A Moment of Weakness: Book 2 in the Forever Faithful trilogy Read online

  PRAISE FOR

  KAREN KINGSBURY’S BOOKS

  “With the careful pacing of a seasoned storyteller, Karen Kingsbury spins a tale of love and loss, lies and betrayal, that sent me breathlessly turning pages to discover what might become of Jade and Tanner. These flawed characters are easy to sympathize with … and celebrate with by story’s end! Contemporary issues of faith and the First Amendment add to the timely message in A Moment of Weakness.”

  LIZ CURTIS HIGGS, AUTHOR OF BOOKENDS AND BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE

  “One message shines clear and strong through Karen Kingsbury’s A Moment of Weakness: Our loving God is a God of second chances.”

  ANGELA ELWELL HUNT, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE JUSTICE

  “Karen Kingsbury has written a heart-gripping love story. A Moment of Weakness demonstrates the devastating consequences of wrong choices and the long shadows deception casts over the lives of God’s children. It also shows the even longer reach of God’s providence, grace, and forgiveness.”

  RANDY ALCORN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF

  SAFELY HOME AND THE ISHBANE CONSPIRACY

  WHEN JOY CAME TO STAY

  “Kingsbury confronts hard issues with truth and sensitivity.”

  FRANCINE RIVERS, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LEOTA’S GARDEN

  “Kingsbury’s poignant tale of a lost and broken family and how they experience God’s miraculous healing is a sure guarantee to bring hope and joy to her readers.”

  MELODY CARLSON, AUTHOR OF DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

  “A thought-provoking account of the battle of depression in a believer’s life. It leaves no doubt that God is loving, merciful, and faithful.”

  NANCY MOSER, AUTHOR OF THE SEAT BESIDE ME

  WAITING FOR MORNING

  “What a talent! I love her work.”

  GARY SMALLEY, BESTSELLING AUTHOR

  “Kingsbury not only entertains but goes a step further and confronts readers with situations that are all too common, even for Christians. At the same time, Waiting for Morning will remind believers of God’s mercy and challenge them to pray for America. The book … reveals God’s awesome love and His amazing ability to turn moments of weakness into times of strengthening.”

  CHRISTIAN RETAILING, SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

  NOVELS BY KAREN KINGSBURY

  Where Yesterday Lives

  When Joy Came to Stay

  On Every Side

  A Time to Dance

  A Time to Embrace (sequel to A Time to Dance)

  One Tuesday Morning

  Oceans Apart

  THE FOREVER FAITHFUL SERIES

  Waitng for Morning

  A Moment of Weakness

  Halfway to Forever

  THE REDEMPTION SERIES

  (Co-written with Gary Smalley)

  Redemption

  Remember

  Return

  Rejoice

  Reunion

  THE RED GLOVES CHRISTMAS SERIES

  Gideon’s Gift

  Maggie’s Miracle

  Sarah’s Song

  www.karenkingsbury.com

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS

  Published by Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

  © 2000 by Karen Kingsbury

  Published in association with

  the literary agency of Arthur Pine Associates, Inc.

  All Scripture quotations are taken from

  The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)

  © 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society,

  used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission.

  For information:

  Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

  Post Office Box 1720

  Sisters, OR 97759

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Kingsbury, Karen. A moment of weakness / by Karen Kingsbury.

  p.cm.—(Multnomah fiction) eISBN: 978-0-307-56905-9

  Custody of children—Fiction. I. Title. II. Series.

  PS3561.I483 M66 2000 813′.54—dc21 99-050869

  v3.1_r1

  Dedicated to …

  Donald,

  My love song, my heart’s mirror image, my best friend—

  Who once upon a yesterday looked to God alone during our own

  Moments of weakness …

  And whose faith is today still my greatest strength …

  Life with you is good; it’s all good.

  And since I can’t slow the passing of time I am doing my very best

  To savor it.

  Kelsey …

  My sweet girl, my most priceless treasure …

  Your music is in my heart,

  The voice of one whose love is the very definition

  Of pure and whole and right.

  Little Norm, can it truly be that you’ve reached double-digits?

  And that your little-girl time with us.

  Is more than half over?

  Tyler …

  My handsome, lanky sunbeam.

  You continue to give me bouquets of

  Laughter and sunshine-filled memories …

  I love everything about you, Ty.

  No matter how tall you grow you’ll always be

  My little boy.

