One Tuesday Morning

353 Pages·2003·0.9 MB·English

by  Karen Kingsbury

I’m a firefighter, God, so I know I’ve been in some tough places before. But
this ... this not knowing the people I love ... this is the hardest thing I can
imagine.
The last thing Jake Bryan knew was the roar of the World Trade Cen-
ter collapsing on top of him and his fellow firefighters. The man in the
hospital bed remembers nothing. Not rushing with his teammates up
the stairway of the south tower to help trapped victims. Not being
blasted from the building. And not the woman sitting by his bedside
who says she is his wife.
Jamie Bryan will do anything to help her beloved husband regain his
memory, and with it their storybook family life with their small daugh-
ter,Sierra. But that means helping Jake rediscover the one thing Jamie
has never shared with him: his deep faith in God.
Jake’s fondest prayer for his wife is about to have an impact beyond
anything he could possibly have conceived. One Tuesday Morning is a
love story like none you have ever read: tender, poignant, commemo-
rating the tragedy and heroism of September 11 and portraying the far-
reaching power of God’sfaithfulness and a good man’slove.
Other Life-Changing Fiction™ by KarenKingsbury
September 11 Series Red Gloves Series
One Tuesday Morning Gideon’s Gift
Beyond Tuesday Morning Maggie’sMiracle
Sarah’sSong
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 JoyCame to Stay Halfway to Forever
OnEverySide
WomenofFaith Fiction Series
Divine
ATime to Dance
Cody Gunner Series ATime to Embrace
AThousand Tomorrows
Children’s Titles
Just Beyond the Clouds
Let Me Hold You Longer
Redemption Series Let’sGoon a Mommy Date
Redemption (spring 2008)
Remember
Miracle Collections
Return
Rejoice ATreasury of Christmas Miracles
Reunion ATreasury of Miracles for Women
ATreasury of Miracles for Teens
Firstborn Series ATreasury of Miracles for Friends
Fame ATreasury of Adoption Miracles
Forgiven
Gift Books
Found
Family Stay Close Little Girl
Forever BeSafe Little Boy
Sunrise Series
Sunrise
Summer
Someday (spring 2008)
www.KarenKingsbury.com
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OneTuesday Morning
Adobe® Acrobat® eBook Reader® format
Copyright © 2003 by Karen Kingsbury
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ISBN : 0-310-29517-3
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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New Inter-
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Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
Interior design by Susan Ambs
dedication
ToDonald, my prince charming. When I wrote about Jake Bryan, I
was writing about you—a man whose love for God is the heartbeat of
all he does, all he says. All he is. I thank God that you are that kind of
man, and that I am blessed to call you mine. I pray that our days
together will always be the light they are today, and that I will continue
to follow your lead, as you follow Christ’s.
To Kelsey, my little Norm, our precious teenager. The other day I
remembered a time when you and Katie and Jentry were walking into
kindergarten together. You were just the way I’ve made Sierra to be in
this book—long golden curls and a smile that left a mark on everyone
it touched. The beautiful thing, honey, is that you’re still like that. I
love that you are a one-in-a-million girl. You are the laughter in our
home, Kelsey. I love you always and forever.
To Tyler, my special boy. Watching you grow up I am often moved to
silent awe—not an easy place (especially if you ask your dad). Handsome
and tall, eyes set firmly on the goals you have for tomorrow. How many
ten-year-olds want to star on Broadway, produce Hollywood films that
are pleasing to God, and still write novels as a hobby? We all know the
answer. Tears fill my eyes when I look to the day—dangling out there in
the not-so-distant future—when the theme to Annie won’t play con-
stantly in the background. But for now, I’m savoring every note, mem-
orizing every crazy thing you say and do, and knowing that God has a
special plan for you. And remember what you mean to me. I’ll always
love you, always believe in you, always pray for you ... my oldest son.
Hold on fast to Jesus, buddy.He knows the way from hereto there.
ToAustin, my miracle boy,who’sgotten so big this past summer.Just
afew moremonths and our time together will be over,little one. In the
fall you’ll join the whirlwind with the others—off to school. But for now
you and I still have what feels like endless mornings of give-and-go on
your plastic indoor basketball hoop. “Make it higher, Mommy ... I’m
Michael Jordan, remember?” Yes ... I remember. And when you score
seven goals in a soccer game as you did last week, I know without a doubt
that God is smiling at you. Was it five years ago that the doctor rushed
you into surgeryand told us therewas something wrong with your heart,
when he told us you might not live to see your fourth week of life? Even
5
–one tuesday morning –
the doctors are amazed at how well you are now, how you have not
a trace of the heart problem you suffered back then. Lucky, they
say. Very lucky. But we know the truth, don’t we, MJ? God gave
you back to me, and I am grateful for every single morning. I love
you, Austin. Always and always.
To EJ, my first chosen son. You have grown in leaps and bounds
since coming to live with us from Haiti. We thought we were going
to bless you by giving you a place in our home. But that wasn’t how
it worked out. The blessings have been all ours ... watching you go
from a frightened, helpless child to a self-sufficient, articulate little
boy. God is the one who brought us together, and I pray you hang
on to Him every day of your life. He has huge plans for you, son.
Ilove you, EJ.
To Sean, my happy silly-heart. You are so easily pleased, so
