Read Online Sunset: 4 (Sunrise) by Karen Kingsbury - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Kingsbury
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thought: how true the Scripture from earlier really was. God knew the plans He had for her—to give her hope and a future. For some people that future might mean an early exit, an early arrival to heaven. The way she and her mom and brother might’ve wound up if the cement truck hadn’t swerved. But it did swerve, and all because God’s plans for her life were still centered here . . . in the life He’d given her to live.
Bailey and Connor surveyed the list and talked for another half hour. When Bailey turned in for the night, she thanked God for letting her live through the day. Her eyes fell on the framed Scripture on her wall and she smiled.
She thought about Sarah Nordlund, battling diabetes and struggling to be like other kids. And then, for the first time in a long while, her thoughts turned to a different Sarah. Sarah Jo Stryker, the CKT girl with a brilliant future, the one whose life had been snuffed out by a drunk driver two years ago.
Yes, Bailey would sing and act and dance tomorrow with everything she had to give. She would perform leaving nothing behind, and she would do it in a way that would bring honor and glory to God. It would be the least she could do to thank God for the gift of living another day.
As she fell asleep, just one more request rose from around the edges of her heart. That somewhere in Iraq, God would grant Cody the same gift.
Ashley wasn’t sure if her exhaustion was more from the drain of auditions that weekend or because of her pregnancy or maybe because she was tired of keeping the news a secret. By late Sunday afternoon as she helped Kari chop carrots and broccoli in the kitchen of the Baxter house, Ashley knew her weariness was showing.
“You feeling okay?” Kari’s question held only mild concern. A few feet away Annie was sleeping in her windup swing, and from the next room came the laughter and conversation between their dad and Elaine and between Kari’s older two, Jessie and RJ, and Ashley’s boys, Cole and Devin.
The sound soothed Ashley’s soul. She smiled. “Just a little tired.”
“The auditions?” Kari used a paper towel to transfer a pile of broccoli into the skillet.
“I guess.” Ashley hated the half-truth. Nearly a week had passed since her pregnancy test, but every time she thought about telling Landon, she would convince herself that maybe it was wrong. Maybe she was still recovering from Sarah’s birth, and that would explain why her entire system was out of balance. She certainly hadn’t gained any weight, and though she felt nauseous now and then, the sickness wasn’t bad enough to be pregnancy related. At least not most of the time. Her fears were strange, really. How had she gone from wanting a baby to take the place of the one they’d lost to being terrified of losing another one? She was angry at herself for being afraid, and in most moments she told herself if she could find the faith to overcome her anxiety, she would immediately tell Landon about the possible pregnancy. Even with her fears, she wanted to talk to him about the test she’d taken, but there hadn’t been a single moment when the time felt right. No wonder she felt exhausted.
The front door opened, and they heard the voices of Brooke and Peter and their girls. Luke and Reagan were not expected tonight, so once Katy and Dayne arrived, everyone who was coming for dinner would be here. They were having roasted chicken and vegetables with a cheese and potato casserole Elaine had brought.
“So—” Kari took a head of cauliflower from the fridge to the sink—“I’ll bet the kids were thrilled to be back at the theater.”
“Like nothing I’ve ever seen before.” Ashley uttered a light laugh. “Katy and Dayne looked so happy. And the Flanigan kids and all the rest.” She cupped her hands around a mound of sliced carrots and transferred them to the pan. “I think the reality that Katy and Dayne and the theater are here for good is still hitting
Bailey and Connor surveyed the list and talked for another half hour. When Bailey turned in for the night, she thanked God for letting her live through the day. Her eyes fell on the framed Scripture on her wall and she smiled.
She thought about Sarah Nordlund, battling diabetes and struggling to be like other kids. And then, for the first time in a long while, her thoughts turned to a different Sarah. Sarah Jo Stryker, the CKT girl with a brilliant future, the one whose life had been snuffed out by a drunk driver two years ago.
Yes, Bailey would sing and act and dance tomorrow with everything she had to give. She would perform leaving nothing behind, and she would do it in a way that would bring honor and glory to God. It would be the least she could do to thank God for the gift of living another day.
As she fell asleep, just one more request rose from around the edges of her heart. That somewhere in Iraq, God would grant Cody the same gift.
Ashley wasn’t sure if her exhaustion was more from the drain of auditions that weekend or because of her pregnancy or maybe because she was tired of keeping the news a secret. By late Sunday afternoon as she helped Kari chop carrots and broccoli in the kitchen of the Baxter house, Ashley knew her weariness was showing.
“You feeling okay?” Kari’s question held only mild concern. A few feet away Annie was sleeping in her windup swing, and from the next room came the laughter and conversation between their dad and Elaine and between Kari’s older two, Jessie and RJ, and Ashley’s boys, Cole and Devin.
The sound soothed Ashley’s soul. She smiled. “Just a little tired.”
“The auditions?” Kari used a paper towel to transfer a pile of broccoli into the skillet.
“I guess.” Ashley hated the half-truth. Nearly a week had passed since her pregnancy test, but every time she thought about telling Landon, she would convince herself that maybe it was wrong. Maybe she was still recovering from Sarah’s birth, and that would explain why her entire system was out of balance. She certainly hadn’t gained any weight, and though she felt nauseous now and then, the sickness wasn’t bad enough to be pregnancy related. At least not most of the time. Her fears were strange, really. How had she gone from wanting a baby to take the place of the one they’d lost to being terrified of losing another one? She was angry at herself for being afraid, and in most moments she told herself if she could find the faith to overcome her anxiety, she would immediately tell Landon about the possible pregnancy. Even with her fears, she wanted to talk to him about the test she’d taken, but there hadn’t been a single moment when the time felt right. No wonder she felt exhausted.
The front door opened, and they heard the voices of Brooke and Peter and their girls. Luke and Reagan were not expected tonight, so once Katy and Dayne arrived, everyone who was coming for dinner would be here. They were having roasted chicken and vegetables with a cheese and potato casserole Elaine had brought.
“So—” Kari took a head of cauliflower from the fridge to the sink—“I’ll bet the kids were thrilled to be back at the theater.”
“Like nothing I’ve ever seen before.” Ashley uttered a light laugh. “Katy and Dayne looked so happy. And the Flanigan kids and all the rest.” She cupped her hands around a mound of sliced carrots and transferred them to the pan. “I think the reality that Katy and Dayne and the theater are here for good is still hitting