  Austin …

  Who races and rolls and rough-houses through our home …

  Even the toughest athletes take timeouts …

  And when you take yours and those sticky, baby arms make their way

  Around my neck.

  I think of the miracle you are … And I am grateful.

  Grateful beyond words.

  Whenever I wonder how much God loves me, I never have to look further than you.

  And to God Almighty, who has—for now—

  blessed me with these.

  Acknowledgments

  MY NOVELS ARE NOT WRITTEN WITHOUT DRAWING ON THE research and true-life events that happen around me. For that reason, I’d like to thank several people for the help they have sometimes unwittingly provided me during the writing of A Moment of Weakness.

  First, I’d like to thank the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) for their tireless work in fighting for religious freedom in the United States. One day while listening to an ACLJ broadcast, I heard a woman call in because she was being sued by her husband for complete custody of her child. The reason? The woman was a Christian. And in that moment the story line for A Moment of Weakness was born.

  Also, I’d like to thank my friend, Sherri Reed, aka Evil Buster. In the small town where she lives, Sherri started a campaign against Channel One—a real U.S. Department of Education program, which offered free televisions to public school classrooms as long as the students watch a fifteen-minute program each day. The program—which did not require parental approval—included government-chosen documentaries on topics that are at best questionable. Five minutes of the programming is commercial spots geared directly to school children. Over the course of a year, Sherri led a parent group that convinced the local school board to cancel the programming and give the television sets back to the government. I drew heavily from Sherri’s experience in writing certain sections of A Moment of Weakness.r />
  My medical scenes—no matter the book—are always written based on the expertise of my close friend and brother in Christ, Dr. Cleary. I am humbly indebted to him for allowing me, a would-be, self-appointed medical expert of the Verde Valley, to pick his brain at all hours of the day and night.

  A very heartfelt thanks goes to my amazing editor, Karen Ball, whose God-given talent is responsible for making my fiction what it is today. And also to the entire staff at Multnomah, from Don Jacobson and Ken Ruettgers to the sales and marketing and publicity teams, to cover design, and editing. I am amazed at what God is doing at Multnomah and humbly blessed to be part of it. Thank you for believing in my work.

  As with each of my books, I could not have written this one without the help of those who care for my precious children during crunch time. For that reason I’d like to thank Christy and Jeff Blake (and Butter for making Austin’s naptime a bit cozier). And also my dear, sweet friend, Heidi, for making Tyler part of your family on so many occasions.

  A special thanks to my parents who have believed in my writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil and to my extended family for their love and support.

  Also thanks to my church family and friends, especially Christine Wessel, who knows my heart and has held me up in prayer on so many occasions; Michelle Stokes, who has a house with her name on it next door to mine; Lisa Alexander, who has been there from the beginning and always will be; and Heidi Cleary, who will take a piece of my heart with her when she moves away this summer. I love you all.

  Oh, and thanks to the Skyview basketball team—you fiery, slam-dunking, hard-working, amazing guys who have given me so many reasons to cheer, even on deadline! Each of you and your families feel like a part of mine, and I cherish the fleeting moments we have together!

  Finally, thanks to Grandma Polly Russell, who went to be with the Lord during the writing of this book. Thank you for teaching me what it truly is to love.

  Contents

  Cover

  Other Books by This Author

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Part I Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Part II Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Author’s Note

  Reading Group Guide

  About the Author

  PART I

  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,

  “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

  plans to give you hope and a future.

  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

  and I will listen to you.”

  JEREMIAH 29:11–12

  One

  May 1977

  THE OLD BIDDIES SAT IN A CIRCLE, THEIR TIGHTLY KNOTTED HEADS turning this way and that like vultures eyeing a kill. Only this time the carcass was the Conner family, and no one was quite dead yet.

  Hap Eastman watched from a corner of the Williamsburg Community Church fellowship hall. He’d done his part. Started the coffee, laid out the pastries, set up the chairs. It was something he did every Saturday morning for the Women’s Aid Society, and every time it was the same. The old girls started with a list of needs and prayer requests and ended with a fullblown gossip session.

  Hap’s wife, Doris, was president, and at forty-five the youngest of the group. So Hap hung around tinkering with fix-it jobs in the kitchen or perched on a cold metal folding chair in the corner, a cup of fresh brewed French Roast in one hand and a Louis L’Amour novel in the other. Four days a week he was a jurist laden with a heavy workload and weighty decision making. Saturdays were his day to relax.

