Everything’s Coming Up Josey (27 page)
Read Everything’s Coming Up Josey Online
Authors: Susan May Warren
“Wait, Chase, there is something I have to tell you.” Wait, whoops. Do I? Now that I have him here?
For the praise of His Glory.
If God is really going to be in charge of this moment, and
us,
then He'll have to start now.
“Tracey assumed my identity and pretended she was me.”
He would have startled less if I'd clobbered him with a brick. He stares at me, goes pale⦓You know, I wondered ifâ¦I mean, you were soâ¦I'd never heard you talk that way before, but the things you said about us⦔ He swallows and I see the question in his eyes.
“But everything she wrote was true,” I rush on. “I broke up with Vovka. And Iâ¦am a free agent.” I want to wince. But it's true. Sorta. Wait, No! It's not true. I'm
not
free at all. I'm so in love with Chase it hurts, right through to the center of my chest. And this is what I have to say to him.
“Chase, do you remember when we were sitting on the beach before we went to college. And I said that if I got desperate I could come home and marry you?”
I know him well enough that he can't mask his hurt from me. Again, I freshly hate that moment, and my words. He nods.
“Well, what I should have said is, âPlease, can I come home and marry you?'”
He takes my hand, runs his thumb over it and I feel sparks and firecrackers ripple up my arm. “Yeah, you should have said that.”
I swallow, blow out a breath.
Okay, Godâ¦
“Can I come home and marry you?”
He is smiling now, that lopsided sweet Chase smile that turns me to honey. “I think I asked you first.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say softly, as he scoots his chair closer to mine. I let him see the emotion in my eyes. “Chase, I love you. I'm sorry that it's taken me twenty or so years to say it. But you're the only man I've ever loved. I need you in my life. You're my best friend, the only man for me.”
“I know.” He pushes my hair behind my ear, his beautiful eyes sweet and shining. Then he leans close and finally,
finally,
kisses me. It is so gentle, so achingly perfect that my heart stops.
Chase.
My eyes are closed long after he pulls away.
When I open them, he's still smiling at me. “Was it worth the wait?”
“I think I need another taste.” I reach out and pull him close, kiss him with everything I've ever felt. His arms go around me and pulls me onto his lap. He's kissing me like I've always dreamed, always hoped, with tenderness, with hope and expectations. He tastes of coffee and toothpaste and twenty years of waiting. The answer is yes. And Yes!
“So, now do you believe me?” he asks as he pulls away. I feel him tremble, and he's breathing just a little harder than when he arrived. I'm vaguely aware that we're attracting attention, but who cares?
Missionary Finds True Love In Bistro.
Yeah, I like that headline.
“Believe you?” I ask running my hand down his handsome, whiskered face.
“That you didn't want Milton.”
I laugh. “Oh, that. Yeah, Chase. You were right.”
He cups his hand behind my neck and kisses me again. I'm pretty sure we're going to get clapping soon.
But he pulls away just as my blood pressure threatens to take the top of my head off. “Our return tickets are for tonight, G.I. It's time for you to come home.” He smiles, sweet, sly and I could melt on the spot at the gleam in his beautiful eyes. “So, how are you at packing?”
An hour? He's here for an hour? To
get
me. My Chase-Me. “Everything I want is in Gull Lake,” I say.
He laughs, runs his strong hands over my arms. He smells so delicious, so home, I just want to hold on tight, forever.
Slowly, his smile dims. “And what if God wants us to go somewhere else?”
I see in his eyes that he's serious. And I feel a tingle to my toes. “Anywhere, Chase. Anywhere. As long as God says Go, and gives the green light.”
“Good,” he says as he holds my gaze. Then he fishes in his shirt pocket and pulls out a box. A box holdingâ¦a little gold ring.
Oh, see? There you have it.
God wasn't joking after all.
“Why don't you write your life story?” During my eight years as a missionary in Russia, friends from all over the world, in response to my letters, would pose that question. I'd shrug, saying, “I'm not sure how to do it.”
