Forgiven (40 page)

Katy gripped the armrests. Her heart swelled within her, and she blinked back the wetness in her eyes. Thank You, God. Thanks for getting them here.

This was the point during the evening when Katy’s curtain warmers would come out, usually a few CKT kids in costume, ready with a cute skit about turning off cell phones and waiting until intermission to order popcorn. This time, Tim Reed walked out in front of the closed curtain, carrying a cordless microphone. He was dressed like Oliver Warbucks, but he didn’t have his bald cap on, and he didn’t attempt to stay in character.

He smiled at the audience and welcomed them. In a straightforward manner he gave them the theater rules and explained that there would be souvenirs and refreshments at intermission and after the show. Then he hesitated, and for a moment he looked at the Hanovers and Strykers in the front row.

His eyes lifted to the audience again. “Most of you know that we experienced a tragedy in CKT this session. We lost two kids, 333

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two of our friends, in a car accident. One of those was Sarah Jo Stryker, and the other was Ben Hanover.” He motioned to the front row. “We’re honored to have both their families here tonight.”

A hush fell over the crowd as Tim said that last part. Katy held her breath as she watched their faces, the sadness and shock as the audience reacted to the thought that the two families hit hardest by the tragedy were, in fact, in their midst this very night.

A few seconds passed, and then Bryan Smythe’s parents stood and began to clap.

Not a wild cheering, but a sedate, slow clapping that expressed camaraderie and sympathy. The moment the clapping began, others joined in, and with Tim still standing in front waiting to finish, the entire theater wound up on its feet, showing their support for the Hanovers and the Strykers.

Katy could see both families. They huddled in their own groups, arms around each other, moved deeply by the outpouring from the crowd.

When the clapping finally died down, Tim took a step toward the audience and said, “And so we dedicate this show to the Hanovers and the Strykers.” He moved back, gesturing toward the curtain as it opened. “CKT proudly presents Annie.”

The night could’ve ended right there, and Katy couldn’t have felt more satisfied. But from the opening number, Kelsy Bouchey turned in a performance far beyond anything she’d done in rehearsals. Katy remembered their conversation, how the girl wanted to make her role as Annie something special for the Hanovers and the Strykers. Now she was doing just that.

Scene after scene, the performance was amazing, better than anything Katy had ever seen on an opening night. The dancing was sharp, music right on key, and the singing was powerful enough to move her to the edge of her seat. The show was everything they’d prayed it would be, a moving testimony to life and hope and especially to the memory of two very special kids.

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When it was over and the kids came out for curtain call.

to a standing ovation that lasted through all the bows. Many the kids had tears on their cheeks, and several made a point waving to the Strykers and the Hanovers. As Oliver Warbucks’ servants bowed, they each pulled Peter Pan hats from behind their backs and placed them on their heads. When Katy glanced at the Hanovers and the Strykers, they were smiling, their faces wet with tears.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Here goes.”

Normally she stayed in her box through curtain call, but the kids had something different planned tonight. She darted out of the box, down the stairs, through the greenroom, and up the stage stairs. All the kids were onstage, so she came through the middle with a dozen kids who’d worked crew for the show. Once the crew members had taken their bows, and with the applause still ringing, the group directed their hands toward the lighting and sound booth, then toward the orchestra, and finally up to ward God, who had brought it all together in a way Katy had only dreamed about.

When they were finished, the orchestra would normally have played a finale version of “Tomorrow,” the main song from the play. But this time the music was different, something the kids had requested.

Katy reached out and took the hands of the kids on either side of her. As she did, the kids all across the stage held hands, and at the right time they started singing “How Great Thou Art.”

The audience seemed to realize that something special was happening, and every member stayed on his or her feet, singing along with the kids.

Katy scanned the audience, her heart overflowing, and finally she looked up to the balcony. Her mouth hung open for a mo ment, and she took a step forward so she could see him better. It was Dayne! He’d come, just like he said he would, and now his eyes held hers, speaking straight to her soul, reminding her of 335

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feelings that had never gone away. She wanted to go to him or shout out or wave, but she could do none of those. The moment was deep and beautiful, a showering of love and faith for all of them, but especially for the two families who needed it most.

She kept singing, the corners of her mouth raised in a smile despite her damp eyes. Do you hear me, Dayne? Do you see me telling you that I still care, that I haven’t forgotten you? She never looked away, and neither did he. As the song ended, she mouthed the words thank you.

He made a subtle nod in her direction, and his lips formed the words you’re fantastic.

They were singing a second song now, “I Love You, Lord.” Katy wanted to go to him, but even as she tried to think of how quickly she could get to the balcony, he looked at her. Then he gave her the slightest wave and turned to leave.

He couldn’t be going, could he? He wouldn’t have come so far only to leave without talking to her, right? She watched him exit the balcony, and after a minute she saw him leave through the back side entrance of the theater. He really was leaving. He’d come just for the show, and now he was gone.

Tears splashed onto Katy’s cheeks, and she wondered how long before the kids and she would find themselves in another season of laughter. The kids’ voices were building toward the last part of the song. “‘Take joy, my King, in what You hear: May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.’”

Katy’s tears came harder, but she smiled through them. She cried because she wished with everything inside her that Sarah Jo was on that stage singing with them and that Ben Hanover was in the seat between his mother and father. She cried for the painful loss they’d all suffered and for the lessons they’d learned regarding Jeremy Fisher. For the way all of CKT had come together since the accident.

But she also cried because of Dayne Matthews and feelings that maybe weren’t pretend after all. She had tried her hardest to 336

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put aside thoughts of him, but he was still there when up and when she lay back down to sleep at night. how he was doing and whether he’d read the letter on the back of: the photo of his birth mother and if he’d found the wisdom to walk away from Kabbalah, Twice a week she’d catch herself checking messages, looking for his phone number.

