Family

Katy Hart travels to Los Angeles to testify against the knife-wielding woman who (,j(-t| [,, l^iH ],cr she is hunted by paparazzi who figure out thai she is the mysierv woman photographed with Hollywood movie star f)a\ tie Matthews. Tension and pressure build to a dangerous level a> kalv and Oavne seek private moments amidst the lienzv In ilie end. Davnc’s eelebriiy life makes katy eettain I ha I a luinre with him is all but impossible.

^ ‘lie trial comes to a close. Dayne searches for answers he can not seem to find. Not until he talks to his childhood friend does he realize his desperate need for wisdom and direction. I llmiaich his |ourne\ leads him to an isolated beach where (>od makes Pasncs luture as clear as the waters oi C ancun. but can he live with the decision l.od plai es before him?

I atulou ar.d \shle\ IV.wtef lUake are cclebr.umi; the happiest da\s ii| their lives. c!i)O\iim ( ole and their newborn son. liul Ashle\ cannot find peace until she finds her older biolher the histboni Baxter siblins; Her constant t|uesti(>ns lo hev laiher. |ohn IJaMet. ha\e neilei.1 not.liing. \ow she receixes news that rocks her world and threatens lo cud her search in heanbivakin<’ imalitv Ś\ slui \ ii/)i)iil l/ti’ sc<(K li joi icncwvtl hope ami the (/cs|)(‘i(ilc lien/

10
>< lowil iiiic
lo bcloii’d

i

What readers are saying about KAREN KINGSBURY

books

1

“If you had an official fan club I’d love to be the president! … I am so hooked on your books. My goal is to collect them all and share them with my friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers!”

-Peggy

“I can’t find the words to describe the emotions I went through reading the entire Redemption series. God bless you, Karen, for letting Him use your pen and hand and of course your heart to put words of such magnitude on paper to bless us all so much!”

-Darlene

“You are the best writer ever. I get so excited when I walk into a Christian bookstore and see one of your new books sitting there.”

-Jessica

“Thank you for your beautifully written books. They make me laugh, they make me cry, and they fill my heart with a love that can only be God once again touching my heart and my soul.”

-Natalie

“Okay, where’s the next one? I know it’s sitting in a warehouse somewhere and you are making us wait! (Just kidding!) Karen, there isn’t a person I know who doesn’t read your books and hold you and your family in their prayers!”-Rachel “Let Me Hold You Longer is breathtaking! My friend read this story to me-the first night we both left our new babies overnight. And by the end, the two of us were bawling. She bought me my own copy for Mother’s Day, and I read it to everyone … and each person cries as 1 read the words. I now buy it for every baby shower I go to. I think every parent should own or read this book. I read it as often as I can.”-Shannon

ii “My husband is equally hooked on your books. It is a family affair for us now! Can’t wait for the next one.”-Angie

to -Diane

“The words God gives you in your stories have such power reach my emotions. No other author has been able to do that!”

“Every time our school buys your next new book, everybody goes crazy trying to read it first!”-Roxanne

“Recently I made an effort to find GOOD Christian writers, and I’ve hit the jackpot with Karen Kingsbury!”-Linda

iii

Karen

p>

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Carol Stream, Illinois

i

iv Visit Tyndale’s exciting Web site at www.iyndale.com Visit Karen Kingsbury’s Web site and learn more about her LifeChanging Fiction at www.KarenKingsbury.coni

TYNDALE. and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Family

Copyright Š2006 by Karen Kingsbury. All rights reserved.

Logo illustration copyright Š2003 by David Henderson-All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of young man and woman copyright Šby Brian MacDonaid. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of woman smiling copyright Šby Klaus Lahnslein/Getty Images.

All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of bridge copyright Š2005 by Jason Friend/Alamy, All rights reserved. Designed by Jennifer Ghionzoli Edited by Lorie Popp Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bibk, New International VersionŽ.

NIVŽ. Copyright. Š1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs. CO 80020.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of (he author’s imagination or are used lictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Puhlication Data Kingsbury. Karen.

Family/ Karen Kingsbury.

p. cm.

ISBN-H; 978-0-8423-8746-0 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 0-8423-8746-3 (pbk.) 1. Domestic fiction. I. Title. PS356LI4873F37 2006 813’.54-dc222006021998

Printed in the United States of America

09 08 07 06

8 7 6 3 4 3 2

v Donald, my prince charming

In this season of life, with you working as full-time teacher here at home for our boys, I am maybe more proud of you than ever. I am amazed at th way you blend love and laughter, tenderness and tough standards to bring ;il the best in our boys. A second season of homeschooling? Wow! Don’t fo: a minute think that your role in all this is somehow smaller. You have the greatest responsibility of all. Not only with our children but in praying feme as I write and speak and go about this crazy, fun job God has given me. I couldn’t do it without you.

Thanks for loving me, for being my

best friend, and for finding “date moments” amidst even the most maniacal or mundane times. My favorite times are with you by my side I love you always, forever.

Kelsey, my precious daughter

You are just newly seventeen, and somehow that sounds more serious than the other ages. As if we jumped four years over the past twelve monli Seventeen

brings with it the screeching of brakes on a childhood that has gone along full speed until now. Seventeen? Seventeen years since I heki you in the nursery, feeling a love I’d never felt before. Seventeen sounds li>e bunches of lasts all lined up ready to take the stage and college counselor making plans to take my little girl from home into a brand-new big work: Seventeen tells me it won’t be much longer. Sometimes 1 find myself bare;v able to exhale. The ride is so fast at this point I can only try not to blink.

so I won’t miss a minute of it. Like the most beautiful springtime flower.

