Table Of ContentA forgotten secret.
A shocking discovery.
A sacrifice of love that will bring Connor Evans to his knees.
Airline Captain Conner Evans has nearly forgotten that stormy weekend in
Hawaii eight years ago when he broke the greatest promise of all. Now Conner
has the perfect life with his wife, Michele, and their two daughters, and the
secret of that long-ago time is his alone.
But an ocean away, a flight attendant is raising her young son by herself when
the plane she’s working on crashes into the Pacific.
Her will is very clear about one thing—before the child can be given over to the
state, his father must be contacted.
The news rocks Captain Evans’ life, and in the process he is presented with a
choice: Refuse the child and never hear from him again, or take him for two
weeks and decide whether to claim the boy as his own.
Now, the family is on the brink of destruction. Can Michele and their daughters
ever forgive Conner for what went wrong all those years ago? Or will the
presence of one lonely child destroy everything?
Other Life-Changing Fiction™ by Karen Kingsbury September 11 Series
Red Gloves Series
One Tuesday Morning Gideon’s Gift
Beyond Tuesday Morning Maggie’s Miracle
Sarah’s Song
Stand-Alone Titles
Hannah’s Hope
Oceans Apart
Even Now
Forever Faithful Series
Ever After
Waiting for Morning Where Yesterday Lives Moment of Weakness
When Joy Came to Stay Halfway to Forever
On Every Side
Divine
Women of Faith Fiction Series
A Time to Dance
Cody Gunner Series
A Time to Embrace
A Thousand Tomorrows Just Beyond the Clouds Children’s Titles
Let Me Hold You Longer Redemption Series
Let’s Go on a Mommy Date Redemption
(spring 2008)
Remember
Return
Miracle Collections
Rejoice
A Treasury of Christmas Miracles Reunion
A Treasury of Miracles for Women A Treasury of Miracles for Teens Firstborn
Series
A Treasury of Miracles for Friends Fame
A Treasury of Adoption Miracles Forgiven
Found
Gift Books
Family
Stay Close Little Girl Forever
Be Safe Little Boy
Sunrise Series
Sunrise
Summer
Someday (spring 2008) www.KarenKingsbury.com
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Copyright © 2004 by Karen Kingsbury
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ISBN : 0 - 3 1 0 - 2 9 5 1 0 - 6 -
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy
Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by
International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
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Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc.,
7680 God-dard St., Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Interior design by Michelle Espinoza DEDICATION
Dedicated to Donald, who continues to be my prince, my safe harbor, my best
friend. You give me wings enough to fly, but keep me grounded in everything
that matters. I smile when I think of our long walks and nighttime talks, the way
you make me laugh after a hard day or your way of putting a layer of sensibility
over any situation. You are an amazing man, Donald, gifted in so many areas, yet
content to serve. I am blessed beyond words to be your wife, gifted with the joy
of your presence in my life. Fifteen years have flown by in a heartbeat, and I can
only pray God blesses us with so many more. I love you forever and always.
To Kelsey, my love and laughter, my silly-heart and only daughter. Can it be that
you are fourteen? That you are standing on the brink of high school and
cheerleading and driving and dating? You are gorgeous, sweetheart, inside and
out. I cherish our together times, whether washing our faces at the same mirror
or figuring out a math problem late at night. The glow in your eyes is the same
one that belonged to that pixie-faced four-year-old. The only difference is this:
now we don’t have forever stretched out before us. Being with you is knowing
intrinsically the speed of time, and my helplessness at slowing it even for a day.
And so I celebrate you, Kelsey, and all we’ve shared, all we have yet to share as
you dance closer to the front door. I love you and thank God for you, sweetheart.
To Tyler, my dreamer. How wonderful that God has blessed you with passion
and purpose, a plan so big you can’t help but breathe it and borrow from it and
become it every day of your life. Our time in New York City was something I’ll
remember forever. And I’m convinced you will always know where your talent
came from—
5
whether you’re singing on Broadway or playing out a scene in LA, shine for
Jesus, Tyler. Shine for Jesus. And no matter what happens, if you squint through
the lights, you’ll see me and your dad cheering for you from the first row. I love
you, Tyler. I couldn’t be more proud.
To Sean, my humble leader. Watching you among your peers, I am struck by the
reality of how quickly you’ve worked your way into my heart. You’ve only been
in our family for three years, and yet every child in class looks up to you. Of
course, God had you in our hearts long before you came to live with us, and His
plans for you continue to play out. Whether you’re flying across a basketball
court or reading devotions in the morning, your enthusiasm for life and your love
for Jesus make you shine like a bright flame.
Keep them, Sean. And know that I love you deeply.
To Josh, my gentle warrior. I’m convinced if I looked up confidence in the
dictionary, there would be your smiling face. You have more determination than
a dozen kids combined, and the belief that no matter what task is set before you,
you’ll not only complete it but redefine it. I’m amazed at your talents, whether in
soccer, basketball, mathematics, or artwork. Don’t ever forget our family verse,
sweetheart. To whom much has been given, much will be expected. I can’t wait
to see how God uses you in the years to come.
