A Soldier's Heart
Page 19
“Do you want anything, Mom?”
Mary Kate alighted on the seat next to her, looking as if she were ready to take off again at a moment’s notice to settle a spat among the children or whip more food from the kitchen. That was Mary Kate, always taking care of everyone.
“Not a thing. Are you sure I can’t help bring the desserts out?” Come to think of it, maybe Mary Kate came by that honestly.
“We have it covered.” Her eldest leaned over for a quick hug. “You’re queen of the day, remember?” She touched the foil-and-glitter crown the grandchildren had planted on Siobhan’s head to start the party.
She nodded, content to watch as Mary Kate headed back to the kitchen, detouring a little to say a word to her new husband. Luke still leaned on a single cane, but he was miles better than he’d been a year ago. He seemed to be thriving on marriage, instant fatherhood to Mary Kate’s two children and his new job as a juvenile probation officer, where he had a chance to turn a few young lives around.
Gabe, who’d come so close after Mary Kate that it had been like having two babies, lifted three-year-old Siobhan bodily from a tangle of older cousins. Siobhan, who always thought she could do everything the older ones did, was protesting loudly, but Gabe tucked her under his arm and carted her off to his wife.
Nolie, her slim figure just starting to show the curve of her second pregnancy, was deep in conversation with Joe’s niece Fiona. Since Fiona and her husband were also expecting, they were probably comparing notes.
A wave of pleasure mixed with nostalgia went through her. They were having another family baby boom. She didn’t want to go back to the days when she and Joe were starting their brood, but she did love to see the family grow. She’d have to start on baby quilts for each of them soon.
The quilt she’d made for Brendan and Claire’s baby was draped across the portable crib where their little Joshua slept in the shade. Little Joshua might not know it, but he was going to be the right age to be good friends with his cousin, Seth and Julie’s Brian, who’d come along nine months ago to join his big brother, Davy.
Her cup really was overflowing. Her two youngest, Terry and Ryan, had found their happily-ever-after, too. Footloose Ryan had settled into marriage with an ease that surprised everyone who knew him, especially since that marriage brought a young daughter with it. Laura and Mandy had settled into the family so smoothly they might have always been there.
As for Terry’s husband—Jake had probably found the Flanagan family a little overwhelming at first, but now he took part in the chaos as easily as the rest of them.
“What are you thinking about, lovely lady?” Joe bent over to give her a light kiss.
She patted his cheek. Would the kids be embarrassed if they knew how that kiss still thrilled her? Probably. She smiled at him, loving the way his eyes warmed when they rested on her.
“Just thinking how much God has blessed us.” She took his hand, holding it against her cheek. “Children, grandchildren, friends, family all here to celebrate with us. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
He nodded, his blue eyes, still bright after all these years, suddenly thoughtful. “We’ve hit some storms along the way, but He’s always seen us through.” He smiled suddenly. “You know I’m not one to quote Bible verses easily, but there’s one that’s been floating around my heart a lot today.”
She smiled. “I think I know what it is, because it’s been in my heart, too.”
“You always could read me like a book, couldn’t you?” A sheen of tears glinted suddenly in his eyes. “Still, I guess it’s a pretty obvious verse for the Flanagan family.” He hesitated for a moment, and then said the words that were in both their hearts.
“As for me and my family, we will follow the Lord.’”
Dear Reader,
Thank you for picking up this final book in the Flanagan family story. I hope you enjoyed visiting with old friends and meeting new ones, and that you’ll feel the series came to a satisfying conclusion. It’s never easy for an author to say goodbye to characters, especially ones I know as well as these.
Mary Kate Flanagan Donnelly has appeared in all the books, so it was high time she had a story of her own. Her story would have been much more difficult to write without the professional knowledge of my physical therapist niece, Pam Johnson, who shared her experience with me. Any mistakes are strictly my own!
I hope you’ll let me know how you felt about this story. I’d love to hear from you, and you can write to me at Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279; e-mail me at marta@martaperry.com or visit me on the Web at www.martaperry.com.
Blessings,
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What qualities in Mary Kate make her a good physical therapist? Do you think her innate nurturing instincts work for her or against her?
Luke feels that his injuries will keep him from ever being useful again. Do you sympathize with his feelings, even if you may not approve of his reactions?
Mary Kate has a particularly close relationship with her mother, yet she doesn’t want to rely on her too much. Do you empathize with her conflicting feelings about her mother, as she struggles with being a single parent?
The struggle to cope with loss is central to this story, as Mary Kate tries to cope with the loss of her husband and Luke with the loss of his physical prowess. Have you ever gone through a similar struggle? What helped you the most?
Mary Kate comes to feel that God leads her to a place where she can help Luke. Have you ever felt that God has led you to a particular place or situation?
Mary Kate also finds that God has something to teach her, as the person she helps ends up helping her. Have you found that to be true in your life?
Luke tries to block everyone out of his life, but Mary Kate’s son, Michael, is able to find the chink in Luke’s armor. What quality does the child have that allows him to do something like that?
In the scriptural theme, we see that Christ has come to bind up all wounds. In what way has Christ worked in your life to bind up your wounds?
Luke struggles with his relationship with his father, asking why it would be right to forgive someone who’s betrayed a child. How would you answer him?
If you’ve read all seven of the Flanagan books, you must feel that you know the family well. What qualities do you think enable them to overcome difficulties and come out with their peace and faith intact?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4574-1
A SOLDIER’S HEART
Copyright © 2007 by Martha P. Johnson
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
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†Hometown Heroes
†Hometown Heroes
†Hometown Heroes
‡Caldwell Kin
‡Caldwell Kin
‡Caldwell Kin
‡Caldwell Kin
*The Flanagans
*The Flanagans
*The Flanagans
*The Flanagans
*The Flanagans
*The Flanagans
*The Flanagans
*The Fl
anagans
Table of Contents
Cover
Contents
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
Epilogue
Questions for Discussion
Copyright