Death Benefits

by Hannah Alexander

Ginger thanked the woman and took the basket, then once more looked around outside. Could he be lurking in the shadows to see what her reaction would be? How could the woman know he was a hunk if she hadn’t actually laid eyes on him?

  After three weeks of not hearing a word from him, now he was sending her fruit and flower baskets?

  Still…she took the bounty upstairs and set it on the kitchen table, then searched for a card. There was none. She did, however, find chocolate candy. Dark chocolate with coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts.

  She was sinking her teeth into a corner of the rich, decadent bar when her cell phone rang again. She reached for it and flipped it open. “Thank you,” she said with a slightly full mouth.

  “You’re really speaking to me?” he asked.

  She chewed and swallowed. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  There was a pause, then, “You haven’t heard from Future Investments?”

  She caught her breath and nearly choked on a macadamia nut. Oh, no. What had he done now? “Not in the past few days.” Future Investments was the mission organization that sent food and medical care into some of the most politically dangerous countries in the world. It was one of the groups with whom she had applied for a position. “Ray Clyde—”

  “I told them the truth when they asked for a recommendation.”

  She slowly folded the wrapping back over the candy and put it away. “Mind telling me what that truth was?”

  “That you are as honest as the day is long.”

  All right! “You should be arrested for heavy-handed clichés.”

  “And that you couldn’t keep your mouth shut about sensitive information.”

  Ray Clyde was going to die. “Ever cracked a coconut?” she snapped.

  “Uh, I don’t see what a coconut has to do—”

  “Your head would work. I’ve got the—”

  “Now, Ginger, hold on. I have another idea you might want to hear before you go busting heads.”

  “I’m not interested in—”

  The doorbell rang again. Ginger flipped the cell phone shut and laid it on the counter.

  Ray braced himself for the door to open. He’d done it again, and he wasn’t sorry. Ginger didn’t need to be in another dangerous situation. He’d simply told the truth. Her mouth could get her killed.

  The door flew back, nearly hitting the wall behind it. Ginger’s face was flushed, her eyes blazing. She looked as if she’d lost more weight in the past three weeks.

  She looked tired. And angry, of course. It wouldn’t do to mention his observations aloud at this moment. At least the bruises were almost gone, though he had a feeling she didn’t want to hear that, either.

  Her eyes told him he really wouldn’t have to say much to hang himself. “You told them what?”

  “The truth.” He kept his voice calm, and tried to infuse it with all the tenderness he felt for her. “I’m not going to lie, even for you. Especially not for you, since you do have that bad tendency to get yourself into trouble in certain situations, and I’m not going to contribute to—”

  “Well, why don’t you tell me exactly what it is you think I’m qualified to do, since I have such a tendency to put myself in danger.”

  “I have a perfect—”

  “No, wait, you obviously don’t think I have a brain in my head when it comes to dealing with people, so—”

  “You know better. I have complete faith—”

  “And traveling is obviously out.” She turned to lead the way up the stairs. “Since I’m likely to jump-start a third world war if I even set foot in a foreign country.”

  “I need you in Columbia.”

  Her steps faltered, her momentum slowed. She reached out and grasped the banister, then continued up the steps without acknowledging what he said. Was it his imagination, or were her shoulders not quite as stiff, her movements not quite as jerky?

  He followed her. “I realize Columbia, Missouri, is not a foreign country, but there are children in our own state who have been abandoned, who have nothing, and who need someone to take care of them. Lots of children.”

  She turned and looked down at him. Her warm brown eyes no longer blazed, but they mirrored confusion. “You’re telling me to start an orphanage in Columbia?”

  “I’m…no. I’m telling you I need…I’m offering you a job.”

  She blinked. “You think you can keep me out of trouble if I work for you in your practice?”

  “Actually, it’s a two-part offer, but I’ll get to the rest later.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and she put her hands on her hips. “I think you’d better explain what you’re talking about. I’ve had enough of your word games today.”

