Reunion

by Karen Kingsbury; Karen Kingsbury

  She fell quiet then, and though he told her he loved her every minute or so, after a while she stopped responding. For hours he watched her, watched every painful rise and fall of her chest, listened to her lungs shutting down, her life draining away.

  Sometime around midnight, she drew her last breath, and John tightened his grip on her hand. But he couldn’t hold her, couldn’t keep her from going, from leaving this world and taking the sweet and wonderful trip into the next.

  Relief filled his heart, flooded him with a feeling that was indescribable. She wasn’t in pain anymore, wasn’t sickly or wasting away or dying. She was with Jesus, because that was his promise. That those who love him will never taste death. John had expected to feel cut in half. Since she completed him, he had known that her loss would leave him feeling broken, as if he’d never be whole again.

  Instead, he felt his heart swell with a fullness it had never known before, because Elizabeth was right. Her body was gone, but she would never leave him. She would live on in the memories he would cherish, in the years and decades his family still had left together.

  She would be around them always, and at the same time she’d be working on the special plans she’d talked about earlier tonight. The greatest reunion of all, one that would see Hayley running the streets of heaven, and no more tears for anyone. One where all of them were together, healthy and happy, and praising the God who had given them eternity.

  Forever and ever and ever.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  The service was over.

  John had gotten through it on strength that wasn’t his own. Each of the kids had been there, of course, bidding their mother good-bye, remembering her for the strong, graceful, loving woman she’d always been. According to her wishes, they had sung her favorite hymn: “Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee.”

  And there wasn’t. God had been faithful to the end; John had no doubts, no questions. Pastor Mark had said some profound things at the service, bits of truth that would stay with John forever.

  “Human suffering is too big to get our arms around.” His face had been earnest. “Don’t try to figure out what God’s teaching you by this, don’t try to understand it, and don’t try to understand God. If he could fit into your idea of him, he’d be too small for any of us.”

  John had sat mesmerized as the message continued.

  “All I want you to do today is run to Jesus. Being God, he alone fully understands both God and suffering. And right now all he wants to do is let you cry.” Pastor Mark’s eyes shone. It was hard to imagine that ten days earlier he had married Ashley and Landon. “We never own the people in our lives. We love them, yes, but they are on loan from God. We have them for a moment and then they’re gone. Go ahead and grieve, because you’ll miss Elizabeth. We all will. But while you’re grieving, don’t get mad at God for the minutes you’ll miss with Elizabeth. Thank him for the minutes you had.”

  That last part was the best of all.

  Every time John was tempted to wonder why God would take her now, he would remind himself of those words and be thankful. Because the minutes he had with Elizabeth were the most wonderful of all.

  They were back at the house now, gathered in the family room. The grandchildren were playing upstairs with a babysitter, and only Hayley was down with the adults. It was the moment John had been waiting for, the moment he’d told the kids about.

  “Your mother has written you a letter, one that each of you will get a copy of.” He stood near the fireplace and looked around the room. The eyes of his children were somber, tearstained. But they were not without hope. “I’m going to read it to you now, because that’s what your mother wanted me to do.”

  In his hand he held a manila envelope, the one Elizabeth had told him about. Three smaller envelopes were inside, just as she’d said. One had his name on it, one was labeled “For the kids,” and one read “Firstborn.”

  John took out the one for the kids and opened it.

  “What about the other letters, the ones still in the envelope?” Ashley cocked her head, staring at the package in his hands.

  “Uh . . .” John felt the blood leave his face. He hadn’t counted on his kids noticing the other letters. “Those are for me.”

  He’d already read his letter three times; it was beautiful of course, more of what she’d told him her last night in the hospital. As for the other one, the one marked “Firstborn,” he’d thought about throwing it away. But he couldn’t. It was important to Elizabeth, and what if one day—by some miracle—their son found them?

  The letter would belong to him, in that case.

  John made a mental note to keep the manila envelope well hidden. Maybe in the box of things Elizabeth had kept on the top shelf in their closet. If any of them ever found the envelope, he wouldn’t have any idea how to explain it.

  John looked at the letter in his hand and started reading: “ ‘Dear children, if you’re hearing this, then I’m already gone, already off in heaven. This has probably been a hard day for you, but please . . . for a minute, try not to be sad. I want you to know some things that are on my heart, things I don’t ever want you to forget.’ ”

  John paused. His throat was thick, but he felt a strength inside him, a sense that somehow Elizabeth was cheering him on from heaven, urging him to continue. “ ‘You are all so different, but now—as I near the end of my days—God has shown me a theme to our years together. That theme is redemption.’ ”

  Looking around the room, John saw Brooke and Kari close their eyes. Erin and Luke and Ashley stared off into the distance, intent on listening. John resumed reading. “ ‘Time and again this theme has come up in our lives. Brooke and Peter, what happened with Hayley was devastating. The strain nearly tore you apart, but here you are. Together, stronger than ever before.’ ”

  Peter reached for Hayley’s hand and brought it to his lips. He took hold of Brooke’s knee with the other and gave her a sad smile.

