Forgiven (41 page)

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Discussion Questions

Use these questions for individual reflection or for discussion with a book club or other small group. They will help you not only understand some of the issues in Forgiven but also integrate some of the book’s messages into your own life.

1. What is the connection between forgiveness and peace?

2. Discuss a time when you forgave someone or when some one forgave you. Share how that forgiveness made you feel.

3. Besides peace, what was Dayne Matthews looking for when he started attending the Kabbalah Center?

4. Were you surprised about Alice Stryker’s car accident?

Explain how the accident changed her.

5. When has something tragic and unfair happened in your life or the life of someone you know? Describe the situa tion.

6. How did you feel toward God after that event? How did Katy and the members of CKT feel toward God? toward the drunk driver?

7. When Tim Reed prayed at the meeting at the Flanigans’ house, what did he say that showed his honesty in the matter? How did that help everyone else?

8. When did the kids’ feeling toward the drunk driver begin to change? Why did they change?

9. Is Elaine Denning a good addition to John Baxter’s life?

Why or why not?

10. Explain Ashley’s hesitance about her father spending time with Elaine.

11. Why does Dayne have stronger feelings for Katy Hart than for his live-in girlfriend, Kelly Parker? What in trigues Dayne about Katy?

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12. What is it about Katy’s life that makes her feel she could never fall in love with Dayne?

13. Why does Dayne cause Katy such emotional confusion: Explain the battle going on inside her when it comes to Dayne.

14. Do you know anyone like Jeremy Fisher? What led to that person’s downtrodden lifestyle?

15. How have you seen alcoholism or abusive drinking be a negative thing in your life or the life of someone you love?

16.Jeremy Fisher assumed the kids were coming to the jail to condemn him. How did the visit from the CKT kids affect him? How do you think he felt when they were finished?

17. Explain Ashley’s reaction when she opened the envelope marked Firstborn and realized that her parents had given up a child? What are three ways this helped her to better understand her mother?

18. Should Ashley have opened the letter? How do you feel about her rationalizations to do so?

19. How did Dayne come to understand forgiveness?

20. Did he need to forgive or be forgiven or both? Explain.

345 Turn the page for an exciting preview of F 0 U N D

the third book in the FIRSTBORN SERIES by Karen Kingsbury Available Summer 2006 ISBN O-8/J,23-87/J,5-5 www,˘yndaleficdon.com 346 FFom

347

F 0 U N D

by Karen Kingsbury

T Iq E S T O R Y W A S M O R E than any reporter could resist.

A knife-wielding stalker with the delusional belief that she was married to Dayne Matthews. The accusation that the same crazy woman had jumped from the dark shadows of Paradise Cove in an attempted murder on an associate of Dayne’s.

The rescue of that associate by Dayne, the photos that showed him and an unknown woman kissing near the beach earlier that night, the fact that no one had ever been able to identify her.

Never mind that it was just a deposition. A crew of news vans and photographers surrounded the entrance to the Los Angeles Superior Court this January morning, hoping for a glimpse of the star they couldn’t get enough of.

Dayne Matthews sat in the backseat of the rented black Sub urban, a vehicle the press was unfamiliar with. His attorney, Joe Morris, was driving. They were the only ones in the vehicle, and from their position at a stoplight in front of the courthouse, they

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could see everything. Newscasters and print guys and tabloid photogs scurrying about the scene, searching for the best angle, the least shadows, plugging in wires and adjusting lenses as they waited for him to appear. “They’re out in full force today.” Joe turned the SUV into a parking lot. “They love a good story.” The newspaper lay on the seat be side Dayne, and he picked it up. His publicist had spoken with the media and put quite a spin on the story. The article read: Dayne Matthews and his associate Katy Hart will appear in court early this morning to give depositions in the case against stalker i Margie Madden. half i Dayne chuckled to himself. Katy was coming into court ,I

an hour after him, and she was hardly a mere associate—though that’s what the media and the police had believed about Katy since the beginning. An “associate” helping him scout out a location shot for an upcoming film. Since Katy was an unknown, it was possible no one would ever find out she was an actress or that she’d turned down the lead role in Dream On or that she lived in Bloomington, Indiana. The tabloids had a picture of him kissing an unknown woman earlier that evening on the beach, and he had explained that she was an actress who preferred to stay anonymous. They’d never put the two stories together.

