And after receiving your letter, I know I’m right. Not only do you deserve him, he deserves you. Jack deserves someone good, someone who cares for others more than they care for themselves. Like he does. I’m working on it. I don’t want to live like this, but I do want to live. They tell me it will be a long road.
Thank you for the Bible. I’ve not read one in quite some time. I don’t think I’m ready for you to visit, but maybe one day.
Sincerely,
Claire
His wife amazed him. Jack wasn’t sure what letter Claire was speaking of that she had found, but it seemed Livy had reached out to Claire to offer her forgiveness. Jack still struggled with anger toward Claire off and on.
Livy was encouraging him and praying with him about that. On more than one occasion she had said, “It’s got to be in your own time.” Now he understood that actually meant, “I may have forgiven her, but you have to do it in your own time.” She didn’t want to get in the way of his healing process.
Jack replaced the letters in Livy’s drawer and stood at the window, grateful for his wife’s forgiving heart. The pain and anguish they had all experienced in the last few years had been so tough. Claire’s suffocating guilt. Livy’s damaged confidence. Jack’s own heartbreak.
Looking out at the mountains growing darker in the shadow of another brilliant setting sun over Laurel Cove, Jack was overcome with gratefulness and awe at God’s faithful, endless, redeeming grace.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child—the same can be said for publishing a book. I would not have arrived at this point without the help of several special villagers.
I’ve been a writer for longer than I can remember. But thanks to the most loving and no-nonsense friend who refused to entertain my excuses, I sat down and wrote the first draft of this novel in November 2013. Indi, you made me believe I could do it. So, I did.
To my family and friends, you’ve been there the longest and cheered the loudest. Thank you for listening to my whining when things were hard, for your steadfast encouragement, and being genuinely interested in what I’ve chosen to do with so much of my time. Thank you.
To my critique partners who knew and loved this story in its earliest stages. Mikal, Shawna, and Holly—you three were there at the start and have taught me so much about the process of writing. Angela and Amy, so thankful to have you join our team! I can never repay you all for the time and thoughtfulness you’ve put into the book.
To Mikal, Jaime, Meghan, and Laurie. The four of you have become more dear to me than you will ever know. God brought us together over a shared interest and you’ve all taught me priceless lessons in the business of writing—but the friendships formed with you will far outlive any book success I could ever dream of having. Thank you for being my champions and loving me so well.
And, finally, to my great grandmother, Audria Bowdon. My vivid memories of childhood visits to her charming bungalow home in West Palm Beach inspired the cottage of Livy’s Gram in this story. Playing in her gardens, picking vegetables and fruits, and watching her hang clothes on the line to dry—these are magical, cherished memories. It’s my honor to introduce you to her gentle spirit and enduring faith in Someplace Familiar.
TERESA TYSINGER is a wife and mother transplanted from North Carolina to North Texas. When not writing charming southern fiction inspired by grace, she works as the Director of Communications for a large church. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Religious Communicators Council, and the Association for Women in Communications, Teresa has spent over a decade committed to telling stories of faith through written word. She also enjoys offering graphic design services to other authors through her business, Good Day Publishing. She loves coffee, caramel, and happy endings.
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Someplace Familiar (Laurel Cove Romance Book 1) Page 26
