Take a Chance on Me (36 page)

He glared at her.

She didn’t flinch. “Get your coat. You’re going home.”

“We’re just having fun. It’s J-Hammer’s birthday—”

“Someone has to protect your hockey career, even if you won’t.”

He ground his jaw, his lips an angry line, and she gave him her just-try-it face.

Owen scooped up his leather jacket from where it hung on a chair and stormed out through the crowd.

Eden was just turning to follow him when she saw the hulking form of Jace “J-Hammer” Jacobsen sitting at the bar. The man of honor seemed like he’d stayed above the fray tonight—at least so far. He wore black dress pants and a gray silk shirt rolled up over his strong forearms. Up close, she could admit that—for others—he might have the ability to take a girl’s breath away. His dark-chocolate hair fell in sculpted waves behind his ears and he sported a close-clipped full beard. His dress shirt only accentuated that he maintained the build of a linebacker, all cut muscle and brawn,
but she knew he had the finesse of a skater, smooth and liquid on blades. And his eyes, blue as ice—yes, they could look right through a gal. Leave a scorching trail behind.

But she was immune. Because she wasn’t a rink bunny, wasn’t a crazed fan. Wasn’t dazzled by the star power of one of hockey’s top enforcers. She was family, thank you, here for one reason only.

Owen.

Yes, Eden was made of ice, and J-Hammer hadn’t a prayer of thawing her resolve.

“This is all your fault, Jace Jacobsen. If Owen loses his contract, it’s on you.”

“Hey—!”

She didn’t stick around to listen to his lame excuses. He was the team captain. Who else was supposed to watch Owen’s back when she couldn’t?

Eden stormed out, back into the frigid January air.

WE LIVE IN A BLAME WORLD.
For some reason, over the past two or three generations, we’ve turned into a society that points fingers, that seeks out someone to accuse. We’ve all heard of the crazy accusations—hot coffee spilled on a lap at McDonald’s causes a lawsuit; people trespass onto property and the owner is sued for a slippery sidewalk. We blame creditors for extending us too much credit—as if it is their fault we overspend. And what about the big events, the ones that truly cut into our lives? School shootings. Gas explosions. Car accidents. The truth is, the chaos of the world is frightening, and when something terrible happens—accidents, mistakes, even tragedy—it simply feels better to blame rather than forgive. Forgiving takes a part of us that feels too overwhelming. It might require us to look at ourselves and see if we have a part in the story. One might even suggest that some sins aren’t forgivable. It’s too much to ask. More, in a society that rushes to blame, we destroy any hope of sorrow—there simply isn’t room for it when we’re too busy defending ourselves from blame.

We’re quickly spiraling into a society without mercy. Without grace. Without forgiveness.

A few years ago, we had a tragedy occur in our town not unlike the events of this story. Different players, different situations, but I used this concept to explore what happens when grief and anger take over and ignite an ember of hatred inside. We lose perspective. We lose our hold on grace.

Hatred turns into a peat fire in our hearts, burning away at our insides. The only hope to snuff it out is forgiveness. Grace. A hard look at ourselves to see if we are measuring others by the measure by which we want to be judged. Or are we measuring them by the pain they caused?

I am thankful that God doesn’t measure us by the pain we caused Him. Still cause Him. I am thankful that His measure is Jesus. His measure is grace.

I am excited about this series! I’ve longed to write a story about a northern Minnesota family and their adult children. We’re in this season of life—parenting our adult children. As a parent, you nurture your children, then guide them, then walk beside them . . . and finally stand back as they walk into life. And then you really start praying! These books are about those years . . . watching, hoping, praying your adult children into a legacy of faith. Thank you for taking this first step on the journey with the Christiansen family. I hope you will continue with me as we “come home to the Christiansens.”

In His grace,

Susan May Warren

SUSAN MAY WARREN
is the bestselling, RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels and novellas whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church.

Susan holds a BA in mass communications from the University of Minnesota. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by
Romantic Times
, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women’s events about God’s amazing grace in our lives.

For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at
www.susanmaywarren.com
.

1. Take a Chance on Me
   opens with a letter Ingrid writes to her oldest son, Darek, expressing her concerns and prayers for him. Do you think Ingrid should have given Darek the letter—or that she should at some point in the future? Why or why not? How do you work through your prayers or worries, whether for others or for yourself?
   
2. In her letter, Ingrid tells Darek, “You never seemed to question the beliefs your father and I taught you. Perhaps that is what unsettled me the most, because without questioning, I wondered how there could be true understanding.” Do you agree that beliefs need to be tested, questioned, to be fully understood? How do you see each of the main characters—Darek, Ivy, Jensen, and Claire—questioning their beliefs over the course of the story? What are the results?
   