  He swallowed. Ray Clyde, there’s no doubt you have a definite way with women. A bad way. “Okay, it’s like this. I’ve loved you for years, Ginger, you know that.”

  “Old news. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and realized that there are all kinds of love, Ray. Friends love each other. Even some enemies love each other, which is sick, but the Bible does say to love your enemy. Are you sure you aren’t talking about that kind of love?”

  “Never in my life have I thought of you as my enemy.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  He took her hand, held it up, rubbed the back of it with his fingers. “It felt like the stab of a knife every time you left to go back to Belarus, but I made sure you always went back, because that was where your heart was.”

  She swallowed. “We’re covering old ground here,” she said, but her voice had softened.

  He barely concealed his frustration. How could one woman be so bullheaded and obstinate?

  And yet, her determination was one of the things he loved about her. “I know you have a lot to offer,” he said. “Your life as a missionary hasn’t ended, and neither has your career with GlobeMed.”

  “GlobeMed is an international mission board.”

  “Sure it is,” he said, “but that doesn’t preclude us from having a mission in our own state. There’s a great need for another children’s home, and the funding has come through. I’m looking for someone who can be the director.”

  Her eyebrows raised. “And that would be…?”

  “You.”

  For once, she appeared speechless. He pressed the initiative. “You would be the best person for the position, Ginger. Your heart is always softest when it comes to children.”

  She studied him closely. “You’re serious?”

  “Totally.”

  Her expression lightened further. “You’re offering me the job?”

  “That’s what I’m doing, and as with your position in Belarus, you would be paid a salary. You wouldn’t have to campaign for your support. We need you there, Ginger.”

  Her eyes—those beautiful eyes—widened. He had her. He knew it, and it was all he could do not to smile in triumph.

  She withdrew her hand from his and turned away from him. “I’ll have to think about it.”

  He gritted his teeth. She was toying with him, but he knew how to handle her now. “Then think about this, as well. From time to time, you may also be asked to travel out of country to help establish other children’s homes.”

  She turned back. Grudging interest sparked in her eyes.

  “I know how much you love to travel,” he said.

  “Is that the second part of the deal you mentioned?”

  “Uh, no, that isn’t it.” He swallowed.

  “Is this why you drove all the way here from Columbia?” she asked, sinking, at last, onto the sofa, and gesturing for him to join her. “To offer me a job? The telephone’s a lot more convenient.”

  He didn’t move. For the moment, he couldn’t even think straight, much less focus on the effort it would take to decide where to sit—whether to light right beside her, or take the recliner across from her, or sit on the floor and babble like an idiot.

  She frowned and cocked her head. “Ray?”

  He cleared his throat. “This
directorship is an important position.”

  “So?”

  “I thought I might have some convincing to do, since you and I seldom see eye to eye about anything, and this job would mean spending a lot more time with me.”

  “If I were to take the job, that wouldn’t be a problem.”

  “We might not always agree about the way things should be done.”

  She shook her head. “That’s supposed to be news to me? Why did you drive all the way here to offer me a job?”

  He sat down beside her then. “Because the second part of the deal is a lot more important, and it wasn’t something I could talk to you about over the telephone.”

  “This is the second part of the job offer?”

  He shrugged. “I think I might have said that wrong. It isn’t exactly…what I mean to say is, there’s a little more to it than…”

  She leaned forward. “Why, Ray Clyde, I think you’re blushing.”

  “I might be.”

  She rested her elbows on her knees. “You know, it’s amazing that a man as fearless as you, who has no trouble talking about anything else, or proposing anything else, is afraid to propose marriage.”

  He stared into her eyes. Her face was so close it would be easy to lean forward and kiss her. “I’m a coward at heart.”

  “I’ve been afraid, too,” she said, lifting a hand to touch his cheek. “But my biggest fear has been that I wouldn’t see you again.”

  He swallowed, catching the scent of plumeria. She’d purchased a bottle of that perfume in Kauai. “So does this mean you’ll marry me?”

