Kyle’S Secret Challenge

By JB Price

Kyles Secret Challenge is a story of a young man born out of sync with what society calls normal. Kyle learned early in life that the world is rigid in its standards and often lacking in mercy for those who cant conform.

Join him as he works to adjust where possible and learns to accept the impossible. Observe his interactions with others who also face the stigma and challenges of being different. Share his defeats. Rejoice in his victories. Delight in his discovery that his lifelong challenge just might be the doorway to his greatest blessing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512784732

JB Price

Growing up in a culture rich in storytelling birthed a deep love and profound respect for the power of words early in JB Price’s life. Add two degrees with emphasis on the English language and thirty-five plus years of working with hurting people, and you have the ingredients that have enabled JB to pen fictional stories with the flavor of real life. Kyle’s Secret Challenge, the sequel to Katie’s Surprise, is such a story. Forty-five years ago, JB and her husband were granted the privilege of adopting a fetal alcohol syndrome baby girl. Twenty-seven years later they were gifted with an autistic grandson. This story was written at their request and with their approval.

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Copyright © 2017 JB Price.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

NIV: Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

NLT: Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-8472-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-8474-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-8473-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017906014

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/03/2017

Contents

Books by JB Price

Dedication

Foreword

Asheville, NC 2002

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty One

Twenty-Two

Twenty Three

Twenty-Four

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Books by JB Price

Virginia Series

Callie’s Treasures

Jake and Josie’s Discoveries

Asheville-Roanoke Series

Katie’s Surprise

Kyle’s Secret ChallengeISAIAH 55:8-9(NLT)

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD.

And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Dr. Barbara Olson, a pediatric neurologist who sees beyond a diagnosis to the potential of the individual. You shine brightly in the dark world of mental health issues by providing a balance between medical intervention and a genuine concern for each patient. Thank you for being that light for us.

This book is also dedicated to every individual and family whose lives have been impacted by the diagnosis of a neurological disorder and have discovered the potential blessings hidden throughout the struggles.

Your tenacity and courage to overcome not only your personal challenges, but also the arrogant ignorance and self-centered fear of folks who misjudge, label, and shun you, bring me to my knees in awe and respect.

An amazing, yet not widely known, fact is that you share the stage of life with some of our most brilliant scientists, mathematicians, inventors, innovators, musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and countless other professionals. Your creativity and sensitivity shine brightly in our mundane and too often apathetic world.

Thank you for daring to be YOU in spite of us.

You make my heart sing, my feet dance, and my eyes leak!

Foreword

F orty-five years ago, my husband and I welcomed a beautiful, eight-day-old baby girl into our hearts and home. We were informed of the time of her birth, her weight and height and given instructions for her nutritional needs. No one mentioned that her biological mother was an alcoholic and chain smoker. (That information surfaced two years ago.)

So two public school teachers, ignorant of the symptoms and needs of a fetal alcohol syndrome baby or the challenges ahead for her and us, embarked on a journey that God knew would change our lives forever. We and she faced those years with no help from the medical profession—though help was sought—and sadly, judgment from folks who had no clue what was going on.

We failed more than we succeeded. We wept as often as we laughed. We survived with a strong belief that God had given us this precious life and somewhere in the midst of it all, He had a plan and a purpose.

Fast-forward thirty years. This same daughter and I sat in the office of Dr. Barbara Olson, a pediatric neurologist in Nashville, and heard the words autism and pervasive developmental disorder used to describe the strikingly handsome, blue-eyed, blonde-haired lad playing in the floor. (She nor we had any way of knowing at that time that he would also have to deal with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia a few years down the road.)

Recalling that moment still brings tears. Unbelief rocked our already shaky world. Surely, another member of our family was not going to have to face the heartache and pain of learning to live with neurological challenges.

How could God expect one so small and delicate to bear such a burden?

How could his eight-month pregnant mother, who still struggled with her own undiagnosed disorder, survive?

God bless Dr. Olson. She gave us hope. She dared us to believe that autism did not have to define him. We left her office with fire in our souls and steel in our spines. Not only did we have a diagnosis this time, we had an ally, a supporter, a confidante. With God’s help, we were determined this would not be a repeat of the last lonely, thirty plus, misunderstood years.

Thus, the second leg of our journey into the world of neurological disparities began.

Last year, our sixteen-year-old grandson, whom my husband and I homeschooled for eight years at the request of Dr. Olson, asked me to write a book about being autistic. Can you help folks understand what it is like to be me?

He was not asking for a discourse on autism, but rather a story about living with autism in a world with little understanding at best and servings of cruelty at its worst.

That daunting request has turned into a story I call Kyle’s Secret Challenge.

Asheville, NC

2002

One

C oping with the unexpected had never been one of Kyle Butler’s strong points, but with the help of others and a heap of determination, he was making progress. Well, most of the time. Tonight, however, proved to be one of the except ions.

He had arrived at the Websters’ home with a plan to bring an amicable closure to his past personal relationship with Katie and pave the way for a future working relationship. He left with hopes the second phase could be salvaged. The first? Extremely questionable.