“Let’s go.” His attorney exhaled hard as he put the vehicle in park. “It’ll take a while to get through the throng.”

Dayne unbuckled his seat belt and slid toward the door of the Suburban. The explanation he’d given to the press and the police had holes big enough to drive a train through, but none of it was a lie, not really. Katy was his associate, in the sense that she associated with him in a work setting for a time. And the police didn’t care about the tabloid photos of him kissing some woman on the beach. He wasn’t on trial after all. Margie Madden was.

The explanation bought them time. That way Katy could stay out of the limelight as long as possible. By the time the press 349

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heard actual testimony and realized that she’d been thinking about the role in Dream On, the movie would be close to release, and her name would be only a small aspect of the story.

Joe and Dayne walked close together, their pace fast and clipped. Joe had wanted to be here, even though it wasn’t neces sary. The prosecuting attorney would handle the deposition, and normally witnesses needed no other representation.

But Dayne’s situation was different. His public persona was at stake anytime he did or said anything involving the law. His attorney had insisted on being present, and the man planned to have someone from the New York office at his side for every moment of the eventual trial.

They were a hundred feet from the courthouse when the swarm of media caught wind of Dayne’s arrival. In a rush they pivoted and aimed their cameras at him. A few nicely dressed newscasters stepped in front of the others, large booming micro phones in their hands. The bigger the network, the more likely they were to use his last name.

“Mr. Matthews.” A heavily made-up blonde stepped into his path. “Is it true you want the judge in this case to make an exam ple of Margie Madden, and is it true—?”

“No comment.” Joe took hold of Dayne’s elbow, and with his other hand he straight-armed a path through the crowd. “Excuse Us.”

“Dayne.” It was a paparazzi photographer shouting from a few layers back in the crowd. “Tell us about the associate. Where is she? Isn’t she supposed to “She’s already here.” Joe’s answer was loud enough for most of them to hear. It was part of the plan, that he would discourage the press from sticking around and waiting for Katy.

The photographer raised his hand and shouted again, “Does she still work with Dayne and in what capacity, since we can’t find her 350

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“No comment.” Joe kept up his pace, still

pulling Dayne along

with him.

The crowd parted easily, and Dayne did his best to look’ straight ahead, his expression serious. The press would have their requisite photos and footage—Dayne Matthews, Holly:!! wood star, coming to court to give testimony on the crazy stalker ‘….

who tried to kill his associate. None of them would have |

expected more than that.

Other than passing glances and whispered comments, Dayne and Joe weren’t approached again as they entered the building i!l and took the elevator to the eighth floor. Dayne stopped for a .i. minute and looked out the window across the hazy Los Angeles sky. Somewhere out there Katy Hart was back in his city, making her way to the courtroom. It had been all he could think about since Christmas.

They were met by the prosecuting attorney, a sharplookin woman who appeared to be in her midfifties. “We have a roon set up for you.” She gave them a businesslike smile.”Follow me.”

The attorney explained the proceedings as they walked down a long hallway, but Dayne did little more than give an occasional nod in her direction. Joe would handle the details. All he had to do was tell the story while the prosecutor tape-recorded it. For now he could think about Katy.

He hadn’t heard from her or seen her since the opening night of Annie, but she was there when he woke up and when he lay back down to sleep. The past three months had been the loneliest of his life. Not that he didn’t have offers. He was in the middle of filming a romantic suspense film opposite a dark-haired beauty with exotic looks and a penchant for her leading men. They’d met at several functions but never starred in a film together until now.

On the first day of filming she had poked her head out of her trailer and called him in. “Dayne, come here.” Her eyes danced, 351

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and her smile held the pout she was famous for. “I have a ques tion about the script.”

