“Well, I was thinking it was time to buy a house—once I get a job anyway—around the Portland area.”
He studied her face, cautious, then the corners of his mouth rose.
It was during the drive here, with the sun’s rays warming her face and Jack in the backseat humming softly to a song on the radio, when Audra realized the most rewarding destination was right where they were. Upon being asked for his opinion, Jack had heartily agreed. There was no guarantee of a job—unless maybe Cheyenne permanently banned shaving. Nor was there a school or neighborhood to target. But they would handle those details as they came.
“Just do me a favor,” she said to Sean, “and please don’t tell Tess yet.”
“Why’s that? Won’t she happy to hear it?”
“Overjoyed. But the lectures of I told you so won’t be far behind.”
He laughed. “My lips are sealed.”
At the reference, her attention moved exactly there, to the curves of his lips, and with little thought she leaned in and sealed them herself. The kiss was slow and tender, yet laced with a thrill of possibilities. When they finally drew apart, he ran his thumb down the slant of her face.
The world wasn’t perfect and neither were their lives. They, along with their families, had a great deal of growing and healing ahead. But in that moment, Audra knew that somehow, in the end, everything would be all right. Based not on statistics or provable facts, but a hunch she felt inside.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
People have often commented about our eldest son being an “old soul.” Even during his newborn days, they claimed you could see it in his eyes: an aged depth that indicated “he had been here before.” Interestingly, I remember how during his toddler years he would, in fact, talk about “the grandma that used to take care of [him].” Whether it was a metaphysical reference or just the creative ramblings of a youngster, I couldn’t tell you for certain. What I do know is our son, for one reason or another, continues to possess wisdom and compassion far beyond his years.
It should be of no surprise, then, given my passion for WWII history, that a news story about a boy named James Leininger captured my interest. Evidently, at age two, James began to suffer from recurrent night terrors about dying in a plane crash during WWII. His additional knowledge regarding aspects of the era convinced his initially skeptical parents that in a past life James had been a pilot who perished during the war. (For the entire account, read Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a WWII Fighter Pilot by Bruce Leininger, Andrea Leininger, and Ken Gross.)
Although our family’s experiences bear very little resemblance, our oldest son did for some time also suffer from night terrors. As any parent familiar with the episodes can tell you, the task of soothing a screaming, panicked, wide-eyed child in the throes of such a nightmare is a daunting one. Thus, when I heard about the Leiningers’ story, the literary portion of my mind began to wonder how I personally would react if our son suddenly spouted details of historical instances that logic dictated he couldn’t yet know. What if those “memories” linked back to secrets various people had attempted to keep buried?
From there, a true account involving WWII Nazi spies provided just the inspiration I needed for the historical thread of my novel. Although Jakob Hemel is an entirely fictitious character, the story of the other eight German saboteurs sadly is not. From George Dasch’s surrender and FDR’s secret military tribunal to the electric chair executions and selective deportations, I am continually surprised that the occurrence is not more widely known. A thorough recount of the events can be found in a book titled Betrayal: The True Story of J. Edgar Hoover and the Nazi Saboteurs Captured During WWII by David Alan Johnson.
Readers of my previous novels are likely well aware of my penchant for including historical tidbits best described as stranger than fiction. The Pieces We Keep is certainly no exception. In this case, among those I found most intriguing were: Nazi contact lists printed on handkerchiefs in invisible ink, saboteurs being instructed to wear their German uniforms during the shore landings in America, riders of the Parachute Jump being deliberately stalled mid-air by its workers for sheer amusement, and transport aircrafts mysteriously disappearing without a trace over both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
I was also fascinated to discover a coincidental connection to Fort Hamilton. It was while stationed there that Sidney Mashbir, as Coast Defense Intelligence Officer, led the investigations that uncovered the first German spy to be apprehended in the United States. As for my inclusion of Fort Hamilton, please note that for story purposes I did take a few liberties in the switchboard scenes, namely with the building layout and number of operators. I have the Harbor Defense Museum at Fort Hamilton to thank for providing me with remarkable photographs and information.
Among the many non-fiction books and articles I turned to for research, the following were particularly helpful: Old Souls: Compelling Evidence from Children Who Remember Past Lives by Tom Shroder; Nella Last’s War: The Second World War Diaries of “Housewife, 49” by Nella Last; and Unspoken Abandonment: Sometimes the hardest part of going to war is coming home by Bryan A. Wood.
I hope you enjoyed The Pieces We Keep and, perhaps, in the process, even learned a little more about a time in history so very rich in bravery, sacrifice, and honor. Thank you for reading!
Warm wishes,
Kristina
A READING GROUP GUIDE
THE PIECES WE KEEP
Kristina McMorris
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The suggested questions are included
to enhance your group’s reading of
Kristina McMorris’s The Pieces We Keep.
Discussion Questions
1. While reading The Pieces We Keep, did your interpretation of the title change over the course of the story? Discuss the symbolism of the cover image in the same regard.
2. What does “faith” mean to you? How did you come to arrive at that conclusion? Has a personal tragedy ever caused you to reexamine and/or alter your core beliefs?
3. When comparing the novel’s dual timelines, how do the past- and present-day stories parallel? How do they contrast?
4. Memories-cherished and burdensome, lost and recovered-are major elements of the book. Which memories in your life have played a distinct role in shaping your personality? If given a choice, would you erase any from your mind? How different might you be without them?
5. Of the various parental relationships in the book, which are the most interesting to you? Do you identify with any of them? How has your view of your own parents, or your relationship with them, developed over time?
6. Connections between the past and present were interpreted by characters in different ways throughout the story. Early on, what did you perceive as the source of Jack’s issues? Did that change by the book’s end?
7. Do you believe in the possibility of past lives? In your opinion, does such a theory complement or contradict contemporary religious and/or Christian principles? Did the story reaffirm your existing beliefs or expand your thoughts about what might or might not be possible?
8. Vivian’s view of love and marriage greatly change by the book’s conclusion. Upon reflecting on your life, consider how your perspective on these topics has developed and why. How did Isaak and Gene both contribute to Vivian’s growth as a person?
9. Every major character in the book wrestles with grief in some form. Discuss the range of ways in which each person deals with this emotion. Have you or your loved ones ever reacted to loss in a similar manner?
10. At several points in the novel, Audra questions her skeptical and spiritual beliefs. What is your personal view of coincidence versus fate or predestination?
11. How do secrets, whether kept or revealed, affect characters in the story? Do you agree with the reasons they were withheld from others? If you have ever concealed a major truth from a loved one, do you now regret it or feel it was justified?
12. Army Private Ian Downing, whom Vivia
n encounters at the cafe, first appeared in Kristina McMorris’s debut novel, Letters from Home. If you were previously familiar with his character, how does his personality differ in The Pieces We Keep?
13. Audra spends a great deal of time doubting her parental abilities. The petition she reviews with Russ reflects and amplifies what could easily be deemed her shortcomings as a mother. How would you rate your own parenting skills, or that of your parents? What ruling might a stranger make based solely on documented incidents?
14. Who was your favorite character early in the book, and why? Did your opinion change as the story progressed? Who was your favorite character by the end?
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2013 by Kristina McMorris
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-8116-6
eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-8117-3 eISBN-10: 0-7582-8117-X
First Kensington Electronic Edition: December 2013
The Pieces We Keep Page 41