Keep Him first, Josh . . . the way you did when you joyfully went to your room
and pulled out half your piggy bank savings so people in Southeast Asia would
have Bibles. I love you and I’m so proud of you, honey.
To EJ, my overcomer. Before this year, you struggled some. Yet I always knew
you were the first chosen one, EJ, the child God first led us to adopt. And
because of that, we knew He had a plan for bringing you into our family, a plan
for seeing that through to completion. Now you are blossoming, becoming the
most beautiful flower in the garden. Your eyes glow with the light of Christ, 6
and you sit a little taller each day as the compliments pour in. “EJ, what great
seat work,” “EJ, what great manners,” “EJ, what great sports skills.” I need only
look at you to feel the sting of tears—
and the glory of God’s goodness all around. I thank Him for your willingness to
see the process through, and I love you, honey. Isn’t God the greatest?
To Austin, my miracle boy (or Brett Favre, as you’re calling yourself these
days). Can it be that you are in kindergarten already?
What other six-year-old would ask for shoulder pads for his birthday? Not so
you can play on a team, but so you can spend hours in the yard decked in your
Packers jersey—by yourself or with your brothers—so dedicated to the thrill of
sports that no team or game schedule is needed. I watch you growing and
becoming, and I think back to that day six years ago, the morning when we
placed you into the arms of a surgeon and prayed God would give you back to
us. Your heart surgery was a miracle, but the greater miracle is the life you’ve
lived since then. Strong, determined, refusing to settle for anything but the best.
And yet . . . with all that testosterone you got from Daddy, you have a heart full
of my tenderness. I can’t slow the ride, Austie, but I can enjoy every minute. I
love you and thank God that He allowed you to live.
And to God Almighty, the author of life, the greatest author of all, Who has—for
now—blessed me with these.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, when I write a novel many people play a crucial role in making it
come together. First and foremost I must thank God for giving me the gift of
story. When I write, I feel as though I’m reading, merely taking notes on the
picture God puts in my head.
I simply show up at my computer and download my heart. Not a minute goes by
when I don’t realize that this ability is completely from God.
Also, thanks to my family, especially my husband, who makes amazing
sacrifices so that I can give God’s best to the ministry of writing. At the same
time, he’s first to remind me when life slips out of balance. In that light, thanks
to my mom, Anne Kingsbury, who is simply the best assistant I could ever have.
You are loyal and loving and you see my heart for ministry like no one ever has.
My father, Ted Kingsbury, and my sisters, Susan and Tricia, have also been a
wonderful support, helping me with research projects and special assignments.
Thank you for everything.
Thanks, also, to my wonderful editor, Karen Ball, who always takes my work to
a higher level; and to the folks at Zondervan who team up to make a book like
this one everything it is today. You are a hardworking group, and I’m privileged
to be working with you.
A number of friends have also taken on other roles—prayer support, kid support,
public relations, and general enthusiasm about my work with life-changing
fiction. And so thanks goes to Ann Hudson, Sylvia Wallgren, Melinda and John
Chapman, Bobbi and Erika Terret, Robin Jones Gunn, Rick and Robin Dillon,
Cindy Weil, Randy and Vicki Graves, Richard Camp and his family, Kathy
Santschi, Joan Westfall, Betty Russell, Phyllis Cummins, the 9
Shampines (Kerry, D.J., and Brad), the teaching staff at our wonderful
elementary school, the students at Don’s high school, the college kids who think
of our house as theirs (Thayne, Justin, Aaron, Jenna, Michele, Darren, Kara,
Marc, Mark, and lots of others), and my dear friends at Christian Youth Theater.
When life gets hard, I count on you and cherish the fact that you keep me
cheering, even on deadline.
Of course thanks go to my agent, Rick Christian, at Alive Communications. I’m
honored to work with someone so gifted.
In addition, my heartfelt thanks to pilots Eric Schoneberger and Scott Wakefield
for lending their expertise to this book. It rings with authenticity because of you.
Also, a special thanks to the winner of my Ebay auction that raised money for
the Christian orphanage in Haiti where we adopted our three boys. You won the
right to have me name a character after your son, Max. I hope you enjoy the way
that turned out.
Finally, thanks to the Evans family for making the winning bid in a recent Biola
University auction. The Evans family won the Forever in Fiction item, and as
such were also able to have a character in this book named after them. This
arrangement led to the naming of Loren Herman Evans, our pilot’s father. Many
of this character’s traits were fictionalized for the purpose of the story.
However, a few similarities exist between the fictional Loren Evans and the real
man, a man dedicated to the Lord and to his family, a man who loves hand-
cranked homemade ice cream and a mean game of croquet, and who pretends to
be retired when he’s not playing golf and traveling. You are well loved, Mr.
Evans. May God bless your family’s gift to Biola, and may you enjoy having