He had been in the middle of three things, including a conver sation with his agent. But she was his priority as long as they were still establishing chemistry for the film. He jogged to her trailer, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him.

She was facing him, dressed in nothing but a transparent neg ligee. “Hi.” She took a step closer. “I need your opinion.” An other step. “Will this work for the bedroom scene, the one at the beginning of the film?”

He swallowed and put his hand on the trailer door. “I thought the script called for a nightgown.”

She pushed her lips out and played with a lock of her hair, dropping her chin in a way that made her look beyond seduc tive. “You don’t like it?”

“Yeah, well…” He let loose a single chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck.

“The film’s PG-13, so I’m thinking something less see-through.”

She grinned. “Oh, well.” One more step and now she ran her finger down the length of his arm. “It works for right now, any way.” She nodded toward the set crew outside. “They’ll be busy for an hour before they need us.” Her face was so close he could smell the mint on her breath. She dropped her voice to a whis per. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to practice a love scene with you, Dayne Matthews?”

He gritted his teeth. “Angie, listen…” She was stunning, but so what? Did she want him to take her right here on the trailer floor? And if he did, then what?

They’d pretend to be hot lovers for a few weeks, and after that he’d be lonelier than ever. Some thing else too. The peace he’d recently found wouldn’t last if he went back to his old ways.

With gentle hands, he framed her face and drew her close. Then he kissed her forehead. “The film calls for a few kisses-352

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that’s all.” He searched her eyes. “We’ll have time to later, okay?”

She could’ve gotten angry, but she didn’t. Instead she took few steps back, making sure he had a view of her full frame. look forward to it.” She tossed him a confident smile as if to she wasn’t giving up that easily.

Her continued attempts had been relentless, just short of perate, but Dayne had managed to keep his distance and build chemistry with her. Working with her had its benefits. was a professional, brilliant on the screen and fun off it. But made him feel empty and plastic, the way all of Hollywood him feel lately. He was glad for a day off, and never mind that he’d spend most of it in a Los Angeles courthouse.

He would’ve looked forward to a day in jail if it meant seeing Katy Hart again. .’

The attorneys were still talking as they reached a door at the end of the hallway. Dayne looked at his watch, then squinted to’i ward the elevator. She’d be here soon. “You ready?” Joe led the way. “We can wait in here.” The prosecutor followed them inside the room. “The deposi tion doesn’t start for another ten minutes.” She checked the clock on the wall. “I’ll grab some coffee and be back by then.” “I’ll come with you.” Joe set his portfolio on the desk and looked at Dayne. “Want anything?” “I’m fine.” The attorneys left, and Dayne took one of the seats. In the si lence, he could almost hear his heart beat. Would Katy still have feelings for him? Would the connection that had been there three months ago still exist? He tapped his fingers on the table. The minutes couldn’t drop off the clock fast enough. He should’ve brought his Bible, the one Katy had given him. That would’ve passed the time. He was reading it faithfully now, taking in a little more of the message every night. Not that he was ready to hit the nearest church or claim himself born again, 353

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the way some of his athlete friends had. But the God of his par entS, the Baxters, and Katy Hart was on his mind more often flOW.

Dayne was about to step outside and check for Katy when he heard a knock. The attorneys would’ve come in without waiting, so maybe it was…

He stood and opened the door, and before he could take another breath he was looking into her eyes. The same clear blue eyes he’d last searched from the balcony of the Bloomington Community Theater back in November.

“Hi.” She looked nervous as she glanced over her shoulder at the people milling outside. Several of them had cameras aimed at her back.

He stood out of their view and let her in. Then he closed the door, and suddenly they were alone again, face-to-face. “Katy—” he took her hands—”you look wonderful.”

The faintest blush tinged her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze for a moment.

When her eyes found his again, he had the answers he was looking for. The connection was still there. It was in her eyes and her expression and in the way she ran her thumbs along the tops of his hands. “I didn’t think we’d have any time alone.”