  “ ‘Kari, your life hasn’t been without sorrow. Tim’s unfaithfulness, his murder, all of it might’ve had a tragic ending, but God brought hope to every part. Tim died knowing his Savior; and God led you to Ryan, a man who will care for you and cherish you all the days of his life.’ ”

  John saw Ryan put his arm around Kari and hold her close.

  “ ‘Ashley, you thought you were the black sheep but, honey, you never were. You had lessons to learn, and God used all sorts of people to teach you. Irvel and Cole and especially Landon. You are a living illustration of God’s mercy and forgiveness, of the truth that he has a plan for each of his children.’ ”

  Ashley let her head fall on Landon’s shoulder. John saw her shoulders shaking just a bit, but she kept her tears quiet, to herself.

  “ ‘Erin, you couldn’t have a family, couldn’t bear children and you wondered if God had forgotten you. Then you show up for our reunion with four beautiful little girls. Can you ever doubt God again, sweet daughter? You were made to be a mother, and a mother you will be. No matter how dark the night, morning always comes, Erin. That’s the message in Lamentations, chapter 3. The basis for my favorite hymn. The dark valleys are not where life ends. Not for you and your desire to have a family, and not for me.’ ”

  Erin looked at the ceiling. Her eyes were damp, but a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips. John saw her whisper the words, “Thank you, God.”

  John stared at the letter and found his place. “ ‘Luke, I watch you, and it’s like seeing the Scriptures come to life. Your faith wasn’t real for so many years. Yes, you talked about believing, but until you were tested, until you realized that suffering is part of a fallen world, you couldn’t take Christ as your own. But here you are, and all of us see what God’s doing in your life, what he’s already done. I said it to you once before, and one far-off day I’ll say it to you again: Welcome home, Son. Welcome home.’ ”

  Luke tightened his hold on Reagan’s hand. He clenched hi
s jaw, trying to stay strong, but finally he hung his head. Two teardrops fell onto his dress pants, and with his free hand he covered his eyes.

  John’s voice was still strong, but his eyes were blurred. He blinked and looked around the room. Elizabeth was right. He could see her in them, feel her in them. In the way they talked and hugged and laughed and loved. She was still with them, the way she always would be with them.

  His eyes focused on the last paragraphs, and he finished the letter. “ ‘So you see, the theme is very clear. In life we have choices, choices all of us must make. I’m hardly perfect; your father and I know what it is to go against God’s plan for our lives. Everyone breathing knows that awful feeling. In life there will be consequences for our bad choices, and there will always be suffering. Some of it, like my cancer or Hayley’s accident, we’ll never understand.

  “ ‘But this is the part I want you to keep, the part you’ve illustrated with the stories of your lives. With Christ there will also be hope and forgiveness and faith and love.

  “ ‘And most of all, because of what he did on the cross, there will always be his amazing, unlimited, perfect redemption. Remember that, okay? I love you more than you know. And when you come home, I’ll be here waiting for you. Then we’ll have the greatest reunion of all.’ ”

  More about the Baxter family!

  Please turn this page for a bonus excerpt from

  Fame

  the first book in the

  FIRSTBORN SERIES

  by Karen Kingsbury

  Chapter One

  The part should’ve been easy to cast.

  Dream On, the romantic comedy that would star Dayne Matthews, called for a small-town girl, an upbeat, outgoing type, with dreams of the big city and a genuine innocence that overshadowed everything about her.

  Dayne had spent the morning watching half a dozen top Hollywood actresses file through the room for an interview and a quick read, and so far none of them fit the bill. They were talented actresses, friendly, beautiful. Two he’d starred with in other films, two he’d dated, and two he’d hung out with at some party or another.

  He’d shared the night with three of the six.

  They were girls whose faces decked the covers of every gossip rag in town, and in theory, any one of them could play the part of a small-town girl. How hard could it be? The actresses Dayne had seen today could be upbeat and outgoing, and they could certainly pull off the role of a dreamer.

  But something was missing, and by three that afternoon Dayne knew what it was.

  The innocence.

  Dayne leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms as the last of the six read through her lines. A person couldn’t fake innocence—not even with an Academy Award performance. Innocence was something that grew in the heart and shone through the eyes. And it was the innocence that was lacking with each of them.

  Mitch Henry, casting director, was pacing near the back of the room. He finished with the final actress and bid her good-bye.

  On her way out she looked at Dayne and gave him a teasing smile. “See ya.” She was one of the ones he’d dated. Actually, he’d lived with her off and on for a month or so. Long enough that their pictures made the tabs a couple of times. Her eyes locked onto his. “Call me.”

  “Yeah.” Dayne pretended to tip an invisible hat, but his grin faded before she left the room. He turned to Mitch. “Who’s next?”

  “Who’s next?” Deep lines appeared between Mitch’s eyes, his tone frustrated. “Do you know how hard it was to get six A-list actresses in here on the same day? The part doesn’t even require the kind of talent we had in here, Dayne. Any one of them would knock it out of the park.”

  “They’re good. They’re all good.” Dayne uncrossed his arms and tapped his fingers on the table. “But something’s missing.” He paused. “I’m not seeing innocent, Henry. Sophisticated, flirty, take me to bed, yes. But not innocent.”

