A Sweethaven Summer

COURTNEY WALSH

A Sweethaven Summer

ISBN 13: 978-0-8249-4519-0

Published by Guideposts
16 East 34th Street
New York, New York 10016
Guideposts.org

Copyright © 2012 by Courtney Walsh. All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Distributed by Ideals Publications, a Guideposts company
2630 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37214

Guideposts
and
Ideals
are registered trademarks of Guideposts.

The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for.

Cover and interior design by Müllerhaus Publishing Group
www.mullerhaus.net

Cover photo by Shutterstock

Printed and bound in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

DEDICATION

For my mom, my cheerleader and champion. Thank you for sharing with me a passion for books, and thank you for always believing in me.

And for my dad, who, upon hearing my plan to study theater in college said, “You really should do something with your writing.” I thought, “What writing?” And then went on to discover what God had already shown him. Thank you for being an example of wisdom and common sense…and for praying the boys away from me all those years. (I got a good one!)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing your first novel can be a daunting task. The main thing I’ve learned is that it takes a small army, and fortunately, I have a great team on my side. I would like to thank the following people for the key roles they played in getting this book in print. What would I do without you?

My husband, Adam. You are, without a doubt, my favorite person in the world. I am inspired by your creativity and grateful for your willingness to read my work even though you’re not “my target audience.” You support me, stabilize me, believe in me, love me, and put up with me. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Sophia, Ethan, and Sam. You remind me what’s really important, share in the excitement of this journey, and make me smile every single day. God has big plans for you. I’m so blessed to be your mom.

My amazing agent, Sandra Bishop, who believed in me in the most inspiring way. I owe so much to you, my friend. Thank you for putting up with my neurosis.

Deborah Raney (my Deb), my mentor and my friend. I know God put you in my life at the most perfect time (and in the funniest way), and I thank Him every day for you.

My wonderful friends and critique partners who’ve read various incarnations of this story: Gwen Stewart, Carla Stewart, Mindy Rogers, Ronnie Johnson, and Cindy Fassler (Mom). Your feedback, encouragement, and thoughtfulness are so greatly appreciated.

Rachel Hauck, always encouraging. Thank you for not laughing when you read the first draft.

Dr. David and Beth Schleicher, whose generosity introduced me to the cottage community of Michigan, and in turn, gave birth to this story in the first place. Oh, and thank you for delivering my babies.

Jeane Wynn. What can I say? Your friendship is a beautiful blessing.

Beth Adams and Lindsay Guzzardo, two incredible editors who took a shot on a newbie. It has been pure joy working with you and shaping these books from day one! Thank you for your patience, your attention to detail, and your excitement for this novel.

Rachel Meisel. I am so thankful for the time and care you’ve put into this novel. Working with you has been a highlight of this entire process. Thank you.

Dianne Craig. They say, “To teach is to touch a life.” It’s so true. Sixth grade was a long time ago, but your encouragement and belief in me at that pivotal time in my life has stuck with me all these years. Thank you.

And of course, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You for putting this dream inside me and then making it come true. Discovering my purpose and Your plan for my life has been among my greatest joys. I am most blessed to be Your daughter.

PRAISE FOR
A SWEETHAVEN SUMMER

“This book captivated me from the first paragraphs. Bittersweet memories, long-kept secrets, the timeless friendships of women—and a touch of sweet romance. Beautifully written and peopled with characters who became my friends, this debut novel is one for my keeper shelf—and, I hope, the first of many to come from Courtney Walsh’s pen.”

—D
EBORAH
R
ANEY
, award-winning author of the Hanover Falls series and
Love Finds You in Madison County, Iowa
(2012)

“A Sweethaven Summer
is a stunning debut. I fell in love with the characters and the charming lakeside town of Sweethaven and didn’t want to leave. With a voice that sparkles, Courtney Walsh captured my heart in this tender story of forgiveness and new beginnings. It’s certainly a great beginning for this talented author
.”

