The Christmas Child Read Online Free Page A

add, to the local women’s shelter. Afterward, Cheyenne Bowman spoke to our class and even volunteered to teach a self-protection seminar to the high-school girls.”
    Biff, however, had not followed up on that offer from the shelter’s director, a former police officer and assault victim.
    â€œI’m aware the project does a good deed, but the worry is academics. Aren’t your students losing valuable class time while baking cookies?”
    â€œNot at all. They’re learning valuable skills in a real-life situation. I realize my teaching style is not traditional but students learn by doing as well, maybe better, than by using only textbooks.”
    Biff took a pencil from his desk and tapped the end on a desk calendar. He was unusually fidgety today. Whoever complained must have clout. “Give me some specifics to share with the concerned parent.”
    â€œWho is it? Maybe if I spoke with him or her?”
    â€œI don’t want my teachers bothered with disgruntled parents. I will handle the situation.”
    â€œI appreciate that, Biff. You’ve always been great support.” Which was all the more reason to be concerned this time. Why was he not standing behind her on the cookie project? Who was putting pressure on the principal? “The project utilizes math, economics, life skills, social ethics, research skills, art and science.” She ticked them off on her fingers. “There are more. Is that enough?”
    Biff scribbled on a notepad. “For now. You may have to articulate exactly how those work at some point, but we’ll start here.”
    â€œI really don’t want to lose this project, Biff. It’s a high point for my students.”
    â€œAs well as for their teacher who loves everything Christmas.” With a half smile he bounced the pencil one final time. “Why don’t we have dinner tonight and discuss this further?”
    The offer caught Sophie as much by surprise as someone’s objection to the cookie project. She sputtered a bit before saying, “Thank you, but I have to say no. I’m sorry.”
    Her thoughts went to Davey and the way he’d clung to her this morning. She couldn’t wait to see him again and let him know she kept her promises. She’d phoned after lunch to say hello and see how he was doing. Kade had answered, assured her Davey was doing fine and was at that moment sound asleep on Ida June’s couch. The memory of Kade’s voice, clipped, cool and intriguing, lingered like a song she couldn’t get out of her head.
    No, she definitely did not want to have dinner with the principal.
    â€œI’ve already made other plans.”
    Biff’s face closed up again. He stuffed the pen in his shirt pocket. “Ah. Well, another time, then.”
    At the risk of encouraging him, Sophie nodded and quickly left his office. The mystery casserole churned in her stomach. As her boot heels tapped rhythmically on highly waxed white tile, she reviewed the unsettling conversation. As much as she wanted to believe Biff’s dinner invitation was purely professional, she knew better. Carmen was right. The principal liked her. She liked him, too. It wasn’t that. He was a good man, a by-the-book administrator who strove for excellence and expected the same from his staff. As a teacher, she appreciated him. But as a woman? She hadn’t thought seriously about herboss, and given the buzz of interest she’d felt for Ida June’s nephew, she never would.
    Frankly, the concerns about her teaching methods weighed more heavily right now.
    Would Biff go as far as vetoing the cookie project?

Chapter Three
    K ade pushed back from the laptop perched on Ida June’s worn kitchen table and rubbed the strain between his eyes. Hours of poking into every law-enforcement database he could access produced nothing about a missing mute boy named David. He’d chased a rabbit trail for the past hour only