I see you growing and unfolding, becoming interested in current events and formulating godly viewpoints that are yours alone. The same is true n1

dance, where you are simply breathtaking onstage. I believe in you, honev Keep your eyes on Jesus and the path will be easy to follow.

Don’t ever stop dancing. I love you.

Tyler, my beautiful song

Can it be that you are fourteen and helping me bring down the dishes from the top shelf7 Just yesterday people would call and confuse you with KelsrV

Now

they confuse you with your dad-in more ways than one. You are on the bridge, dear son, making the transition between Neverland and Tomorrowlinc and becoming a strong, godly young man in the process. Keep giving Jesi’s your very best, and always remember that you’re in a battle. In today’s world.

Ty, you need His armor every day, every minute. Don’t forget … when you’re up there onstage, no matter how bright the lights, I’ll be watchin)1, from the front row, cheering you on. I love you.

vi Sean, my wonder boy

Your sweet nature continues to be a bright light in our home. It seems a lifetime ago that we first brought you-our precious son-home from Haiti. It’s been my great joy to watch you grow and develop this past year, learning more about reading and writing and, of course, animals. You’re a walking encyclopedia of animal facts, and that, loo, brings a smile to my face. Recently a cold passed through the family, and you handled it better than any of us.

Smiling through your fever, eyes shining even when you felt your worst.

Sometimes 1 try to imagine if everyone everywhere had your outlookwhat a sunny place the world would be. Your hugs are something 1 look forward to. Sean. Keep close to Jesus. 1 love you.

}osh, my tender tough guy

You continue to excel at everything you do, but my tavonte time is late at night when 1 poke my head into your room and see thai-once againyour nose is buried in your Bible. You really get it, josh. 1 loved hearing you talk about baptism the other day, how you leel ready to make that decision, that commitment to Jesus. At almost twelve, 1 can only say that every choice you make for Christ will take you closer to the plans He has for your lile. That by being strong in the Lord, first and foremost, you’ll be strong at everything else. Keep winning (or Him, dear son. You make me so proud. 1 love you.

E), my chosen one

You amaze me, Emmanuel Jean! The other day you told me that you pray often, and I asked you whai about. “I thank God a lot,” you told me. “I thank Him for my health and my life and my home.” Your normally dancing eyes grew serious. “And lor letting me be adopted into the right lamily. 1 still leel the sting of tears when 1 imagine you praying that way. I’m glad God let you be adopted into the right family too. One of my secret pleasures is watching you and Daddy becoming so close. I’ll glance over at the family room during a play-off basketball game on TV, and there you’ll be, snuggled up close to him, his arm around your shoulders. As long as Daddy s your hero-you have nothing to worry about. You couldn’t have a belter role model. 1 know that Jesus is leading the way and that you are exciled to learn the plans He has lor you. But for you, this year will always stand out as a turning point.

Congratulations, honey! 1 love you.

Austin, my miracle child

Can my Hi tie boy be nine years old? liven when you’re twenty-nine you’ll be my youngest, my baby. 1 guess that’s how it is with the last child, but there’s no vii denying what my eyes tell me. You’re not little anymore. Even so, I love foalonce in a while-you wake up and stum1 down the hall to our room so you can sleep in the middle. Sound asleep I still see the blond-haired infant who lay in intensive care, barely breathing, awaiting emergent’)1 heart surgery.

I’m grateful for your health, precious son, grateful God gave you back to us at the end of that long-ago day. Your heart remains the most amazing part of you, not only physically, miraculously, but because you have such kindness and compassion for people. One minute tough boy hunting frogs and snakes out back, pretending you’re an Army Ranger, then getting teary-eyed when Horton the Elephant nearly loses his dust speck full of little Who people.

Be sale, baby boy. 1 love you.

And to God Almighty, the Author of life,

who has-lor now-blessed me with these.

viii

ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book couldn’t have come together without the help of many people. First, a special thanks to my friends at Tyndale, who have believed in this series and worked with me to get this fourth book to my readers sooner than any of us dreamed possible. Thank you!

Also thanks to my amazing agent, Rick Christian, president of Alive Communications. 1 am amazed more as every day-passes at your sincere integrity, your brilliant talent, and your commitment to the Lord and to getting my LifeChanging Fiction out to readers all over the world. You are a strong man of God, Rick. You care for my career as if you were personally responsible for the souls God touches through these books. Thank you for looking out for my personal time-the hours 1 have with my husband and kids most of all. I couldn’t do this without you.

As always, this book wouldn’t be possible without the help of my husband and kids, who will eat just about anything when I’m on deadline and who understand and love me anyway. I thank God that I’m still able to spend more time with you than with my pretend people-as Austin calls them. Thanks for understanding the sometimes crazy life 1 lead and for always being my greatest support.

Thanks to my mother and assistant, Anne Kingsbury, for her great sensitivity and love for my readers. You are a reflection of my own heart, Mom, or maybe I’m a reflection of yours. Either way we are a great team, and 1 appreciate you more than you know. I’m grateful also for my dad, Ted Kingsbury, who is and always has been my greatest encourager. 1 remember when I was a little girl, Dad, and you would say, “One day, honey, everyone will read your books and know what a wonderful writer you are.” Thank you for believing in me long before anyone else ever did. Thanks also to my sisters Tricia and Susan and Lynne, who help out with my business when the workload is too large to see around. I appreciate you!