First Date (31 page)

“Who did this?” Addy asked.

Mike looked to make sure the front door was shut and the blinds were closed. Then Mike’s bedroom door opened and Mrs. Jackson walked out.

“Guilty.” She laughed, Jonathon trailing behind her. “But you haven’t seen everything yet. Come see your room. I hope I got it right. Jonathon helped.” She grinned as Addy opened her door.

Addy couldn’t believe it.

Jonathon Jackson and the First Lady are in
my
house. Mrs. Jackson—renowned interior designer—has redecorated my house
. Addy was speechless.

Her room was freshly painted light blue, with thick brown stripes three-quarters of the way up the wall. Her old metal bed had been replaced by a deep chocolate sleigh bed, covered in a cream comforter with a brown stripe and blue and brown pillows. She had a new desk in a matching shade in the corner, and her favorite books and photos were housed on shelves above the desk.

Mrs. Jackson had framed a picture of Addy and Jonathon at Augusta and placed it on the desk. A huge dresser was on the far wall. The whole room looked like a picture from a magazine.

“Do you like it?” Jonathon asked, standing beside her.

“I don’t know what I like better. My house or the fact that you are in my house.”

Jonathon smiled. “I couldn’t wait until this summer to see you.”

Addy looked into Jonathon’s eyes and swallowed hard.

“Addy, check out my room.” Uncle Mike popped his head in Addy’s doorway.

“It’s fantastic, Mrs. Jackson.” Addy looked around. The entire room had been gutted and made to look like the inside of an old log cabin. “This is perfect for him. You are an amazing designer.”

“I may not ever leave.” Mike sat on a leather recliner and leaned back.

“Thank you so much,” Addy said. “It’s incredible.”

“You’re very welcome, Addy,” the First Lady replied.

“But why?” Addy asked.

Mrs. Jackson linked her arm with Addy’s and led her to the new couch in the living room.

“First, because your uncle was instrumental in saving my son’s life.” She placed a loving hand on Jonathon’s knee. “A little video clip—though very well done,” she acknowledged, seeing the mock offense on Jonathon’s face, “was just not enough. This isn’t even enough, but it was something personal, from me.”

Mike walked into the living room. “All that happened was that I was in the right place at the right time. God is the one who deserves the thanks for that, not me.”

“I do thank God.” Mrs. Jackson smiled. “Believe me. But if you hadn’t gone straight to the Secret Service . . . if you had waited even one day.” She wiped her eyes. “I don’t even want to think about it. You are a hero, Mr. Scott. And I will never forget what you did.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Mike bowed his head. “It was an honor.”

Mrs. Jackson took a moment to compose herself, and Jonathon wrapped a protective arm around his mother’s shoulders.

“I also did this because I watched you, Addy, and I like you.” Mrs. Jackson patted Jonathon’s knee. “You’re the real thing. You’re a good influence on my son and on everyone who meets you. And I just wanted to do something special for you to let you know how special you are.”

Addy was moved to tears, feeling inadequate in the face of such a powerful woman.

“You are very kind,” Addy said through her tears. “But when did you do all this? The show just ended a couple of days ago.”

Mrs. Jackson stood. “Oh, I had my crew come down here a week and a half ago. They’ve been hard at work. I sent them with my plans, and they taped each day’s work so I could review it at night before they started again the next day.”

Addy was stunned. She turned to look at Jonathon. “So you knew about all this?”

“Who said I can’t keep a secret?” He laughed.

“You too, Mike?”

Mrs. Jackson responded, “Him too. We wanted to keep it from both of you, but we had to get in the house somehow. Plus, we wanted to make sure the changes were made in a style you’d both like.”

“They are,” Addy said, looking around once again. “Thank you so much.”

“You are more than welcome, Addy.” Mrs. Jackson pulled Addy in for a hug. “I just wish we could stay and enjoy it with you.”

“We can’t?” Jonathon said.

“You have school tomorrow, young man,” his mother said.

Jonathon groaned. “Could I have just a few minutes alone with Addy before we have to go?”

Mike motioned to the First Lady. “I’ve got a fancy-looking new coffeemaker in my kitchen. Care to join me for a cup?”

Mrs. Jackson smiled. “I’d love to. Bull, Jeff, you and the others can come in here too. I think these two will be safe in the living room for a few minutes.”

Addy watched as the Secret Service agents filed out of the living room and bedrooms and into her small kitchen.

Jonathon scooted closer to Addy on the couch. “I’ve really enjoyed reading John.”

“I know.” Addy pulled her cell phone from her purse. “You’ve texted me through every chapter, remember?”

Jonathon laughed. “Has it been that much?”

“I don’t mind, though.” Addy smiled. “It’s been fun seeing it through your eyes.”

