“Ellene looks like a princess, doesn’t she, Daddy?”
Connor gazed down at Caitlin with tears in his eyes. “She does, Cait, and so do you. You’re both the most beautiful women in the world.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened, waiting for him to answer.
“Promise,” he said.
“That means it’s true.”
She gave Ellene a tiny wave, and Ellene’s face glowed as she gave a small wave back. Syl handed his daughter over to Connor, and they stood hand in hand, listening to the pastor’s words, the vows, the exchange of rings, the blessings, but all Connor heard was the beating of his heart and the joy that rang in his ears.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Connor heard those words, and with unspeakable joy, he drew Ellene into his arms and kissed her, a kiss that would live in his memory forever.
When they faced the family, the pastor made his final announcement. “I would like to introduce Mr. And Mrs. Connor Faraday.”
Her family and friends rose with a cheer, and Ellene squeezed his arm. “I love you, Mr. Faraday.”
“And I love you, Mrs. Faraday.”
Caitlin shook Connor’s arm. “Can I talk?”
“Talk?” He eyed Ellene.
She gave a minute shrug. “Why not?”
“Okay,” he said, holding up his hand to the family.
The noise subsided, and he gestured to Caitlin.
She squeezed between them and grinned at Connor, then at Ellene. Finally she turned to the family. “I want you to know that this is my new mommy.”
Ellene drew in a breath, then stooped to pull Caitlin into her arms. “And this is my new daughter,” she said, “and I love her very much.”
The three stood, hand in hand, making their way to the family, and the noise rose in decibels as women wiped their eyes and men pretended theirs didn’t need wiping.
Ellene turned to face Connor and pressed her hand against his cheek. “I’ve always seen love in your eyes, but I didn’t recognize it. Thank you for loving me so long.”
Tangled in emotion, Connor couldn’t speak, but he knew later he would tell her all the things he kept in his heart, and he would spend the rest of his life showing her how wonderful a blessed love could be.
Dear Reader,
Islands have always interested me. I love the lighthouses and the sense of being in a unique place. I’ve had the experience of being stranded on Harsens Island, a real place off the base of Michigan’s thumb. My adventure lasted only part of a day, but it is true that residents can be stranded for days to weeks.
Sometimes in life, we feel stranded in different ways. We find ourselves feeling lost and not knowing which way to turn. We don’t know how to escape. Ellene and Connor were lost in their past, not knowing how to rid themselves of the shame and sadness they felt from acting against God’s Word.
When each of us looks into our own lives, I know we can find too many times we have broken commandments or acted against the Lord’s wishes. But we have the answer. We know that God has offered us forgiveness through Jesus’ death and resurrection if we are truly sorry and if we repent of our sins. Rather than carry the weight of shame and sadness on our shoulders, let us hand them to the Lord who promises to carry the burden for us.
May God bless you and may His light shine on you.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Who was your favorite character and why do you relate to this person the most?
Ellene wanted to prove to her father she could do a “man’s” job. Have you ever been determined to prove to your family or friends that you could accomplish something people thought you couldn’t?
Ellene held such a strong grudge against Connor, she didn’t want to work on the project for him. Have you ever held such a strong grudge against someone, that it affected your behavior?
Aunt Phyllis knew her Bible and followed God’s will for Christians to be peacemakers. Do you know anyone who uses their gifts to bring peace to dissenting individuals?
Though Caitlin loved her daddy, she felt the loss of her mother deeply. Have you known a child who had to deal with a loss? What helped the child?
Ellene was stranded on Harsens Island. Have you ever been stranded in a situation that forced you to make the best of a bad situation? Was your attempt successful?
Ellene blamed Connor for their breakup, but she finally realizes it usually takes two people to create a problem. Have you ever blamed someone for a problem and then learned you were as much at fault? What did you learn from that?
Having intimacy before marriage is too common today. How did this sin affect Ellene’s and Connor’s lives? How do you deal with this problem as it affects your family and friends?
Did you think it was realistic for Connor to be more upset with Ellene’s lack of trust than with the secret she told him? Why or why not?
What faith message did you learn from this story?
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0143-9
IN HIS EYES
Copyright © 2006 by Gail Gaymer Martin
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.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
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*Loving
†Michigan Islands
In His Eyes Page 18