  “Fine.” Mitch tossed his clipboard on the table and yelled at a passing intern to shut the door. On the table were the files belonging to the six actresses, and when the door was shut, Mitch took a few steps closer. “We’re on a schedule here, Matthews.” He gripped the edge of the table and leaned in. “Hollywood isn’t exactly a stable of innocence.”

  “Okay.” Dayne pushed his chair back, stood, and walked to the window, his back to Mitch. He stared out through the hazy blue, and a face came to mind. A face he hadn’t forgotten in nearly a year. He held the image, mesmerized by it, and an idea started to form. It was possible, wasn’t it? She worked in theater. She must’ve dreamed of the silver screen somewhere along the way, right?

  Dayne felt Mitch’s eyes on him, and he turned around. “I have an idea.”

  “An idea?” Mitch scratched the back of his head and strode to the door and back. “We don’t need an idea; we need an actress. Filming starts in four months. This film is too big to wait until the last minute.”

  “I know.” The idea was taking root. It was definitely possible. What girl wouldn’t want a chance like this? Dayne sucked in a slow breath. He couldn’t get ahead of himself. “Listen, Mitch, give me a week. I have someone in mind, but she’s out of state.” He leaned against the windowsill. “I think I can have her here in a week, by next Monday.”

  Mitch folded his arms, his expression hard. “Some girl you met at a club, Matthews? Someone you made drunken promises to? Is that what you want me to wait for?”

  “No.” Dayne held up his hand. “She’s the real deal. Give me a chance.”

  A moment passed when Dayne wasn’t sure which way the casting director was leaning. Then Mitch swept up the six files and the clipboard and shot him a look. “One week.” He was halfway out the door when he turned once more and met Dayne’s eyes. “She better be good.”

  Dayne waited until he was alone to look out the window again. What had he just done? Buying a week meant putting the other talent on hold. It meant playing with a budget of tens of millions of dollars so he could find a girl he’d seen just once and ask her to read for a starring role opposite him in a major motion picture.

  All when she might not have the interest or ability to act at all.

  The idea was crazy, except for one thing. In the past year the only time he’d seen genuine innocence was when he’d watched this same girl light up the stage at a small theater in Bloomington, Indiana, directing the chaos of a couple dozen kids in costumes at the close of what was apparently the theater troupe’s first show.

  He remembered most of what he’d seen that day, but still the details were sketchy. The location of the theater was easy, something he could definitely find again. But he had almost no information on the girl except her name.

  Dayne gripped the windowsill and leaned his forehead against the cool glass. He could fly out and try to find her, but that would bring the paparazzi out of the woodwork for sure, make them crazy with questions about why Dayne Matthews was in Bloomington, Indiana.

  Again.

  Postscript

  A Word from Karen Kingsbury

  And so we have come to the end of the Redemption series.

  Sort of. I’ll explain more about that later. First let’s go back; let’s revisit the journey of not only Reunion, but the entire Redemption series.

  In writing Reunion, I felt again and again the faithfulness of God, working in me, going before me, speaking to me in the plot and story line. But it wasn’t just his faithfulness in writing Reunion, but his faithfulness in seeing the entire Redemption series come to an end.

  Everything the Baxter kids had to work through over the past several years had seen a transformation because of God’s redemption. Not without consequences or sorrow, but always with his love and grace and hope.

  I have to tell you, I hated outlining Reunion, because I couldn’t imagine saying good-bye to the Baxter family. After writing five books with these characters, they felt more than real to me. I’d find myself talking about our weekly church service and referring to the pastor
as Pastor Mark.

  I also struggled with letting Elizabeth die, but God reminded me of something in the midst of writing Reunion. It isn’t the number of our days that counts, but the life in our number.

  Many of you know personally the pain of suffering. Whether you’ve lost a job or a friendship, or worse, a spouse or a child. Maybe someone you love has walked out of your life the way Tim walked out on Kari in Redemption.

  Your situation might be overcoming a shameful past, the way it was for Ashley in Remember. Or maybe you’ve walked away from your faith and just need to understand again that God’s still waiting for you, the way Luke had to understand that in Return. Perhaps you’ve been caught up in a tragedy, the way Brooke was in Rejoice. If so, then the lessons there are yours also. That joy always comes in the morning, that only by keeping your attitude of worship and praise will you ever survive a tragedy.

  Or maybe you’re in the season of losing a parent, the way the Baxters were throughout Reunion. The sad experience of watching a parent die, or getting the call that a parent has passed suddenly, is one that most of us will experience. That’s why I included it here.

  It is my prayer that in reading Elizabeth’s story, you might find strength for your own. That you would understand that God’s will is always best—even when it doesn’t line up with your own. And that yes, trouble will come into our lives, but still, God wins. In the end, he always wins. I’m so grateful for that.

  People write to me every day telling me that I’ve captured their story in the lines of one of my novels. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. God has given me stories like the ones in the Redemption series so that each of you will know you’re not alone. Whatever you’re going through, other people around you have gone through the same thing.