“Have I also told you that I really wish it were you I was taking to prom instead of Lila?”

Addy nodded. “But she’s a much better dancer, so I really think you lucked out. I would have broken a toe or two.”

Jonathon grabbed Addy’s hand. “So have you decided what’s next?”

“For what?”

“College, life . . . us.” Jonathon gazed hopefully into Addy’s eyes and her heart began to pound.
Will I ever get used to those eyes?

“I’m not sure. For the first time in my life, I don’t have a plan. I’m praying about all of it. God knows what I need to be doing. He just hasn’t shown me yet.”

“Fair enough.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ll be praying too. Do you think God has a plan for me?”

“I know he does.”

“Does that plan include you coming to visit me this summer?” Jonathon raised his eyebrows.

“Do I get a guided tour through the White House?”

“Of course.”

“Commemorative photo with the First Family?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay, then. I’ll be there . . . There’s only one stipulation.”

“What’s that?” Jonathon asked, weaving Addy’s fingers through his.

“No camera crews allowed.”

“It’s a deal.” Jonathon laughed.

Acknowledgments

H
ave you ever been around a potty-training toddler? It is messy. Literally. Puddles on the floor, presents beside, but not quite in, the toilet. Yellow Elmos and soggy Spider-Men. And it’s a group effort. Mom and Dad are involved, of course. But so are the older siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, the babysitters and nursery workers. It’s a thankless, stinky, exhausting job. But it’s so worth it.

I am kind of like that toddler. As a writer, I am like a little girl trying to put my words where they should go, and sometimes they just don’t make it. But, thankfully, many people have come along to help me learn what to do with all these words. People who have held my hand through the process of writing this book. People who have run with me, cried with me, sat with me, and cleaned me up.

My husband believed in me enough to give me a whole summer to drag my laptop to our local library and type, just because I had an idea and I wanted to see if I could turn that idea into a book. My kids give me constant inspiration and encouragement, reminding me that no fictional characters can ever be as amazing and fun as the three characters I have living right under my roof.

My proofreaders, Alexis Scott, Jill Ferguson, Amy Busti, and Laura McKenzie, read as I wrote, encouraging me to keep trying, keep working. Their input was, and is, invaluable. Their friendship is priceless.

My students at Citrus Park Christian School allow me to daily peer into their hearts and minds, giving voices to my characters. I don’t even think I would have thought about writing this if it weren’t for my AP Lit class of 2010. Those four girls became more like little sisters than students. I still miss our “Starbucks Fridays.”

My agent, Lauren Yoho, spent hours reading my book, offering suggestions, talking me through the process I knew so little about. She is fantastic. Amanda Bostic, Becky Monds, and the entire fiction team at Thomas Nelson have been incredible. I am honored to be working with such talented people. Julee Schwarzburg edited this manuscript. Then edited it again. And again. (I wasn’t kidding when I said I was like a toddler.) But she always did it with happy faces and encouraging comments. Her suggestions and advice have made me a better writer, and I am so excited to get to work with her again.

But this book is really a result of one person: Jesus Christ. It is by him, for him, and because of him that I write and that I live. As I grow as a writer, I am growing to know his heart more. The creator, the author. The stories he tells are breathtaking. I never get tired of reading them and thinking about them and praising the God who shows himself behind the scenes and on center stage to a world he loves so very, very much. My prayer is that you know his heart better every day and that his story in you will take your breath away.

Reading Group Guide

1. Addy’s story is loosely based on Esther. What parts of the biblical story did you see in
First Date
?

2. Addy did not want to be on
The Book of Love
reality TV show. How would you feel if you were asked to be on a show like that?

3. One of Addy’s biggest fears is sharing her faith with others. Is that hard for you? Why or why not?

4. Kara loves being on the show, but she doesn’t get caught up in all the “drama” like Lila and some of the other girls. Why do you think that is?

5. Lila will do anything to win. Have you ever known anyone like that? How did you respond?

6. By reading her mother’s journals, Addy learns more about her parents’ life in Colombia, South America. Have you ever known any missionaries? What did you think about their experiences living in another culture?

7. If you were on
The Book of Love
, which of the challenges would be your favorite? Which would be your least favorite? Why?

8. Uncle Mike tells Addy, “Nobody makes Jesus look so bad as those who say they’re following him.” What do you think about that statement?

9. In the book of Esther, God prepares Esther to stand up for the Jewish people. How does God prepare Addy to stand up for her faith?

10. Mike teaches Addy that we are happiest when we are obeying God. Have you experienced that in your life? Have you experienced the opposite?

11. Addy says she won’t date Jonathon unless he is a Christian. Do you think it’s important that guys you date share your faith? Why? Why not?

12. What do you think Addy learned most from her time on
The Book of Love
? How did she change from the time she began the show until it ended?