“Yes, ma’am.” Chase wondered if the woman was slightly confused. Seconds ago she was singing his praise, claiming the virtues of his being a produce manager, and now she was practically chastising him for daring to take such a long trip.
“Don’t get me wrong,” she was saying. “Farming’s a good thing. But be careful. Fences pop up when you’re away from each other that long. Nothing on the other side of the fence is ever as green as it seems.” She chuckled softly. “Even in produce.”
The flight attendant peered into their row. “Something to drink?”
Matilda ordered ginger ale, and in the process she fell into a conversation with the person on the aisle. The diversion gave Chase the chance to stare out the window again and think about the old woman and her wisdom. Never mind that her hearing was a little off, Chase almost liked the idea that the kind woman thought he worked producing vegetables and not movies. But more than that, her words were dead on when it came to his family back home. Especially the part about fences.
With all his concerns and worries, he hadn’t thought about how the four weeks away would feel to Kelly and their girls.
He must’ve fallen asleep as he thought about his conversation with Matilda, because in no time she was tapping him on the arm again. “Mr. Ryan, we’re landing. Your seatback needs to be up.”
He stretched his legs out on either side of his laptop bag and did as he was told. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” She adjusted the vent above her seat. “You were sleeping pretty hard. You’ll need that rest when you hit the fields.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Chase rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair. When he was more awake he turned toward her again. “So … why are you moving to San Jose?”
At first she didn’t seem like she intended to answer his question. She pursed her lips and stared down at her hands, at a slender gold wedding band that looked worn with age. When she looked up, the sadness was there again. “My husband and I were married fifty-eight years.” She wrung her hands as the words found their way to her lips. “He passed away this last January. My girls want me to live closer to them.” She smiled, but it stopped short of her eyes. “We’re looking for an apartment at one of those … senior facilities. Somewhere that’ll take Max and me, both.” Her expression told him she was uncomfortable with the idea, but she wasn’t fighting it. “I can get a little forgetful, and, well, sometimes I don’t hear as well as I used to. It’s a good idea, really.” A depth shone from deep inside her. “Don’t you think?”
“I do.” He wanted to hug the woman. Poor dear.
“My girls say I’m dragging my feet.” She shifted her gaze straight ahead once more. “And maybe I am. When I close up that house and shut the door for the last time, that’ll be that.” She looked at him through a layer of tears. “We spent five decades in that house. Every square inch holds a hundred memories.”
“Leaving won’t be easy.”
“No.” Matilda sniffed. “That’s why I’m saying,” her composure gradually returned, “look out for fences, Mr. Ryan. Produce or no produce, home’s the better place. Kids grow up and God only gives us so many days with our loved ones.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The captain came on, advising them that they’d be landing soon, and the announcement stalled the conversation with Matilda. She started talking to the passenger on her left once more, and not until they were at the end of the jetway did she turn and flash her twinkling eyes his way. “Good luck with the produce, Mr. Ryan. And remember what I said about fences. The greenest grass is back at home.”
Chase thanked her again, and then she was gone; between the gate and baggage claim he didn’t see her again. He rented a Chevy Tahoe and headed for Bloomington. Once he arrived, the first thing he did was call Kelly.
“Hello?”
“Honey … it’s me.” Chase felt a sense of relief. His words spilled out far faster than usual. “There’s something I should’ve said, back at the airport when we were saying goodbye. I mean, we stood there all those minutes, but I never really told you what I should have, so that’s why I’m calling.”
She laughed. “Someone’s had too much coffee.”
“No.” He exhaled and slowed himself. “What I mean is, I appreciate you, Kelly. You have to handle the house and the girls for a very long time, and I never … I never thanked you.”
For a few beats there was no response. “You really feel that way?” A tentative joy warmed her tone.
“I do.” Another picture flashed on the screen of his heart. The two of them holding hands in front of a church full of family and friends, and Chase knowing that in all the world he could never love anyone as much as he loved the beautiful bride standing before him. “I love you, Kelly. Don’t ever forget that, okay?”
“Okay.” She laughed and the sound was wind chimes and summer breeze, the way it hadn’t been for a while. “You don’t know how much it means … that you’d call like this.”
“I miss you already. Give the girls a kiss for me.”
“Okay. Oh, and Chase … one more thing.” She laughed again. “Go get ’em tomorrow … I know you can do it. I’ve been praying since you left and I feel like God cleared some things up for me. This is going to be bigger than Keith and you ever dreamed.”
