It was the same reassurance he always gave her, and it seemed to work. They inched their way past the gate and through the Jetway and onto the plane. It was the first time either Carl Joseph or Daisy had flown, so Cody and Elle had booked the seats with their siblings in the aisle seats. At least until they felt comfortable in the air. Then they could switch so Carl Joseph and Daisy could have window seats.
But as they walked toward the back of the plane and found their aisle, Daisy wouldn’t let go of Carl Joseph’s arm. Rather than make a scene, Cody sat by Elle so Daisy could sit by Carl Joseph.
“It’s okay, Daisy. It’s okay.” His buddy patted Daisy’s arm. “The rain won’t melt you.”
Carl Joseph comforted her throughout the safety announcements and as the plane lifted off. But then something almost magical happened. As the plane soared into the sky, it burst through the layer of clouds and into a brilliant blue sky.
Daisy sat up straight and looked out the window. “CJ, look!”
Cody leaned forward so he could hear them. Elle did the same.
Carl Joseph clapped his hands, not loudly and obnoxiously, the way he used to, but muffled and with a sense of wonder. He nodded fast and hard. “See, Daisy? I told you so. Sunshine… just beyond the clouds.”
Her fear left instantly and she stared at the sky, clearly stunned by this new revelation. Carl Joseph did the same, as if he could hardly believe that all this time the words he had used to comfort Daisy had been right on.
Elle looked past him to their siblings. “Down Syndrome is nothing more than a layer of clouds, really. Clouds that cover up a very bright sunshine.”
Cody leaned in and kissed her, the way he’d been longing to do since she climbed into his pickup that morning. Briefly, tenderly, and with all the feeling he held in his heart for her. They were still hiding their kisses from Carl Joseph and Daisy. No need to confuse them, or make them think they, too, should be kissing. Not yet, anyway.
“Good night.” Elle closed her eyes. “See you in LA.”
Cody settled in against the headrest.
He wasn’t sure about the timing, but he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Elle Dalton. He was already looking at rings. He stared out the window at the vast and endless blue. He’d never thought about it that way, but Elle was right. Whether in a rainstorm or living with Down Syndrome, or trying to survive a loss so great it might’ve killed them, the sunshine had always been there. It always would be.
Just beyond the clouds.
Dear Friends,
Thanks for journeying with me through the pages of Just Beyond the Clouds. For a while now, I’ve wanted to go back to Cody Gunner, to find him in that place where I left him a few years ago—a place of heartache over losing Ali, his wife. But those of you who read A Thousand Tomorrows know that Cody wasn’t only heartbroken over losing Ali. He was also changed forever by knowing her. For that reason, I was convinced the story wasn’t finished.
After all, Ali made Cody promise one thing—that he would find love again.
And so this—like A Thousand Tomorrows—is a love story that made me smile as I wrote it. Like so many of my books, it played in my head and heart like a movie, and I had the simple and profound pleasure of capturing the story on the pages of this book for you.
I enjoyed very much writing more about Carl Joseph, Cody’s brother. And I enjoyed delving into the world of Down Syndrome, where scientists are still learning so much about what is possible for these special people, and about how very high the bar should be raised for them.
One of the themes that runs through the book on a few different levels is the one represented in the title: Just Beyond the Clouds. Life has a way of sending in the clouds—not the clowns. That unexpected diagnosis, the pile of bills that won’t go away, the empty mailbox, strained relationships… But the truth is always what Carl Joseph tried to tell Daisy: There is sunshine just beyond the clouds.
Scripture tells us that God has good plans for us, and so He does. But sometimes it’s a matter of holding on to that truth when the clouds come, when the sky is so dark that it’s hard to believe there could really be sunshine on the other side. But there is, especially for those who believe.
Carl Joseph’s faith is a simple one, and maybe one we can all learn a lot from. He doesn’t process things the way most adults do. Rather, he thinks simply, like a child. He loves God, and so he gives God his best in every area. Sort of the way our kids do. If you’ve found hope in Jesus Christ for the first time while reading this book, then please know that I am praying for you. Your next step is to find a Bible-believing church in your area and get connected. Go to a Sunday service, take in a Bible class, attend a small group. And if reading Scripture is new to you and you can’t afford a Bible, write to me with the words New Life in the subject line. I’ll make sure my office sends you a Bible so you can get started on that new life in Christ.
I pray that this finds you well and walking in His truth and light. And most of all, I pray that you will join me in looking for the miracles around us and in celebrating life! Remember, sometimes His greatest messages come to us while we wait for the clouds to clear.
If you haven’t been to my Web site for a while, stop by! My ongoing journal will give you a window into my personal and writing life, and you can connect with other readers in the Reader Room. Also, you can check out my latest contests and post a photo of someone you know who is serving our country. People all over the world are praying for the soldiers pictured on my Web site.
