The sound of tires crunching over gravel sent her back to the porch. Surely it was too soon to have company. She grinned at the sight of the familiar red sports car, however, and went to the bottom step to wait for him.
The gash on Mason’s head was still an angry scar, and he had cut all of his hair to match the clipped section the doctors had trimmed to stitch the cut closed. A little gel meant he looked more like a lawyer than an adventure-minded professor, which matched his clothes today. He wore a three-piece suit, complete with a silk handkerchief in his pocket.
He was still Mason, however, and Karen laughed when she spotted the hiking boots on his feet as he got out of the car. He almost tripped in his excitement to get to his trunk. “Just wait till you see!” he called out to her. He pulled out a large box and crossed the yard with it, with a grin on his face almost as big as the box.
“How was the trip?” she asked. “You’ve been gone for almost a week.”
“Research,” he answered. “After New York, I detoured to Boston. And look what I found at an auction in Boston!” He opened the box, dug through the thick packing and emerged again, cradling a delicate piece of deep blue and emerald-green ceramic in his hands. Karen’s breath caught in her throat as she realized three other vases lay in the box.
Four vases. Unique. Creative. Distinctive. Elegant. Yet not the face vases that had haunted her dreams for so many years. No, these were the first four O’Neill vases ever to go on the market. These were the beginning of her career.
Mason couldn’t contain his glee. “Remember? You showed me the picture that day in the basement. The first ones you sold. The ones that meant you could really do this for a living. They were up for auction, Lot 43, and, girl, there was a fight for them. But I had to have them. Had to.”
Karen stared at him, then the vases, then back at him. Her heart ached to know he cared that much, that he wanted this for her.
“Oh, Mason. I don’t know what to say.”
He gently placed the vase back in the box and took her hands in his. “Say yes.”
Yes? What kind of answer… “I don’t understand.”
He pulled her closer, and reached up to touch her cheek. “Consider them a wedding present. From the groom to his bride.”
Yes.
Dear Reader,
In John 10:10, the Lord promises us, “I came to give life with joy and abundance.” Abundance, yes, but nowhere are we promised a life free of troubles and pain. Our faith does not prevent trials; it provides us with the strength and ammunition to persevere through them.
Karen O’Neill has had a lifetime of problems, yet has found strength and comfort in her relationship with God. Mason, whose faith is reserved, finds in Karen an example of how to live openly in God’s presence every day.
When we walk with God, we may be the only example of true faith some people ever see. My prayer is that we all find the strength to persevere, thus providing a picture of God’s love for everyone around us.
Blessings to you all,
Ramona Richards
A note on the Bible translation: For scripture passages, I have used a new version, The Voice. The New Testament will be available in October 2008.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Karen tries to begin every day by praising God and thanking Him for her blessings. Even when her world has been turned upside down, she goes to the Lord in prayer. Do you have a similar routine? What does it mean to you?
How do you think her reliance on God strengthens Karen through her ordeal? What strength have you ever found through your praise of the Lord?
Early in the novel, Mason feels a reluctance to talk about his faith. Have you ever been around people with whom you felt uncomfortable discussing your faith? How did this discomfort affect your relationship with these people?
Karen was only seven when her parents died, yet she grew up with a strong role model in the faith (Jake), and many of the people in Mercer considered her a part of the family. What does scripture say about giving comfort and support to other believers, making them like family (see Romans 12:10–12)?
As Karen struggles to trust God in her troubles, her nightmares return. Have you ever felt as if God were letting you down or adding to your problems for some reason? How did you work your way through this?
In what way have events in your life ever made you question God’s wisdom or work in your life?
Toward the end, Karen realizes Jake had been guiding her toward answers about her parents instead of always providing them. Have you had mentors in your life who have helped you with your faith and dealing with life’s bumps and stumbles?
What does scripture say about believers leading each other in the faith (see 1 Timothy 4:12–13; Titus 2:3–5)? What do you think?
When others ask you about your faith, what’s the first thing to come to your mind? What experiences have you had that could help others in their spiritual growth?
Some of the details Karen learns about her parents make her question the impressions she has of them as ethical people. If you have faced a situation that made you question the ethics or behavior of someone you trusted, what actions did you take? How can your faith provide guidance and understanding in such a situation?
During her darkest moments, Karen feels compelled to abandon the course she believes God set for her life. We can also face moments when we feel our beliefs and life choices to be under attack. Have you ever contemplated giving up on a goal or decision you believed to be God-ordained?
At the end of the book, Karen rebuilds her family home instead of the cottage she’d loved so much. In some ways this means going backward in order to move forward. What situations in your own life have meant taking a step backward in order to heal and find a new direction for a problem or situation? What support for this decision did you find in your faith, your family and your church?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2238-4
THE FACE OF DECEIT
Copyright © 2008 by Ramona Richards
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The Face of Deceit Page 18