June took her hand, shaking it firmly. “Taylor, actually. June Taylor.”
The woman laughed. “Of course. Congratulations. I hear he’s a good man.”
“Thank you. He is. More than most.” June cleared her throat. “I don’t believe we’ve met?”
“No. I’m Katrina. Katrina Lincoln. I’m sorry to crash your wedding, but I’m only in town for a day or so, and I’d heard how hard you and your first husband had worked to restore this house. I had to see it.”
June tried to play coy, even though she knew coy didn’t suit her very well. “Oh? Are you from around here?”
Katrina turned back to the house, her eyes glowing with admiration and affection. “You did a tremendous job on the house. She always was a glorious painted lady. You gave her what she deserved.”
“It was a labor of love.”
Katrina looked down at the ground a moment, then up at June. “I hear the local library will take her over now. Is that right?”
“Yes. We finally located Rosalie Osborne’s will. The church is going to honor it and turn the house over. The library plans to use it for their administrative offices and county archives.”
“Excellent choice.” Katrina hesitated, and her voice dropped. “So people around here have finally accepted that she’s dead.”
June considered her answer carefully, watching the woman next to her intently. “Or at least that Rosalie’s gone for good. Never to return.”
A faint smile played around the corners of Katrina’s mouth. “Well, it is a name I’ve not heard in a long time.”
“I suspect not since 1986.”
“Indeed.” Katrina took a deep breath, looked at the house one more time, then turned to face June. “I’m glad it was you, June.”
“Me, too.”
The other woman nodded, then backed away a few steps. “I live in Chicago now. Great city. Easy to get lost in.” She continued backward a few more steps. “If you ever get lost there, look me up. I’m really not that hard to find.” She raised a hand in farewell, then turned away, strolling to a green BMW convertible. June watched as she tucked herself neatly behind the wheel, lowered the tan roof and backed out into the street. Katrina waved one last time, just before she turned the street corner, disappearing again.
June continued to stare until she felt the warm, comfortable presence of her husband behind her. Ray rested his hands on her waist and pulled her against his chest. “Who was that?”
“Katrina Lincoln.”
“I don’t know her.”
“No one does. I don’t think anyone ever did.”
“Today, my love, is not the day to turn cryptic on me.”
A laugh burst from June, and she turned, sliding her arms around his neck and focusing all her attention on him. “I’ll explain later. Until then, you know what I want?”
“Something that involves me, I hope.”
She grinned. “I want you to pick me up and whisk me off home. No big goodbyes. No rice throwing. Let’s just disappear.”
“People will talk.”
“Won’t be the first time. Won’t be the last. Let them. We’ll know the truth.”
“Which is?”
Her hold on him tightened. “That what God brings together, not even gossip can tear apart.”
Ray Taylor laughed, then scooped his wife up in his arms and walked away with her, heading for their new life.
Dear Reader,
June Presley Eaton Taylor is one of the more unique heroines I’ve ever written about. She’s feisty and out-spoken, but with a past that has made her doubt herself as well as God’s love for her. June is a widow, and her first husband, JR, pulled her from a life on the streets and led her to God. In her mind, JR’s love for her was directly tied to God’s love for her, and she has a hard time separating them. In many ways, she can’t quite believe God would love her just for who she is. Just for being June.
I can relate, as I know some of you can. When we think about all the unloving, “unchristian” things we may have done in our lives, it’s hard to believe that God loves us anyway.
But God’s grace and salvation are not about our actions; they’re about His love. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God adopts us into His family, no matter what our past. As a result, He never intends us to live in fear. We are to live in love as His beloved children. You. Me. All of us.
I hope you enjoy June’s journey, as she discovers that most glorious truth.
Blessings,
Ramona
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
In what ways can you identify with June? With Ray?
June had gone to confront David Gallagher about his implication that she supported a man she detested. Have people ever thought you held a belief you did not? How did you feel about this? What steps did you take to change their minds?
The book opens with a scripture passage from Romans 8. Which characters in the book struggle most with a “spirit of fear,” fighting to remind themselves that we are all children of God?
For much of the book, June’s identity is still woven around her marriage to JR. Have you ever had a similar connection to a past relationship?
If you could talk to June, what advice would you have given her about her belief that a new love would mean betraying JR?
What does the Corvette represent for June? For Ray? In what way does its destruction change June’s feelings toward both men? Have you ever had an equally strong attachment to a gift from a loved one? Why do you think such symbols create powerful emotions within us?
Why do you think June has a harder time accepting a new relationship than Ray does?
How would you describe the difference between Ray’s relationship with Anne and June’s with JR?
How do you feel about Ray’s willingness to wait for June? Why do you think the events in the book make him finally push her a bit to see what’s happening around her?
In what ways does the Victorian home that JR and June renovated represent their relationship?
What does June’s reaction to Ray being shot reveal about her feelings toward him? How does this show that her attitude may be changing?
Whose faith do you think is stronger? Which actions in the book reveal the strength of Ray’s and June’s relationship with God?
Ray feels he needs more strength and wisdom from God to confront Virginia Bridges than her son. Why do you think he feels this way? In what way is Virginia the more difficult opponent?
How do you feel about June’s final statement, “That what God brings together, not even gossip can tear apart”? What change in June does it represent?
Did you like the ending? Why or why not?
LOVE INSPIRED BOOKS
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8989-9
HOUSE OF SECRETS
Copyright © 2011 by Ramona Richards
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Love Inspired Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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