Waiting for Morning (45 page)

“Did she leave a note or anything?”

“Daddy said he didn’t need a note.” Jade swiped at a tear, and her voice was angrier than before. “He knows where she’s going, and that’s why we have to move. We need to get there so we can be with Mama again. She would never wanna be alone that long.”

Tanner still didn’t understand, but he saw that his questions were bothering Jade. He sat up and crossed his legs, studying her curiously. The only time he’d ever seen her cry was two years ago when she jumped a curb on her bike and flew over the handlebars. But that was different. Now Tanner wasn’t sure what to do. He decided to change the subject. “How far away is Washington?”

“Daddy says”—she leaned back on her elbows and stared at the cloudless sky—“it’s about as far away as heaven is from hell.”

Tanner thought about that for a moment. “But you’re coming back, right?”

Jade nodded. “Of course. We’ll meet up with Mama, and then Daddy’s gotta do a job there. He said it could take all summer. After that we’ll come home.”

Tanner relaxed. That sounded all right. Even if the whole thing still seemed kind of weird.

“I gotta go.” Jade rose and climbed back on her bike. “Daddy needs help packing.”

Tanner stood and pushed his hands deep into the worn pockets of his jeans. “You leavin’ tomorrow?”

She nodded and worked her toe in tiny circles on the pavement. For a moment Tanner thought she was going to hug
him, then at the last second she pushed him in the arm like she always did when she didn’t know what to say.

Tanner pushed her back, but not hard enough to move her. “Hey, I’m still going to marry you.”

Jade huffed. “Shut up, Tanner. You’re a smelly old boy and I’m not going to marry anyone.”

“One day you’ll think I’m Prince Charming,” Tanner teased.

Jade couldn’t keep a straight face, and she began giggling. “Oh, okay. Right. Sure … whatever you say.” She shook her head dramatically. “I would never marry you, Tanner. Sometimes I think you’re crazy.”

“Got you smiling, though, didn’t I?”

They grinned at each other for a beat and then Jade’s smile faded. “I’ll see ya later.”

Tanner kicked at a patch of grass and sighed. “You better come back when summer’s over.”

Jade’s eyes got watery again. “I
said
I’ll be back.” She began pedaling down his driveway. Halfway home she turned once and waved.

Tanner raised one of his palms toward her. He’d heard his parents whispering about Jade and her daddy the other day. Tanner didn’t catch all the details, but it was obvious his mother didn’t think the Conner family was ever coming back.

It was good to know she was wrong.

As Jade disappeared into her house, Tanner felt a subtle reassurance that somehow, someday soon, the two of them would be together again.

OTHER NOVELS BY
KAREN KINGSBURY

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ESTERDAY
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IVES

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In the wake of her father’s sudden death, Ellen Barrett must journey back to the small town where she grew up and spend a week with antagonistic siblings. In the process, she must reckon with a man who once meant everything to her.

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Maggie Stovall is trapped inside a person she’s spent years carefully crafting. Now the truth about who she is—and what she’s done—is revealed, sending Maggie into a spiral of despair. Will Maggie walk away from her marriage and her foster child in her desperation to escape the mantle of depression cloaking her? Or will she allow God to take her to a place of ultimate honesty before it’s too late?

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Jordan Riley, an embittered lawyer, sues his hometown to have a public statue of Jesus removed. The conflict causes him to cross paths with a spirited young newscaster named Faith, who opposes Jordan’s suit in surprising ways. Perhaps most amazing of all is how Faith begins to disassemble the walls around Jordan’s heart. Will love be enough when the battle rages on every side?

KAREN KINGSBURY
AND PRISM COFOUNDER TONI VOGT

THE PRISM WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

The PRISM
^®
Weight Loss Program, founded in 1990, has helped more than 60,000 people transform their eating behaviors with a sensible, lifestyle-change approach. Now available in The Prism Weight Loss Program by bestselling author Karen Kingsbury and PRISM cofounder Toni Vogt, the book shows readers how to not just “tame the monster” of food addiction, but destroy it through simple eating strategies and biblical principles. It includes testimonials, descriptions of the authors’ personal struggles with food addiction, details of the program, and a fabulous recipe section that will help readers become the fit people God created them to be.

ISBN 1-57673-578-8 HD

What People Are Saying about
KAREN KINGSBURY Fiction …

“Karen Kingsbury has been such a godsend. Her books have brought me to God and have motivated my husband and me to remarry after a bad divorce. After not being able to have kids, we now have an adopted boy and are trying to adopt another. Your books show faith, love, and tenderness, and I love them.”

—K
ATHY
, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

“Karen Kingsbury’s fiction has changed my life by reminding me that there is hope amid seemingly hopeless circumstances and that faith in God’s redemptive plan is the anchor I can hold on to when life’s compasses fail.”

—A
MY
, Lawrenceville, GA

“Karen Kingsbury is our book club’s favorite author. We often discuss how each of her books not only entertains us, but inspires us to live out our faith in a real, everyday, every-moment way. Thanks for your stories, which challenge us to be better disciples of our precious Lord Jesus.”

—L
YNDA
, Covington, WA

“Karen Kingsbury’s books have touched my life in many different ways, but
Where Yesterday Lives
really helped me in the death of my father-in-law … Thank you for the great stories.”

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HRIS
, Zeeland, MI

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—K
AREN
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ANNELL
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A Time to Dance
, and it was the beginning of some much needed deep healing in my marriage. Just knowing that others could walk through muddy waters and make it through to the other side gave me hope and a sense of relief that maybe, just maybe, I too could be okay again. Thank you, Karen Kingsbury!”

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A
NN
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—N
ANCY
, Salem, IL

“I just love all of Karen Kingsbury’s books. Every one has touched me in a very deep way, relating to one or another ‘storm’ I have gone through and yet giving me hope that God is always there, carrying us when we don’t care anymore whether we live or die. I have been to that place, and God did lift me up from the depths of sorrow and pain! Thank you so much!”

—H
ENRIETTA
, British Columbia, Canada

“Karen Kingsbury’s books never cease to amaze me. When I finish reading one, I not only feel connected to the characters and the events; I feel that I have walked in the presence of Christ and that He has spoken mightily to me. I always cry when I finish one of her books … tears to say good-bye to the friends I’ve come to know and love and tears of thankfulness to my heavenly Father. I can’t wait to read the next one!”

—L
INDA
, Batavia, IL

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—D
ONNA
I.

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A Moment of Weakness
. I gave it to my teenage daughter at the time and she read it as well. It opened up a chance to discuss remaining pure until marriage. She is now twenty-two and married a few months ago as a virgin. We had many other discussions, but your book hit home where my lecturing may not have. God has given you a very special talent, and I am sure He is smiling at your use of it. Thank you!”

—K
ATHY
, Livonia, NY

“Karen Kingsbury’s novels have not just touched my heart but also my soul. When things go topsy-turvy in my daily life (as with four children they sometimes do), I often think of the Scriptures I’ve read in your books. Your books have not only kept me up at night anxiously waiting for what is going to happen next, but more important, they have helped me in my walk with the Lord.”

—S
TEPHANIE
H.

“As a biblical counselor, I have used several of Karen Kingsbury’s books to reach the hearts of many of my clients. They have been most helpful in this respect, but I also admire Karen’s courage in speaking out on tough issues within our Christian culture.”