A Billion Reasons Why (31 page)
“No, that was icing on the proverbial wedding cake.”
“I thought we’d have a church wedding. Isn’t it bad luck to get married in a hotel, rather than a church?”
“That’s the beauty. It’s Olivia and Ryan’s names on the invitations. We’ll have confused fate. We can get married in the church later, but for now, my mother’s pastor is waiting upstairs to marry someone. Might as well be us.” He led her through the doors into the hallway. “Everyone we love, and a few we don’t, are upstairs waiting for a wedding. Shall we give them one?”
Katie laughed. “Are you kidding? I’m not letting you get away this time.” Sprinkles of elation shot through her body, and she looked deeply into Luc’s eyes. “Although I could just stay here and look into those eyes.”
“You could, but we already know where that leads, so let’s go make it legal.” He pressed the button for the elevator. “I bought your old house in the Channel. It’s our vacation home now. I assume you’ll want to come see your mam, and she’ll want to see any grandchildren we might bring into the world.”
“Doesn’t a millionaire want a vacation home in the French Riviera or the Bahamas? Not a shotgun house in the Irish Channel.”
“Not this millionaire. This one wants to make his wife happy. Do you want a vacation home in the Bahamas?” he asked as the elevator doors opened.
“I burn easily,” she said. “It’s that Irish skin, pasty as a ghost. Then, there’s the whole Bermuda Triangle thing going on down there. And us? In a private plane? It’s asking for trouble.”
“I agree. Besides, with a vacation home here, I won’t have to hire a cook. We’ll just go to your mam’s.”
“I beg your pardon. I can cook.”
“Really?”
“Don’t act so shocked. Irene raised me. Where will we live?” she asked as they stepped into the elevator.
“I thought we’d divide our time between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New Orleans, but it’s all negotiable. You have summers off, isn’t that right?”
She smiled. He’d thought of everything. He always did. As they stepped off the elevator onto the rooftop deck, the night air felt magical. A jazz quartet played “Moon River” softly in the corner, and excited guests murmured into the violet sky.
Luc cleared his throat loudly. “If I can have your attention, please!” he yelled to silence the gathering crowd.
Mrs. DeForges gazed their direction, and her eyes landed on the sparkler on Katie’s left hand. Instinctively, Katie covered it with her right.
“I know you’ve all come here for a wedding tonight . . . and Miss Katie McKenna and I are planning to give you one.”
She looked up at his strong jaw, the way he tied her stomach in knots every time he gazed at her with those stunning blue eyes. She reminded herself that there were a billion reasons why she and Luc DeForges did not belong together, and only one that bound them together.
Love. The kind of love worth having required surrender. Would she vow before God that which cost her nothing? Love endured forever and no fortress built around her heart was strong enough to withstand its mighty power.
She looked up to the starry night and whispered, “I surrender.”
I am so grateful to the Thomas Nelson team for a safe place to create. When a brain is filled with imaginary characters, often it’s lacking in linear cognitive skills. Thank you to Ami McConnell, whose editing skills are unmatched. She can so easily tell me what’s missing in a way I completely understand how to fix the issues. Finding a partner like that is incredible. But to find two? Unheard of! Thank you to LB Norton, who will no doubt have to fix my grammar in this very acknowledgment. You were amazing to work with, and I do hope it happens again soon. Thank you to the whole team at Nelson, who will put this book in a package that rocks the house and see my love of the forties through to fruition. To my team: Colleen Coble, Diann Hunt, Denise Hunter, and Cheryl Hodde—thanks as always.
1. Do you ever find yourself fantasizing that money could solve all your problems? Katie thinks money is the source of her problems; what kind of power do you place on money?
2. After enduring a particularly humiliating situation back home in New Orleans, Katie has “moved on” with her life. What do you think about the way she chose to move on— what might you do differently?
3. The Bible says love is patient and love is kind. Would you have trouble believing a passionate connection like the one Katie shared with Luc was really love? Why or why not?
4. Katie has chosen to live a life with the predictable Dexter so that she might maintain control over her emotions. Have you ever risked truly being hurt to follow your conscience and forgive someone?
5. Dexter represents what a lot of churches have come to represent: predictable, organized and rule-based. Did you see anything missing in his character? Or did you prefer his order and lack of chaos?
6. Katie’s best friend Eileen has seen her through all of her life, the pain of losing Luc and her current life as a successful teacher. Has there been a time in life when a friend saw you more clearly than you saw yourself?
7. Which character in the book did you identify with the most? Why?
8. When Katie tries to clean up her image, she only ends up humiliating herself further. Have you ever tried to make a situation better only to make it worse?
9. Katie felt her faith was strongest when her emotions were not involved. Have you ever had to relinquish control to God only to find the answer in your own weakness? When?
10. Do you think Katie made the right choice at the end of the story?
T
EN
R
ANDOM
Q
UESTIONS WITH
K
RISTIN
B
ILLERBECK
You’ve just read her novel, but how well do you really know Kristin Billerbeck? Come on—admit it. You have at least ten questions you’ve always wanted her to answer, right? Well here they are. Ten Random Questions answered by one of your favorite authors.
THOMAS NELSON FICTION: What is your all-time favorite novel? What is your all-time favorite Christian novel?
KRISTIN BILLERBECK: Favorite all-time novel would be
Far from the Madding Crowd
by Thomas Hardy or
The Thorn Birds
by Colleen McCullough. As for favorite Christian novel? I’d have to say
This Present Darkness
by Frank Peretti because it changed how I looked at prayer, and I loved being reminded of the war going on in invisible realms.
TNF: What is your favorite movie?
KB:
Notorious
with Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant
TNF: If you could only eat one flavor of ice cream for the rest of your life, what would it be?
KB: Easy, Chocolate-Mint
TNF: What is your favorite Scripture verse?
KB: Proverbs 16:2—it reminds me that even though someone did something I view as ugly, God may have a different view based on that person’s motive, which may have been from their heart. It reminds me not to judge other peoples’ actions with a broad stroke.
TNF: Is your closet filled with more vintage or contemporary clothing?
KB: So I have sort of an OCD-thing going on with regards to vintage clothing. Same goes for the library. I like things to come to me fresh. LOL My wardrobe is very contemporary, probably too much so for my age range.
TNF: What is your dream vacation?
KB: Part one would be a spa where there was only me, the sound of trickling water, and a pile of books. Part two would be a literary tour of Jane Austen’s England, Thomas Hardy’s England, and finally, Dickens’ England. I guess that means, England, no?
TNF: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
KB: Easy again: I’d be invisible, so I could listen in on great conversations and get new plot developments. Though I will say, my bff and I are pretty stealth at eavesdropping.
TNF: What do you always overspend on and then have buyer’s remorse?
KB: Whole Foods is my danger zone. I love the organic lotions and soaps, candles and scents, ooh, ooh and of course, the fabulous food that’s healthy and already made for you. (I hate to cook!)
TNF: Who is your all-time favorite musician or band?
KB: David Crowder Band. I love the purity in his voice and the passion for Jesus that oozes from his soul.
TNF: What was your first job?
KB: I worked under the table at Round Table Pizza making pizzas and my life’s goal was to get a job where I didn’t smell like it when I left.
All she wants is a cute Christian guy who doesn’t live with his mother . . . and maybe a Prada handbag.
The Ashley Stockingdale Series