  Her eyes once more filled with laughter. She nodded. “It’s the only way you’ll get me to Columbia.” She leaned closer and touched her lips to his, so lightly it almost tickled.

  Before she could change her mind and back away, he caught her in his arms, pressing his lips to her chin, her cheek, her forehead as he held her close. “Did I mention that I love you?”

  Her laughter filled the room and echoed in his heart. For the first time in many years, everything in his world felt right.

  Dear Reader,

  As you can imagine, we had a lot of fun researching this book in Hawaii. We love Kauai and are fascinated by the winter beauty, so different from ours here in the Ozarks. God’s great, creative genius is obvious, with fruits of all kinds growing wild in the forests, ready for the picking. We did manage to get lost in the forest during our research trip, and discovered firsthand how easy it would be for a stalker to hide behind trees, shrubs and among the people.

  Much as we love the physical exploration of our settings, we find that the study of the human heart is even more fascinating. When someone as emotionally healthy and proactive as Ginger Carpenter could hold a grudge for many months against someone she trusted and cared about for years, is it any wonder that Rick Fenrow could hold a grudge against Willow, coming, as he did, from a very dysfunctional background? But that doesn’t excuse his actions, and he must pay the consequences for those actions.

  Ginger, Ray, Graham, Willow, Steve and Helen all made choices and now must reap what they sowed. Ginger suffered with the pain of bitterness when she didn’t forgive Ray, and Ray suffered the loss of her friendship when he didn’t tell her the truth immediately and treat her as a mature adult. Steve and Helen inspired mistrust when they neglected to tell the group about their relationship with the girls in the first place. Graham and Willow risked a damaged relationship with Ginger when they kept the truth from her about Ray’s part in the wedding trip.

  Let us all strive to be more honest with one another and lovingly accept one another’s faults, forgiving one another in our hearts as we try to live with authenticity.

  With love,

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  In an attempt to spare Ginger’s feelings, Ray withholds important information that ends up damaging his relationship with her. How do you think both Ray and Ginger could have handled this situation better? Have you ever been in a similar situation?

  Grant, Willow and Preston all agree to withhold information from Ginger in order to get her to go with them to Hawaii. Were they right in doing this (i.e., did the ends justify the means), especially since Ray and Ginger did get back together? What advice would you give them to handle the situation more appropriately?

  Steve and Helen had ulterior motives for agreeing to be the wedding planners for Grant and Willow. Do you think they should have been more honest about why they wanted to go? How would you have handled the situation differently?

  Several of the characters in Death Benefits withhold the truth from others, thinking they have noble reasons for doing so. Is it ever right to keep the truth from someone? Can you give an example? Can you give a biblical example? Have you ever done this? If so, why? Was anyone ever angry with you when they found out the truth? Would you do it differently if you had the chance?

  Which do you feel is the stronger motivator: fear or revenge? Why is love superior to both? Can you give examples?

  Would you take your family with you on your honeymoon if you were in Grant and Willow’s situation? Why or why not?

  Lucy has had to grow up quickly due to her mother’s instability and drug dependency. What disadvantages will Lucy face with this premature maturity? What possible advantages do you think she might find from these qualities she’s learned?

  Earlier in the year, Ray was forced to remove Ginger from potential danger on the mission field and did not give her the real reason for this removal. This action damaged their friendship for many months. Knowing his reasons, what would you have done in the same situation?

  When talking to Preston about his relationship with Sheila, Ginger uses the analogy of opening a cellophane bag of potato chips or salad greens with gentleness versus force. Can you share instances in your own life when you used gentleness instead of force with good results? Or vice versa?

  What consequences might Ginger and Ray suffer in their future because of the long months of misunderstanding between them? Have you ever had a similar experience in your life? What consequences have you suffered?

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-4405-8

  DEATH BENEFITS

  Copyright © 2007 by Hannah Alexander

  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, Steeple Hill 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.

  This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.

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