3. As “the most ineligible eligible bachelor in town,” Darek frequently wishes he could start over without the baggage of his past. What circumstances keep him from moving
   on? Have you ever wished for a new start? Darek sees a relationship with Ivy, a woman unburdened by his history, as the key to his second chance. What would a second chance look like in your own life? A new job, a move to a new place, a new relationship?
   
4. After growing up in the foster care system, Ivy is used to being on her own; she’s determined to stay impartial in her work and cautious in her relationships. But at the same time, she longs to belong somewhere, to be part of a family. How do these conflicting desires play out in her actions?
   
5. Jensen sees himself as a pariah in Deep Haven, unforgiven for his role in Felicity’s death. How does his perspective change by the story’s end? Have you ever had to reconsider a long-held belief about yourself?
   
6. Darek and Jensen were best friends from childhood, but even before their friendship broke apart, they competed for hometown glory and for Felicity’s affection. Similarly Claire is devastated by Felicity’s death but still resents the attention her friend always got from Jensen. Is there anyone in your own life with whom you’ve had a complicated friendship—one tainted by jealousy or rivalry? How did you handle that dynamic?
   
7. After Felicity’s death, Darek gave up his dream of firefighting to work at Evergreen Resort. Years later, he’s determined to help the family business survive but still angry over the way his life has turned out, sticking him in a role he never wanted. How do Darek’s feelings for the resort change over the course of the story? Have you ever felt burdened by a family legacy? How do you feel about it now?
   
8. Claire watches as two of her friends get engaged, happy for them while at the same time feeling pain over the inertia of her own life. Why do you think Claire feels so stuck? Have you ever felt as though life was moving forward without you? What did you do about it?
   
9. As a single father to Tiger, Darek feels he’s doing his best to raise his son on his own. But in others’ eyes—particularly Nan Holloway’s—Darek appears to be negligent or incapable of parenting well. Whose point of view did you agree with? What do you think Darek was doing right as a parent? In what areas did he seem to need help?
   
10. Felicity Holloway Christiansen is a central figure in this story, one whose life and death have far-reaching impact, yet we know her only through the memories and descriptions of other characters. What was your impression of Felicity, and how did it change throughout the story?
    
11. Claire believes she’s a disappointment to her parents and to God, and she still wrestles with the attack she suffered in Bosnia. Looking at the pain of her past and the uncertainty of her future, she doubts that God really is kind. What changes her mind? In what circumstances have you doubted God’s kindness? Did your perspective change over time?
    
12. Claire’s grandfather, Gibs, provides a voice of wisdom and challenge for Jensen—Jensen even learns that Gibs spoke up on his behalf after the accident. Why does he initially fight against Gibs’s counsel? How does it ultimately change him? Who in your own life has provided wisdom when you needed it—whether or not you wanted to hear it at the time?
    
13. After their daughter was attacked, Claire’s parents allowed her to move to Deep Haven while they continued their work in Bosnia. But Jensen believes they should have moved home to care for Claire. Do you agree? Have you ever faced tension between obligations to family and friends and the calling you feel God has placed on your life? What did you do?
    
14. Ivy finds herself in an impossible situation—forced to either sign the petition removing Tiger from Darek’s custody or risk having the little boy put into foster care. What would you have done if faced with the same choice?
    
15. Jensen maintains his innocence in Felicity’s death, even when he’s challenged to ask for forgiveness. And at the same time, Darek refuses to offer Jensen forgiveness when he hasn’t asked for it. Do you agree that Jensen needed to apologize to Darek? To Deep Haven? Should Darek have forgiven him regardless? Can you think of a time when you’ve been in either man’s shoes—either reluctant to ask for forgiveness or forced to forgive someone who seems unrepentant?
    
16. When Angelica Michaels expresses concern that Claire is hurting the flowers in her garden, Claire explains how pruning the flowers allows them to grow. How does that conversation change Claire’s perspective on her own life? Looking back, are there any difficult circumstances in your past that you now see as pruning, shaping you into who you were meant to be? How does this concept affect your outlook on difficult circumstances you’re currently facing?
    
17. Ivy believes that emotions get her into trouble, get in the way of rational decisions, but Ingrid tells her that “God is a God of emotion. And it’s good.” Which do you tend to trust more—your mind or your heart? Why?
    
18. As the fire approaches, the Christiansens decide to risk their property for the chance at saving Deep Haven. Did you agree with this decision? Do you think their faith in God for the outcome was rewarded?