And so the tears were for that too. Because she couldn’t imagine closing the door on a guy who would fly across the country to see her students perform on opening night. Her feelings for’ him were real, same as his were for her. But that’s all they would ever share—distant, unfulfilled feelings. Her tears fell even after the song ended, because the truth was clear, With Dayne, real love had never really gotten a chance to bloom.

Whatever was between them, it had started in the dark shadows of the Bloomington Community Theater. And tonight, even though they would see each other again at the trial in Los Angeles, whatever they shared had ended the exact same way. He had gone back to his world, and she needed to let him leave. Her life was here, where she belonged.

Her role as director of CKT had always been the job she felt God alone had given her. But now as she watched the families in the audience come together, hugging and congratulating the cast and crew, showering the Hanovers and the Strykers with love, it became clear that working with these kids was so much more than a job.

It was a calling. And she would stay with it as many years as God allowed.

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AUTHOR’S NOTE

There is mention in this novel of a religious group called Kabbalah, along with a place called the Kabbalah Learning Center in Los Angeles, where Dayne takes religious classes. Though Kabbalah is a real religion, there are two sects of Kabbalists— one rooted in Old Testament Judaism, and the other rooted in a combination of Old Testament Judaism and a set of unique teachings. Since the latter of these Kabbalah sects is currently drawing great interest from the Hollywood community, I chose to include it in the fictional story line of Dayne Matthews.

I did a great amount of research in order to keep my details factual.

However—as with any organization—I could not use all my information. It is possible that some of the information given to me or found through research is not exactly represented in the way certain people might view it. In addition, I chose to portray this group through the lens of Christianity and biblical truth.

The Kabbalah Center in Forgiven is in no way intended to exactly duplicate any specific Kabbalah center. Certainly any similarity between my characters and real-life characters is entirely coincidental.

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A WORD FROM KAREN KINGSBURY

DEAR READER FRIENDS,

Thanks for traveling with me through the second book in the Firstborn series.

From the beginning when I imagined five books about Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart, I knew forgiveness would be one of the issues I’d have to deal with. The reason? Forgiveness is such an integral part of living the Christian life.

Without Christ’s forgiveness, all of us would be doomed to eter nal death. By accepting it, we can experience eternal life.

The difference between the two is all the difference in the world. That was something Dayne needed to experience. At the same time, the idea of a tragedy in the world of CKT required forgiveness also. I used tragedy for several reasons.

First, be cause the CKT in the Firstborn series is a picture of any small group of faithful people, and with faith, tragedy can bring people together.

And tragedy is a certain part of life.

One of the promises Christ gave us in the book of John is that, “In this world you will have trouble” (,John 16:33). Hundreds of you write to me every week, and I can tell you there is no short age of troubles, no lack of tragedies. Many of you struggle with loveless or faithless marriages or with a spouse who doesn’t share your beliefs. Some of you aren’t sure where your next house payment will come from, and others are estranged from a mother or father, a son or daughter. And a number of you are in the middle of the tragic loss of someone you love.

The key to Christ’s promise that we would have trouble in this world is the end of the verse: “But take heart! I have over come the world.” The way the second half of the promise was lived out after the fatal car accident in Forgiven was this: dozens of kids learned how to come together and, even more, they 340

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learned to forgive. They learned that together they could survive any tragedy by clinging to God and their faith and each other.

I pray that is how you and I would go through tragedy as well. Finally, Ashley needed to forgive her parents for hiding the truth about the child they gave up.

It was a quick decision be cause Ashley realized that her parents were guilty of the same mistake she’d made in the events that led to her son’s birth. The example that Ashley gave by immediately forgiving is one we could all learn from. My husband once told me, “Karen, I’m not going to fight with you ever.” He explained that in the end he wasn’t ever leaving me, and he wasn’t going to live a life of anger at me. Therefore, he might as well forgive quickly and com pletely. That way we’d have more happy days together.

What a great idea. We would do ourselves a favor to follow that thinking. The more quickly you forgive, the more quickly you recognize what Dayne did: forgiveness leads to peace. When we find ourselves anxious and unhappy, doubtful or worried, we ought to ask ourselves who we need to forgive or how we need to be forgiven. Unwinding the tangled mess of unforgiveness and making peace with the people in our lives will give us the peace we’re all looking for.

Beyond that, maybe you’re one of those considering faith in Jesus Christ for the first time because of something you read in the stories of Dayne and Katy and the Baxter family. If so, then realize this: though the people in Forgiven are fictional, the God they serve is not. He is alive and active and working in your life, whether you know it or not. If you don’t have a saving relation ship with the living God, contact your local Bible-believing church and find out more about Him. Please know that I am praying for you and all my readers every day, that God will use these stories to draw you closer to Him, the way He uses them to draw me closer.

There are still three books to come in the Firstborn series: 341

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Found (summer 2006), Family (fall 2006), and Forever (winter 2007). I hope you have the chance to read those books also.

On a quick note, my family is doing well. We’re enjoying the Christian Youth Theater, which the kids are still involved in, and Little League, soccer, and basketball that keep us busy with our four youngest boys. As always, I covet your prayers for my family and me and for the ministry of writing Life-Changing Fiction.

By the way, stop in and visit my Web site. It’s undergone some changes, and now there are many interactive links that give you the chance to leave comments, ask for prayer, or connect with other readers. There are also links to daily devotions and various counseling Web sites that can offer you help if the troubles you’re facing feel overwhelming.

As always, I love hearing from you. Drop me an e-mail at [email protected] or visit my Web site at www.KarenKingsbury

Until next time.., in His light and love,