by Beth K. Vogt
“Oh, stop! Don’t become a weight-conscious bridezilla.” My comment earned the ghost of a laugh from my sister. “What’s wrong?”
“You know Mrs. Kenton?”
“Of course—the family friend who can get away with saying, ‘Oh, Payton, I knew you when . . .’ and does. Every time she sees me. She pull that on you tonight?”
Red stained my sister’s face. “No. She just said—in the nicest way possible, of course—that she hoped I’d lose a few pounds before the wedding.”
“And what did you say?”
“Nothing.”
Of course she didn’t. “Jillian—”
She waved away my words. “Forget I said anything.”
“It was rude.” And Mrs. Kenton, family friend or not, could forget about ever seeing the recipe she’d requested. “How about I bring you a small slice of each cheesecake? Calories don’t count at engagement parties, you know.”
“Really small slices?”
“I promise. This is a celebration. Your one and only engagement party.”
“You’re right.” Jillian stood, brushing her straight hair away from her face. “Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow . . . well, we’re not thinking about that, are we?”
“No, because tomorrow means playing catch-up for me. And prepping for next week.”
And Saturday morning breakfast with my family.
Something else I wasn’t thinking about.
Click here to buy now
Acknowledgments
THIS IS ONE OF THE FUN PARTS of writing a book: thanking everyone who helped Moments We Forget transition from the initial idea to the finished product. I’m blessed to be living my dream of being a writer, which began back in grade school. And I value all the help I’ve had along the way as I wrote this book.
Research experts: I always write stories about things I don’t know, and Moments We Forget was no different. And so I sought out people in the know to help me get it right. Any errors are my own. Many thanks to
Barb Straker, a pharmacist who first fielded my questions as I tried to figure out just what exactly Johanna Thatcher does.
My writing friend Daphne Woodall and her husband, Gene Woodall, a hospital director of pharmacy, who helped clarify questions about Johanna’s profession.
Bart Swan, a longtime family friend and a mortgage loan officer who helped me figure out how to create a work problem for Jillian. (Poor Jillian.)
Terry Kehr, my husband’s former officer manager, who is also a breast cancer survivor. We sat together one morning and talked through some of the more personal aspects of her journey and how they paralleled Jillian’s journey. Her choice to trust God as she battled cancer—and the repercussions of her treatment—challenges me to trust Him when I face challenges, too.
Rob Vogt, MD—that name looks familiar, doesn’t it?—who helped me with the medical aspects of this book.
Publishing staff: I’m so thankful to be part of the Tyndale House Publishers family. It’s both an honor and a blessing. Jan Stob (acquisitions director) and Sarah Rische (editor) helped refine my initial idea and challenged me to write a better story. And Sharon Leavitt, while no longer with Tyndale, encouraged me until the day she retired. The marketing and publicity team, including Cassidy Gage (senior marketing manager), Emily Bonga (associate marketing manager), and Katie Dodillet (director of public relations), are a wonderful support. Elizabeth Jackson (acquisitions editor) stepped in whenever needed. Julie Chen (senior designer) once again created the perfect cover for Moments We Forget, capturing the essence of Jillian.
Writing community:
Rachel Hauck, my dear friend and mentor, not to mention a bestselling author: You continue to help me brainstorm my novels and to be a phone call, text, or instant message away. You listen, you pray . . . and you always, always, always tell me, “You can do this.”
Angie Arndt, Jeanne Takenaka, and Shari Hamlin, my Preferred Readers: You each make a difference because you see the book first and give me oh-so-crucial first feedback. You let me know what’s working. What’s not working. Your questions and insights helped me improve Moments We Forget.
Mary Agius: You walk with me and brainstorm with me, helping me to keep the story flowing and to keep me mentally on keel.
My Dream Team: You’ll be assembled by the time this book goes to print. Thanks for telling others about Jillian’s story. I can’t do it all by myself. A special thank-you to Gail Hollingsworth, whose question “What’s going to happen with the necklace Pepper left Payton?” helped me refine that story thread.