Fast forward three years. Chick lit is beginning to hit the shelves. An insightful editor at Steeple Hill challenged me to try my hand at this new genre. I thought, What would I have to write aboutâmissionary stories?
Thankfully, she had vision, and when I proposed an idea about a single missionary headed to Moscow for a year, she embraced it. Finally I'd found a venue for my story, although fictionalizedâ¦mostly.
I laugh that, finally, I got to write about all the fallacies, all the frustrations and all the foolishness of being a freshman missionary. Mostly, I got to write about the one thing that God taught meâthat He'd been at work in my life to bring me to this place, and the places beyond, all my life. And that I didn't have to be perfect. I just had to surrender and trust.
Thank you to the following people who walked this journey with me:
Christine Lynxwiler, my faithful “critter”âthank you for your commitment and encouraging words!
Tracey Bateman, for your prayers and encouragement to press on, and for your insightful suggestions.
The TwinklingsâJane, Sharron, Michele, who prayed me through and gave me a reason to leave my house.
All my missionary friendsâI hope you also feel as I do, richer for the experience.
My high school pals, for the moments and friendships that molded me.
Joan Marlow Golanâfor your insight and wisdom.
Krista Stroeverâfor your excellent editing and ability to see the final product.
My sweet childrenâfor living the lit with me.
And, my very own hero, who crossed the ocean with me. Andrew, I love you.
1. Josey is confronted with her worst nightmare on the day of her sister's wedding. What is it, and why does it rattle her? How has a childhood friend played a significant role in your life?
2. God uses Josey's friend, H, to define her restlessness. What is it? What does H suggest as the cure?
3. Josey leaps on the idea of going to Russiaâwhy? How does she think it will change her?
4. Josey is confronted with a question at trainingâa question about “calling.” What is a calling? What callings have you had in your life?
5. What is Josey's mental description of a missionary? How does it match up to yours?
6. When Josey first arrives in Russia, she's confronted with a number of challenges. What are some of them? How would you have reacted in the same situation?
7. How does Caleb change Josey's idea of what a Christian should be like?
8. Josey isn't sure of her feelings for both Vovka and Chase. What different sides of Josey do they represent?
9. Tracey betrays Josey in a big wayâhow? Do you feel Josey handled the situation properly? How would you have handled a similar situation?
10. Josey realizes that God has been at work in her life, even when she couldn't see it. How? What realization, based on Ephesians 2:8-10, does Josey come to? How do her interpretations apply to your own life?
Crust:
¼ lb butter, softened
1 cup flour
2 tbsp cold water
Cut butter into flour, mix and add water until it makes a soft dough. Divide dough into two parts. Hand roll into two long strips, as long as a cookie sheet and about 4-5 inches wide. Put dough on ungreased cookie sheet. Pat it until it is flat.
Topping:
1 cup water
¼ lb butter
1 cup flour
3 eggs
½ tsp almond extract
Heat water, melt butter in water, remove from stove and add flour. Mix until moist. Add eggs one at a time, stirring the mixture until it is smooth. Add almond extract. Spread on crust while still warm. Bake at 350ºF for 50 minutes. Spread frosting (below) on Kringle while still warm.
Frosting:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk
1 tbsp melted butter
½ tsp almond extract
Cream together. Spread on Kringle while still warm.
STEEPLE HILL BOOKS
ISBN 978-1-5525-4484-6
EVERYTHING'S COMING UP JOSEY
Copyright © 2006 by Susan May Warren
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, incidents and places are the products of the author's imagination, and are not to be construed as real. While the author was inspired in part by actual events, none of the characters in the book is based on an actual person. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
® and TM are trademarks of Steeple Hill Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
Susan is a multi-talented, multi-published author, as well as a wife and mother of four. She holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota, and, in addition to her novels with Tyndale and Barbour, has had numerous articles published in Christian magazines and devotional books. She and her family recently returned to the U.S. after serving for eight years as missionaries to Khabarovsk, Far East Russia. They now make their home on the shores of Lake Superior, in Northern Minnesota.
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