As he tries to finish up his last year of school and decide on his future, Glen is distracted by the needs of his friends. He juggles his complex, often puzzling, connections with Nicole, Joyce, and Marta; spends a lot of time and energy helping Luke cope with his new way of life; and struggles to get along with Charlie.
Meanwhile, Nicole realizes she's going to have to make the hardest decision of her life.
In order to survive, Glen clings to God and relies on his small group for help. To his surprise, he finds himself saying and doing things he'd never have imagined. And he realizes that what really matters isn't who you were in the past, or who you are now, but who you will become in the future.
Excerpt
Katherine was lying on her side on the kitchen floor. Her nightgown and housecoat were plastered to her body and beads of sweat were dripping from her forehead. Her eyes were open. "Glen?" she said softly. She seemed dazed.
"Yeah, it's me. Are you okay? What happened?"
"I don't...I fell...Don't know how long ago."
I started to put my arm around her to help her up, but she pushed me away. Then she cried out in pain and I saw that the part of her right hand and arm I could see under her sleeve was swollen and bruised. "My wrist!" she cried. She grabbed it with her left hand and pulled it to her chest. She moaned, then gave a big sigh. Her body seemed to relax. "I fell. But that's not the worst. I'm in labor," she gasped. "I was rushing to the phone to call John, but I fell. I guess I was hurrying. These slippers... I must have been knocked out. I don't know how long I've been here. But I'm definitely in labor."
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