Robert Burns got it right. "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." That is why he had been meticulously methodical and precise in formulating his approach before he showed up.

So what went wrong? He slammed the palm of his hand on the dash of his old truck. Unexpected blows to his Achilles heel—vulnerable children. The Webster widow had three. JD, Jaclyn, and Joshua.

So here he was. Waylaid again.

As he pulled out of her driveway, his mind was in overdrive. How do you help folks who are unaware they need help? The answer to that question had eluded him up to this point, and he had walked away. Not this time. He had to try.

Why? Because of his past … and theirs.

Seven years ago, Katie Williams walked out of his life and into the arms of Jeremy Webster. Just thinking about the toll that event took on his fragile self-esteem made him shudder. Apart from a God encounter, he was convinced he would not have survived … mentally or emotionally … and maybe not even physically. Suicidal thoughts had not been foreign to him.

However, things had changed. He had changed and now lived with an overwhelming desire to make a difference in the lives of others—especially those traversing paths no one would have willingly chosen.

As the miles separated him from the objects of his concern, he reflected on the evening. JD, Katie’s oldest son, had landed the first blow by taking up where their relationship ended seven years ago. Jaclyn, her middle born, who could charm a hermit out of seclusion, scored the second hit by simply being herself. But it was the silent cries of the youngest child that did him in. He could not walk away from Joshua.

That was the impetus for consenting to JD’s invitation to return tomorrow evening. His thoughts on what came next? As murky as the cloak of fog that encased his vehicle.

Determined that his innate, kneejerk tendency to overreact to challenges would not govern his responses, he leaned back and breathed deeply.

Think, Kyle. Try to put things in perspective. Key phrases from his countless counseling sessions rang inside his head. Okay. Fog. A temporary inconvenience over which I have no control. Slow down and take it easy. He relaxed a bit.

Joshua. His breath caught as pain ripped through his heart. There was nothing temporary about Joshua’s challenges, and he knew the key to helping the child was to reach his mother. But how? He needed an open door. That was the prayer burrowing in his heart as he turned into the entrance of the historic Omni Grove Park Inn.

Instead of going to his suite, he wandered to the patio and settled into a chair near the warmth and light radiating from the fire pit. You knew those children would steal my heart, Lord. He lingered and pondered until only ashes remained.

Thoughts of his second reason for being in the Asheville area surfaced as he opened the door to his suite. A new business adventure. He relaxed as he slipped out of his shoes. Unlike the troublesome landscape of human relationships, business was his field of expertise … his comfort zone.

After studying the information provided by his local lawyer, Kyle turned out the lights, confident of the success of his new business undertaking.

Hints of the approaching fall extravaganza caught his attention as he drove to Sykes and James Architectural and Design the next morning. The mountain city of Asheville was picturesque year round, but autumn earned top billing.

After six hours of in-house conferences and personal meetings, Mrs. Campbell alerted Kyle of his only outside appointment of the day. Marcus Washington is here.

Send him in.

The lawyer’s ability to navigate the legal waters of the buyout had been impressive. An open door and outstretched hand signaled Kyle’s approval. Come in, counselor.

A young, vibrant version of Sydney Poitier entered the office. With an air of confidence, he wasted no time convincing Kyle that all questionable issues had been resolved. Both men relaxed and the conversation took a more casual turn.

In the midst of their dialog, a hare-brained idea began tickling Kyle’s imagination. He groaned inside. He was notorious for concocting outlandish ideas involving people … but this one felt right.

A glance at Marcus’s left hand offered encouragement. Coffee? Kyle asked as he pulled two cups from the credenza.

No, thanks. I’m a two-cups-a-morning guy.

Kyle poured his fourth of the day. You married, Marcus?

Divorced … two years now.

Still looking for Mrs. Right?

Marcus’s head tilted to the left as he studied his client. I’m usually the one asking the questions, and they are pertinent to the business at hand. Yours are personal. What’s up?

Have a crazy thought racing through my head, Kyle said as he heaped three spoons of sugar in his strong coffee. Mind playing along?

Marcus crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. On the condition you’ll allow me the same courtesy.

Deal. Tell me about yourself. Nothing too personal. Just relevant information. Kyle’s deep-set, gunmetal blue eyes were studying his subject. Was the answer to his prayers sitting in his office?

Relevant, huh? Well, let’s see. I’m a native of the area. Received my B.S. and law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Cut my teeth working for a firm in Virginia before accepting my current position with the local Carson and Newman Law Firm two years ago.

Black eyebrows puckered when Kyle signaled for Marcus to continue. More? He hesitated and then leaned forward. Six-one, 210 pounds, allergic to cats and dogs, but passionate about my aquarium creatures. Love to fish and ski. The right side of the bed belongs to me. Tough in the courtroom, but laid back in my private life. I have two younger sisters and a doting mother.

A sparkle came to his dark chocolate eyes as he added, I’ve met a woman of interest, but I’m too chicken to ask her out.

Like an overly inflated balloon that flitters and flutters through the air when accidently released, Kyle’s hopes and plans slithered to the floor. Not wanting his disappointment to dampen Marcus’s mood, he offered encouragement. With your looks and charm? I doubt …

She’s … white, Marcus interrupted.