Casey Herringshaw and Lisa Jordan: I needed not one but two VAs while writing Moments We Forget. But what was I supposed to do when you, Casey, fell in love with Nathan and got married in four whirlwind months? (We all love a great romance, right?) But then you, Lisa, stepped in and made certain I didn’t lose my mind when I released book one in the Thatcher Sisters series and turned in book two!
Rachelle Gardner, my agent: It was fun to reminisce during the past year about how it all began. How Beth Jusino introduced us back when I wrote nonfiction and then I transitioned to the “dark side” to write fiction. And through it all you’ve been my voice of reason, my voice of truth—someone I trust without hesitation. And you’re my friend, too. Can it get any better than that? Let’s find out.
Susie May Warren: friend and mentor and founder of the My Book Therapy writing community. I always go back to what you taught me when writing fiction was like deciphering hieroglyphics. (I can still hear you asking, “Are you okay, Beth?” at that first writers’ retreat. I wasn’t, but you stuck with me and turned me into a novelist.)
My family: My husband, Rob, and our children and their spouses: Josh and Meagan, Katie Beth and Nate, Amy and David, Christa, and yes, my GRANDkiddos. You all are, simply put, the best. You hear the words “I’m on deadline” and you get it. You know the imaginary characters are back in the building—back in our lives—and that I’m going to be up early and stay up late. I’ll be distracted. Exhausted. Elated. Frustrated. And every emotion in between. You remind me to eat. To sleep. And yes, to get back to the computer and put words on the page.
About the Author
BETH K. VOGT is a nonfiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind doors marked Never. The Thatcher Sisters novels are her women’s fiction series with Tyndale.
Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. A November Bride was part of the Year of Weddings series published by Zondervan. Having authored ten contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there’s more to happily ever after than the fairy tales tell us.
An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and also enjoys speaking to writers’ groups and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories. Connect with Beth at www.bethvogt.com.
Discussion Questions
Payton decides to start a book club with her sisters in the hope that it will draw them closer together. Have you ever participated in a book club with family or friends? What kind of relationships developed?
Jillian has come through her treatment for breast cancer but finds herself struggling with the aftermath of her chemotherapy: forgetfulness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and discouragement. Have you experienced an illness that left you unable to function day to day? How did you cope?
Johanna is shocked when Dr. Axton Miller gets the promotion she’s worked so hard for, especially after she’s b
een interim pharmacy director for six months. What would you have done if you’d been in Johanna’s place? Would you have stayed and tried to work with your new boss, or would you have decided it was time to look for a new job where you would be appreciated? When have you found yourself in a situation where you and your boss or a coworker had very different approaches to work?
Johanna and Beckett have been in a long-distance relationship for eight years. What’s your take on long-distance romances? If you’ve been in one, do you have any tips for success?
Jillian and Geoff decide to renovate their kitchen but discover one problem after another. If you’ve watched home renovation shows like Flip or Flop or Property Brothers, you know that happens all the time. Have you ever undertaken a major house project like theirs? It’s time to share your house reno horror stories!
Jillian discovers Geoff has kept a huge secret from her—that he had two brothers and that his younger brother died, leaving him unwilling to have children—ever. Where do your sympathies lie: with Geoff and his grief or with Jillian? How do you think they should handle the issue of whether to adopt or not? Has infertility or childlessness touched your life in any way?
Jillian feels like she is stuck as the middle Thatcher sister—like she is “just Jillian.” Does your birth order—your position in your family—define who you are? How so?
Payton is still questioning what she believes about God—and also why she believes in God, afraid that she’s choosing Him because of Pepper and Zach. Has your faith ever been tripped up by others’ expectations for you?
In Moments We Forget, both Payton and Jillian choose to believe in Jesus. Stop for a moment and think about your own faith journey. Maybe you don’t believe there’s a God who loves you, who created you. Or maybe you’re searching for answers . . . or are in a season of doubt. Maybe you can remember when you chose to believe in the sacrificial gift of mercy and grace God offers through His Son, Jesus. Share your stories with one another.
At the end of the book, Jillian decides to choose one word to focus on for the next year, instead of doing New Year’s resolutions. She asks Geoff if he’d like to pick a word for the year, too. What did you think of the words they chose? Which do you prefer: resolutions or theme words—or neither? If you did choose one word to focus on for a year, what would it be?