—C
ARLA
S
TEWART
, award-winning author of
Chasing Lilacs
and
Broken Wings

“A Sweethaven Summer
is a sweet debut, filled with characters whose hopes, dreams, and regrets are relevant and relatable. A great book club read!”

—S
USAN
M
EISSNER
, author of
The Shape of Mercy

“Courtney Walsh has created a town I want to live in. From the first chapter, the characters became my friends, jumping off the page and into my heart. I didn’t want it to end. A masterful word painting
, A Sweethaven Summer
is a story of loss, regret, forgiveness, and restoration. Novel Rocket and I give it our highest recommendation. It’s a 5-star must-read.”

—A
NE
M
ULLIGAN
, senior editor, Novel Rocket

“This is a heart-tugging story of hope amid loss, and ultimately grace and acceptance. Novelist Courtney Walsh weaves a captivating tale that taps into the universal desire for belonging and happiness. This delightful debut novel has a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, a beautiful setting, and an intriguing cast of characters. A lovely, satisfying read!”

—M
EGAN
D
I
M
ARIA,
, author of
Searching for Spice

“A Sweethaven Summer
shines with moments of hope and tenderness. With interesting characters, a delightful setting, and a compelling plot, this is one of those stories that stays with you—like the precious pages of a scrapbook. Even after the story ended, I found myself wanting to visit Sweethaven again.”

—T
INA
A
NN
F
ORKNER
, author of
Rose House
and
Ruby Among Us

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored and sorrows end.

—W
ILLIAM
S
HAKESPEARE

When Suzanne hugged the oversized scrapbook to her chest, a whirlwind of memories flittered by like leaves kicked up in an autumn breeze. Lumpy and full after five years, the square book had become priceless to her. Photos and ticket stubs, notes scribbled on scratch paper—they’d all been attached inside the pages of that album every summer since eighth grade.

She could almost smell the air, heated by the crisp summer sun. If she closed her eyes, she could conjure the wooden planks of the dock stretching out into Lake Michigan, covered by a deep blue sky. The lighthouse she’d painted every year since she was twelve still showed up in her daydreams.

Would her secret taint those memories?

She called Jane, Lila, and Meghan her very best friends, yet even they didn’t know the secret she’d carried with her on the road out of town.

The pages in front of her begged her to come clean—to tell the truth, after all this time. After the months of surface phone calls and brief letters—after pretending everything was okay. But scrapbooking a lie would defile the book. They’d all written their confessions. They’d all been honest.

Now, as she stared at the pages, she knew it was time to tell the truth. She flipped past Jane’s admission that she hated her body
and Lila’s painful recounting of a relationship with an indifferent mother. Meg’s scrawling handwriting confided her horror at being the only nondrinker at a high school drinking party last summer. She’d gone with a boy and sipped the same beer the entire night because she was afraid of getting drunk. Suzanne smiled as she read the tiny notes in the margins of happy pages.

Confessions.

They were all such good girls.

All except Suzanne.

These were their secrets. They’d shared them with her on the pages of this journal they’d kept. But they weren’t kids anymore—and even their darkest secrets didn’t compare to the bombshell Suzanne was about to drop.

The scrapbook had been her idea. She’d always been the artist, after all. But now, looking at the blank page in front of her, she wished she’d never made the suggestion. She had been so young, how could she have known it would come to this?

She set down the book and grabbed her art supplies from the bin behind her desk. She removed the lid, and the welcoming colors of the paint greeted her. She’d always been happiest when she was painting. Maybe that’s why she thought a scrapbook was a good idea. A book to chronicle their summers in Sweethaven. A way to remember all that they’d experienced—to save the memories.

She flipped through the first summer’s pages. Jane’s tribute to
Flashdance
and Lila’s layout about how she imagined “She’s Got a Way” was written for her. Silly, meaningless tidbits that captured history and the innocence they’d all lost since then. As the years went on and the four of them grew up, the entries became more detailed. More heartfelt. They grew closer every summer, so the
journal became more private. Full of admissions of their true feelings. Their deepest secrets. Their biggest dreams.