  Hap had already heard the story from Doris and generally when the birds got going, he tried not to listen. But days like this it was nearly impossible.

  “I don’t care what anyone says. We need to talk about it.” Geraldine Rivers had the floor, and Hap eyed her suspiciously from a distance. Geraldine was a talker from way back and in charge of the social committee. Generally when the gossip got going, Doris and Geraldine fanned the fires and battled for position. Especially in the heated sessions, and Hap figured this was about as hot as they’d ever get.

  “We haven’t read the minutes yet.” Louella tilted her face in Geraldine’s direction. The minutes were still tucked in her unopened Bible, so her comment was more for appearances than anything else.

  “Minutes mean nothing at a time like this!” Geraldine nodded toward Doris. “Tell us what you know, will you, Dorie? Several of the ladies here haven’t heard what happened.”

  The vultures nodded in unison, and Doris took her cue.

  “It’s really very tragic, very sundry. I almost hate to talk about it at church.” She paused for effect, smoothing the wrinkles in her polyester dress. “You all know the Conner family, Angela and her husband, Buddy—”

  “Buddy’s been drinking alcohol at the tavern lately. Louella’s husband saw his truck there last week, isn’t that true?” Geraldine knew this to be true but enjoyed her own voice too much to be silent for long.

  Doris frowned. “Right. He’s become a regular drunkard. Now, Angela … well, she’s another story. A flirtatious type, not given to things of the Lord.” She looked around the circle. “Nearly everyone in Williamsburg has suspected her of cheating on Buddy.”

  The old birds nodded again.

  “Well, yesterday I got a call from Betty Jean Stevens … you’ve probably noticed she’s not here today.” Doris’s face bunched up like it did when Hap forgot to take out the trash. “Seems all those rumors were true. Betty Jean found out last week that her husband’s been seeing Angela Conner on the side. And I don’t mean at the Piggly Wiggly.”

  A collective gasp rose from the circle, and six of the girls started talking at once.

  “Bill Stevens and that loose woman?”

  “Why, that hypocrite!”

  “A deacon at Williamsburg Community has committed adultery?”

  “He’ll need to make a public apology before I forgive him!”

  “I knew something was happening between those two!”

  The cacophony of accusations grew until Geraldine rapped her fist on the table. “Quiet, all of you! Quiet!”

  They had obviously forgotten about Hap and his novel, and he gazed at them over the top of his book. The biddies fell silent again, and Geraldine lowered her gaze, trying to look appropriately indignant. “There’s more.…”

  Doris brought her hands together in a neat fold. “Yes.” She drew a deep breath. “For the past few weeks Bill’s been … taking a motel room with the Conner woman. Apparently she set about trying to seduce him for some time. And … well …”

  “There’s a temptress in every town!” Geraldine obviously intended to maintain her presence even if it was Doris’s story.

  “Betty Jean says Bill tried to ward off her advances. But last month
… he gave in.”

  “I do declare, Angela Conner’s a harlot. She’s always been a whore!” Geraldine snapped at a lemon pastry and dabbed fiercely at the filling it left on her lips.

  “Yes, I believe she is.” Doris looked glad that Geraldine had said it first. Hap sighed. “But the worst part happened last night.”

  The birds were nodding their interest, waiting breathlessly for the rest of the story.

  Doris sipped her coffee, and Hap knew she was enjoying the way she held her audience captive. “Last night … Bill Stevens ran off with her. The two of them. Just like that, they up and left town.”

  Several of the women were on their feet firing questions.

  “Where did they go?”

  “Does anyone else know?”

  Doris kept her back stiff, her nose in the air. Hap hated it when she got uppity, and this was one of those times. She answered their questions with all the condemnation she could muster.

  “D.C.”

  “The capital?”

  “Yes. Betty Jean says Bill sat her down last night and told her they were through. Told her he’s in love with Angela, and they’re starting a new life in Washington, D.C.”

  “Dear heaven, how’s Betty Jean handling it?”

  “She’s ashamed, broken. But she saw it coming. About a year ago, Bill began meeting with Angela to talk about a business venture.”

  “Business venture?”

  “I guess we all know what type business—” Geraldine spat the word the way boys spit watermelon seeds on a summer day—“that was, don’t we?”

  Doris hesitated. “Betty Jean’s just thankful the children are grown and out of the house.”

  “Angela Conner was bad blood from the get-go. Last year, I think she was seeing that attorney in town. You know, the divorce lawyer.”