Fame (41 page)

“Exactly.” Landon put his arm around their son and slowed so Cole could keep up.

Ashley’s heartbeat kept time with her feet, thudding through her entire body.

The whole time she kept the hand with the news in it behind her back. When she couldn’t stand the slow pace another minute, she leaned down and grinned at Cole. “Race you to the top!”

Cole jumped in the air as he took off through the trees, weaving and hopping and getting to the top a few seconds before Ashley. “You’re pretty fast for a girl, Mommy.”

Landon jogged up to them just as Cole was making the comment. “I’d say she’s pretty fast, period.” He chuckled.

After talking for a few minutes about whether the bigger fish would come back while they were gone, Cole ran off and found a boy his age to swing with.

As soon as he was gone, Ashley looked up at Landon. Her air seemed stuck near the base of her throat, as if she could neither speak or draw a deep breath.

“Ash.” Landon searched her face. “What is it?” Concern and surprise filled in the slight lines above his brow. “What’s going She laughed, but it sounded more like a gasp. “I had to come.” Her arms were shaking, even with the sun directly overhead. She fingered the information in her hands, and then in a rush she held it out to Landon.

He squinted, trying to make it out. “What is it?”

354 FORGIVEN

‘Take it.” She still held it out to him, unable to breathe. “Look at it, Landon.”

“I’m trying.” He took it from her and scrutinized it. Then like the slow lighting of a fluorescent lightbulb, he took in the information and somewhere in his heart it registered. She knew this for one simple reason.

Landon was crying.

355 The Best-Selling REDEMPTION SERIES by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley Novelist Karen Kingsbury arrd relationship expert Gary Smalley team up to bring you the Redemption series, which explores the relationship princi ples Gary has been teaching t0r more than thirty years and applies them to one family in particular, the Baxters. In the crucible of their tragedies and triumphs, the Baxter family learns about commitment, forgiveness, faith, and the redeeming hand of God.

REDEMPTION a story, of love at all costs

REMEMBER a .journey from tragedy to healing RETURN

a story of tenacious love

and longing for a lost son

RE|OICE

a story of unspeakable loss and the overwhelming miracle of new life REUNION

a story of God’s grace and redemption.

His victory even in the most difficult times.

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357 Other Life-Changing Fiction by

KAREN KINGSBURY

To see what readers are saying about Karen Kingsbury’s fiction, go to www.KarenKingsbury.com and click the guest-book link.

REDEMPTION SERIES Redemption

Remember

Return

Rejoice

Reunion

FIRSTBORN SERIES Fame

Forgiven (fall 2005) Found (spring 2006) Family (summer 2006) Forever (fall 2006)

SEPTEMBER 11 SERIES One Tuesday Morning Beyond Tuesday Morning RED GLOVES SERIES Gideon’s Gift

Maggie’s Miracle

Sarah’s Song

Hannah’s Hope

358 FOREVER FAITHFUL SERIES Waiting for Morning A Moment of Weakness

Halfway to Forever

WOMEN OF FAITH FICTION SERIES A Time to Dance A Time to Embrace

STAND-ALONE TITLES A Thousand Tomorrows Oceans Apart Where Yesterday Lives When Joy Came to Stay On Every Side

CHILDREN’S TITLE

Let Me Hold You Longer

MIRACLE COLLECTIONS Treasury of Christmas Miracles A Treasury of Miracles for Women A Treasury of Miracles for Teens Treasury of Miracles for Friends Treasury of Adoption Miracles www.KarenKingsbury.com

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Kingsbury, Karen.

Fame

362 ‘a dream costs everything….

FAME