Kyle’s forehead wrinkled. And you think that will pose a problem?

Marcus pointed to the folder on Kyle’s desk. I don’t know. She works for you.

For me? Kyle picked up his personnel file. What’s her name?

Katie, he said with something close to awe. Can’t get her off my mind.

Kyle didn’t know the staff well enough to know if there was more than one Katie. About five foot six, early thirties with curly, black hair and a pretty face set off by electric blue eyes?

So you’ve noticed her too? Marcus leaned in. She was assigned to work with me on your buyout. He rose and walked to the window overlooking the city. I wonder how she’d feel about dating a black man.

If he didn’t know about Jeremy, he certainly didn’t know about the children. That was Katie’s story to tell, not his. Never know if you don’t ask. She’s working today.

By George, I believe I’ll stop by her office on my way out—if you don’t mind.

I don’t mind. In fact, I wish you the best. Kyle sent a silent prayer heavenward.

Curiosity shaded Marcus’s face. You had someone in mind for me?

Kyle squelched the grin that was tugging at the corners of his mouth. Yeah. One day I’ll tell you about her.

Easing back into his chair, Marcus rested his right leg on the thigh of his left one. Now it’s my turn and before I start, I need to confess I’ve already done a background check on you.

Protocol for accepting new clients. I understand.

What’s a rich, Virginia blueblood doing in a small town in North Carolina?

Kyle looked up. Investing. You know that.

Yeah, but this is a small bag of potatoes compared to your supermarket of assets. Why Asheville? And why aren’t you interested in this lady? You don’t have a secret sister, do you?

That thought elicited a soft chuckle. No sister, Marcus. He sobered. I’m not husband material.

One failed marriage and you’ve given up?

Although I’m rather successful in the business setting, Marcus, I’m a complete washout when it comes to personal relationships.

Hmmm. Marcus’s right hand cupped his chin as his index finger played windshield wiper on his left cheek. Folks say you are a good architect, but your genius lies in the business world.

Oh yeah? What else did they say?

That you are a workaholic who has little or no social life.

Kyle tapped his tented fingers. Guilty as charged.

I bet there are a dozen girls who’d jump at the chance to date you.

Probably, but most have dollar signs embedded in their motives.

Ah! The woes of the rich! Marcus teased.

After thirty-three years of trying to hide what cannot be hidden, Kyle swallowed his pride. I was not only born rich, Marcus, but autistic as well.

Autistic? an unbelieving voice uttered. But you … you look so … normal.

Kyle chuckled at the irony of the statement he had heard too often. Mental health issues impact thought processes and behavior rather than leaving a signature physical deformity, and that fact is one of the reasons we often don’t get the help we need early enough to make a difference.

Marcus shook his head slowly. I’m stunned.

A satisfied smile lit up Kyle’s face. Good. That means your perception of autism has been challenged, and that is one of the biggest reasons I’ve chosen to go public.

If you don’t mind my asking, what has been your greatest challenge?

Folks expecting of me what I was incapable of producing or being. Even with early and wise intervention, my inability to measure up led to a long list of negative emotions and scores of shattered relationships.

I’d love to hear your story, Marcus said with marked interest.

We don’t have time for that today, Kyle said as he glanced at his watch. Besides, my edition is just that. Mine. Everyone affected has a different set of challenges and thus a different narrative.

So this is the real reason you’ve given up on marriage?

Yes.

Marcus studied his client. But look what you’ve accomplished. Surely there’s a woman out there who would appreciate the man you’ve become.

Gathering clouds dimmed the natural light filtering through the windows. The only real chance I’ve ever had for a decent marriage involved a young single mother I met in the workplace years ago.

What happened?

The same day she accepted my ring she reconnected with the father of her son. I was a dear friend. He was the love of her life. They were married within weeks.

Man! That had to be devastating.

On my good days. Catastrophic the others. Kyle leaned against the windowsill. Losing her and nine months of marriage to Cruella’s clone convinced me that I am not husband material.

Marcus reached for his briefcase. Almost makes me feel guilty for being excited about Katie.

Kyle straightened quickly. Don’t be. I’ve learned to accept who I am and who I’m not. Figure God has other purposes for my life.

A puzzled look shaded Marcus’s face. "God? You one of those in the beginning God people?"

Took a while, but yeah, I am.

Can’t make up my mind. Drives mama crazy, Marcus offered.

A smile lit up Kyle’s face. One day you’ll thank her.

This is not that day, Marcus said as reached for the doorknob.

Don’t forget to stop by Katie’s office.

Marcus gave him a thumbs-up and marched down the hall.

Kyle turned his focus to the next item on his list. Choosing the new senior executive. He waited fifteen minutes before heading to Katie’s office. As he rounded the corner, he heard familiar voices.

So I’ll pick you up at six-thirty tomorrow evening? a familiar male voice asked.

I look forward to it, Marcus. There was a smile in her voice.

He did a graceful pirouette and returned to his office. Thirty minutes later, he tapped on Katie’s open door.

Good afternoon, Mr. Butler.

The woman had always been easy on the eyes, and like fine wine, the years