Glen struggles to figure out how to act around Nicole, who is now dating Charlie, and Nicole's best friend, Joyce, who Glen is now dating. At the same time, he looks for ways to encourage Luke, who's recovering from a very serious accident, and tries to avoid Marta, who needs more help than he can offer. As if he doesn't have enough going on, Glen wonders if the anonymous letters he's getting are a prank or something more sinister.
Meanwhile, Nicole wonders if she's made a mistake, and begins to question what she's been taught by her church.
In the end, with the help of their small group, Glen and Nicole learn that a real friend is someone who has experienced your faults and imperfections, and sticks with you anyway.
Excerpt
Opening the door carefully, I peered in. Smoke came straight at me. It looked as if the whole kitchen was on fire....
From somewhere beyond, I heard a faint call.
I had to go in.
All I remembered about fire safety was to get a wet rag to cover your nose if you have to go through smoke. But where did you get water when the fire was in the kitchen? I couldn't even see the sink for smoke.
I heard a loud crackle as flames leaped up the window curtains and shot to the ceiling. No way I could get into the house through the kitchen.
I heard someone call out, "Help me! Please help me!"
"God, I need you!" I yelled, as I shut the door and ran back to the front of the house.
Once on the porch, I pulled off my jacket and using it to cover my head, ran full speed toward the low front window, twisting sideways as I hit the glass.
As I had hoped, the glass shattered, and I went through. But I hit the floor hard, and for a few seconds, I lay there stunned. Then I remembered where I was and jumped up. Tongues of fire were licking at the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. Smoke was billowing out.
It was at this point I realized I should have run to a neighbour's and called the fire department....
Lindquist, N. J.: - I'm the creator and publisher of the best-selling Hot Apple Cider books, and the author of the award-winning The Circle of Friends YA series and the standalone novel, In Time of Trouble. Whether I'm writing or speaking, the stories I tell have heart, soul, and satisfying endings. In past lives, I've been a high school Teacher of the Year, a homeschooler, part of several church planting teams, a youth leader, a CE Director, a church planter, a small group leader, and founder and executive director of a national writers group. I've been speaking to groups of all sizes since I was in my early twenties. A few of my favourite themes are hope, creativity, leadership, and making disciples. I've also been teaching writers since 1992 and have a website dedicated to that. Mostly, I love seeing people grow, do what they love, and live joy-filled, meaningful lives. I'm a member of the Writers Union of Canada, Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Canada, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and The Word Guild. My hobbies include reading; listening to music (esp. country); watching baseball, basketball, curling, and ultimate frisbee; and doing jigsaw puzzles. I live in the Greater Toronto (Canada) area. I'm also the author of the Paul Manziuk and Jacquie Ryan Mysteries (as J. A. Menzies). www.njlindquist.com
