”

Rick laughed. “I bet it will at that.” Miss Joan, they all knew, was nothing if not extremely sharp in her dealings with the customers and her staff. Rick held up his latest finished piece as if it was exhibit “A.” “This is really fantastic,” he enthused. “Maybe you could give my wife some lessons.”

“Olivia might take offense at you suggesting that she needs lessons,” Alma pointed out tactfully.

Rick looked at her. “Olivia is the first one to admit that she can’t cook.”

Alma rolled her eyes, a pitying smile on her lips. “God but men are thick.” She looked pointedly at her boss. “There’s a big difference between her admitting it and you actually agreeing with her on that point.”

“So agreeing with her is a bad thing?” Rick asked, confused.

“In this case, a very bad thing,” Alma said. “You’re supposed to tell her that you like her cooking.”

It was Rick’s turn to roll his eyes—and hold his stomach in mock agony. “I tell her that and she’s liable to do more of it,” he pointed out. The remark was followed by a shiver.

“Well, whatever you do, don’t suggest she take cooking lessons,” Alma advised.

Angel did her best not to laugh at the disappointed expression on Rick’s face. Turning toward Gabe, she asked, “Are you about ready to go home?” She assumed he couldn’t eat more than the four pieces he’d already consumed.

Wiping his fingers on the edge of his napkin, Gabe nodded. His shift was over and he just had to put something away. Rising from his chair, he told her, “Give me a couple of minutes and—”

Just then, the front door flew opened and a wild-eyed, maternal-looking woman rushed in. “I can’t find Jason,” Diane Lake cried without any preamble.

Dinner—what there was left of it—was instantly forgotten as Rick rose to his feet and crossed to the woman. The latter looked as if she was on the verge of falling apart.

“It’s going to be all right, Diane,” Rick said gently, trying to calm her down. “When did you last see Jason?”

It took Diane a moment to remember. All her thoughts were apparently scattered. “A couple of hours ago. He came home from school and wanted to play in the back before supper was ready.” There was fear in the woman’s brown eyes as she turned them on Rick. “He’s gone wandering off in the woods, I just know it. I told him not to—I always tell him not to—but he was mad at me…”

“Why was he mad?” Gabe asked. All three deputies had risen and closed ranks around the distraught woman, unconsciously forming a tight circle, as if the very act could somehow comfort her.

“I told him if he didn’t get his grades up, we wouldn’t get a Christmas tree this year.” Her voice nearly broke. She struggled to continue. “That the one in the square would be enough.” Tears were now sliding down her cheeks. She couldn’t stop them. “I think he went to get one. Jason’s just eight,” she cried as if everyone in the room—except for Angel—didn’t already know that fact. “He’ll get lost.”

“We’ll find him,” Rick promised firmly. He addressed each of his deputies. “I want you to spread out. Hit the diner, the Emporium, wherever you find more than just a couple of people. Round up every able-bodied man and woman you can get,” he ordered. “We’re going to comb those woods and get that boy back to his mother before daylight.” He looked at the shaking woman. “It’s going to be all right,” he repeated firmly, willing her to believe nothing less. “Just hang in there.”