Her confidence breathed new life into his dreams. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” The sound of the girls singing about Old McDonald’s Farm came across the lines from the background. “I believe in you, Chase. I promise I’ll keep believing.”
“Thank you.” He thought about old Matilda and how she would smile if she could see the conversation Chase was having with his wife. “Okay, then … I guess I’m off to the harvest.”
“The harvest?” Kelly still had a laugh in her voice. “What on earth?”
“Nothing.” He chuckled. He told her again that he loved her, and he promised to call that evening to tell the girls goodnight. After he hung up, he caught himself once more drawn back to the sweet woman’s words. In some ways he really was headed out to the fields, out to a crop that needed harvesting — the crop of human hearts and souls that might only be found if they created the best movie possible. But more than that, he thought about the fences.
With Keith and him producing, the months ahead figured to be crazy at times. But no matter how bumpy the ride, he vowed to stay on the same side of the fence as Kelly and the girls. Because Matilda was right.
God only gave a person so many days with their family.
ABOVE THE LINE SERIES
Take One
Karen Kingsbury,
New York Times Bestselling Author
Could they change the world — before the world changes them?
Filmmakers Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison left the mission field of Indonesia for the mission field of Hollywood with a dream bigger than both of them. Now they have done the impossible: raised enough money to produce a feature film with a message that could change the world.
But as Chase and Keith begin shooting, their well-laid plans begin to unravel. With millions of dollars on the line, they make a desperate attempt to keep the film from falling apart — even as a temperamental actress, a botched production schedule, and their own insecurities leave little room for the creative and spiritual passion that once motivated them. Was God really behind this movie after all? A chance meeting and friendship with John Baxter could bring the encouragement they need to stay on mission and produce a movie that will actually change people’s lives.
In the midst of the questions and the cameras, is it possible to keep things above the line and make a movie unlike anything done before — or is the risk too great for everyone?
Hardcover, Jacketed: 978-0-310-31843-9
Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!
ABOVE THE LINE SERIES
Take Two
Karen Kingsbury,
New York Times Bestselling Author
Filmmakers Chase Ryan an
d Keith Ellison have completed their first feature film, and Hollywood is buzzing with the news. In the wake of that excitement, the producers acquire rights to a novel that has all the ingredients they want for their next project. At the same time they cross paths with a well-connected player who introduces them to the right people, and suddenly every studio in town wants to talk to Chase and Keith. The producers’ dreams are on the verge of coming true, but Chase’s marriage is strained and Keith’s daughter — Andi Ellison — is making questionable choices in her quest for stardom. The producers are gaining respect and are on the verge of truly changing culture through the power of film—but is the change worth the cost?
Hardcover, Jacketed: 978-0-310-31893-4
Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!
Every Now and Then
Karen Kingsbury,
New York Times Bestselling Author
A wall went up around Alex Brady’s heart when his father, a New York firefighter, died in the Twin Towers. Turning his back on the only woman he ever loved, Alex shut out all the people who cared about him to concentrate on fighting crime. He and his trusty K9 partner, Bo, are determined to eliminate evil in the world and prevent tragedies like 9-11.
Then the worst fire season in California’s history erupts, and Alex faces the ultimate challenge to protect the community he serves. An environmental terrorist group is targeting the plush Oak Canyon Estates. At the risk of losing his job, and his soul, Alex is determined to infiltrate the group and put an end to their corruption. Only the friendship of Clay and Jamie Michaels — and the love of a dedicated young woman — can help Alex drop the walls around his heart and move forward into the future God has for him.
Softcover: 978-0-310-26615-0
Unabridged Audio CD: 978-0-310-288183
Audio Download, Unabridged: 978-0-310-288190
ebooks:
Adobe® Acrobat® eBook Reader®: 978-0-310-28821-3
Microsoft Reader®: 978-0-310-28823-7
PalmTM Reader: 978-0-310-28825-1
Mobipocket ReaderTM: 978-0-310-28822-0
Sony® Reader: 978-0-310-29045-2
ePub: 978-0-310-29623-2
Pick up a copy today at your favorite bookstore!
About the Publisher
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Forever in fiction
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
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
About the Publisher
Share Your Thoughts
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Forever in fiction
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
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
About the Publisher
Share Your Thoughts
Karen Kingsbury, Shades of Blue
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