happy to be here. I remember when you told me that one day
you’d get a job and save up some money. “So I can give it to you,
Mommy ... for everything you and Daddy have done for me.”
What I told you then is the same thing I want to tell you now. Just
love God, Sean. Nothing would make me happier in the years and
decades to come than to watch you love God the same way you
love Him now. Don’t forget about all the gifts He’s given you ...
Ilove you, Sean.
To Josh, our gentle giant. You are easily the fastest boy at school,
the strongest in any game you play. Yet watching you is like watch-
ing an adult among children—you have that same gentle quality,
that patience and kindness. I see it especially when you play with
Austin, letting him win and even more, letting him think he’s won.
That takes a special type of confidence, a rare gift. You can do
whatever you want to in life, Joshua. God has blessed you that
greatly. Always remember that your abilities come from Him ...
and know that I love you forever and ever.
And to God Almighty, the Author of Life, who has—for now—
blessed me with these.
6
Acknowledgments
Abook of this magnitude does not come together without an enormous
amount of research and assistance. For that reason, there are several people
Imust thank before getting into the story of One Tuesday Morning.
First, a humble thanks to the firefighters across the nation who
courageously do their job on our behalf; and especially to the brave
members of the FDNY. I have used a fictitious New York station in this
novel, and also a fictitious Engine and Ladder company. But the truth
is it could have been any of those in Manhattan and the surrounding
areas. A special thanks to FDNY Press Secretary David Billing for help-
ing me with determining fictitious Engine and Ladder companies, and
for helping me accurately depict certain FDNY details. Also a heartfelt
thanks to firefighter Brian Baum and dozens of others who lent price-
less insight and accuracy to this novel. I count you among my heroes
and friends.
As in the past, I want to thank Dr. Bryce Cleary for helping me have
atrue picture of the medical side of what my characters went through in
One Tuesday Morning. You are my honorary doctor, and I enjoy giving
you cameos in the stories that grow in my heart.
Thanks, also, to my editor at Zondervan—Dave Lambert. I am blessed
beyond measure to have the privilege to work with you in this novel. The
book it is today is proof that you are gifted in what you do. In that same
vein, a thanks to the others at Zondervan, and especially to my amazing
cover designer—Kirk DouPonce of Uttley-DouPonce Designworks. I’ve
said it before, and I’ll say it again. People judge a book by the cover,and
Ican only pray the storymeasures up. You are amazing!
A thank-you to my agent, Greg Johnson. There isn’t enough space
heretoadequately thank you for all you do, Greg. I treasureour friend-
ship, trust your judgment, and easily leave my career in God’s hands
and yours. I’m still grateful beyond words for that CBA luncheon when
Terri Blackstock told me about you. Nothing has been the same since.
Thanks also to my special friends—the ones who encourage me and
pray for me. Sylvia and Walt Walgren, Anne and Ron Hudson, Vicki,
Joan, Kathy, Melinda, John, Robyn, Rick, and many, many more. Please
keep praying, friends. I need you now morethan ever.Aspecial thanks
goes to my family as well for understanding the extra hours I put in on
7
–one tuesday morning –
this novel. I believe the end result has been well worth it ... and
I look forward to the time we’ll have together in the coming
weeks. You guys are the best!
And, of course, a special thanks to my parents and my sister,
Tricia, for helping me down the stretch while I edited One Tuesday
Morning. I am grateful for your servant hearts in helping me
through what would otherwise have been an impossible time.
Finally, a special thanks to God for giving me the story of One
Tuesday Morning.When I wrote the last page, there were tears on
my face, and I raised my hands upwards. Because a novel like this
onecould only have come from Him.
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A Note to the Reader
Towrite a novel rooted in truth, an author must take certain liberties.
I did that with One Tuesday Morning. Certain events—for instance the
funeral of the unnamed probational firefighter detailed early in the book—
were changed for the purpose of the story line. In reality firefighter
Michael Gorumba, twenty-seven, suffered a heart attack and was remem-
bered on September 1, 2001, at a St. Charles Catholic Church service in
Staten Island, not on September 2, in Manhattan as my novel depicts.
Other such changes to true events occur in a minor sense only.
For the most part I’ve tried to write my novel within the confines of
the tragic reality of the events that took place around September 11. One
Tuesday Morningdoes not pretend to be a novelization of the tragedy that
happened in Manhattan that terrible day. Too much of what took place
with the terrorist attacks is not covered in this novel for that to be the case.
Rather, I drew from hundreds of firsthand accounts, news stories, personal
interviews, and other research. In the process I created a story that truly
could’ve happened, given the multiple cases of amnesia caused when the
World Trade Center collapsed.
One Tuesday Morning is my way of grieving through all the events of
September 11.
Out of respect for the New York City Fire Department and the real
heroes who fought and in many cases died on September 11, I’ve created
for the purpose of this novel a fictitious firestation, along with fictitious
Engine and Ladder companies. Any similarities to actual FDNY fire-
fighters or firestations is purely coincidental.
9