Also, pass this book on to someone who hasn’t read it yet, and you can enter the Shared a Book contest. Just send an e-mail to [email protected], and type “Shared a Book” in the subject line. In the e-mail, give me the first name of the person you shared with and why you shared it with them. At the end of every March, I will pick a winner. That person and a friend will win a trip to the Northwest to spend a day with me and my family. I hope to see you there!
By the way, I still love hearing from you! Your prayers and letters remain a very great encouragement to me as I write stories that God might use to change your life and mine.
Until next time… keep looking for the sunshine!
In His light,
Karen Kingsbury
www.KarenKingsbury.com
Reading Group Guide
1. Where is Cody Gunner emotionally at the start of this book? What clues lead you to that conclusion?
2. Where is Elle Dalton emotionally at the start of this book? What clues lead you to that conclusion?
3. What does Carl Joseph understand about independent living? How does he feel about reaching Goal Day?
4. Do you know anyone with Down Syndrome? What is your experience with that person, and have you ever been surprised at how much that person is capable of?
5. What do you think about independent living for people with Down Syndrome? Explain your answer.
6. How does Cody feel about Carl Joseph? What causes their relationship to be strained over the course of the story?
7. What are Cody’s feelings about independent living at the beginning of the story? Why do you think he feels that way?
8. Describe how Cody’s feelings change as the story develops. What causes his change of attitude about independent living for people with Down Syndrome?
9. Do Carl Joseph’s feelings for Cody change during the story? Explain Carl Joseph’s relationship with his brother and how it affects him.
10. How is Daisy’s level of independence different from Carl Joseph’s? Discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
11. Discuss Elle’s former heartbreak. Has anyone you know had a similar experience? How did this heartache leave Elle feeling about herself?
12. Cody and Elle shared a few misunderstandings over the course of the story. Explore a few of those and how they could have been avoided.
13. Have you or someone you know ever experienced a troubled relationship because of a misunderstanding? Explain.
14. Car
l Joseph’s situation was complicated by his health issues. When have you seen health issues complicate a goal for you or someone you know? Talk about it.
15. Describe Mary Gunner’s feelings about Carl Joseph. How difficult was it for her to accept the idea of independent living despite Carl Joseph’s health issues?
16. How does Mary Gunner handle her fears regarding her son? How do you handle fears regarding your children or the lives of people you love?
17. Throughout the story, Elle talks about having an open hand in regard to relationships. What does this mean to you, and how can you apply it in your life?
18. In what ways is Elle a perfect match for Cody? Talk about how important it is to have like interests and passions when making a decision to start a relationship.
19. Fear posed a serious threat many times in this story. Explore those incidents. How should we respond to difficult situations?
20. Describe a time when fear threatened to prevent you or someone you know from making an important decision. How did you or that person work through the fear, and what were the end results?
Table of Contents
Front Cover Image
Welcome
A Thousand Tomorrows
Dedicated to…
Acknowledgments
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
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Reading Group Guide
Just Beyond the Clouds
Dedicated to…
Acknowledgments
Forever in Fiction™
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
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Reading Group Guide
Other Life-Changing Fiction™ by Karen Kingsbury
Copyright
Other Life-Changing Fiction™ by Karen Kingsbury
9/11 SERIES
One Tuesday Morning
Beyond Tuesday Morning
Every Now and Then
LOST LOVE SERIES
Even Now
Ever After
ABOVE THE LINE SERIES
Above the Line: Take One
Above the Line: Take Two
Above the Line: Take Three
Above the Line: Take Four
STAND-ALONE TITLES
Shades of Blue
Oceans Apart
Between Sundays
This Side of Heaven
When Joy Came to Stay
On Every Side
Divine
Like Dandelion Dust
Where Yesterday Lives
REDEMPTION SERIES
Redemption
Remember
Return
Rejoice
Reunion
FIRSTBORN SERIES
Fame
Forgiven
Found
Family
Forever
SUNRISE SERIES
Sunrise
Summer
Someday
Sunset
RED GLOVE SERIES
Gideon’s Gift
Maggie’s Miracle
Sarah’s Song
Hannah’s Hope
FOREVER FAITHFUL SERIES
Waiting for Morning
Moment of Weakness
Halfway to Forever
WOMEN OF FAITH FICTION SERIES
A Time to Dance
A Time to Embrace
CODY GUNNER SERIES
A Thousand Tomorrows
Just Beyond the Clouds
This Side of Heaven
CHILDREN’S TITLES
Let Me Hold You Longer
Let’s Go on a Mommy Date
We Believe in Christmas
Let’s Go Have a Daddy Day
MIRACLE COLLECTIONS
A Treasury of Christmas Miracles
A Treasury of Miracles for Women
A Treasury of Miracles for Teens
A Treasury of Miracles for Friends
A Treasury of Adoption Miracles
GIFT BOOKS
Stay Close Little Girl
Be Safe Little Boy
Forever Young: Ten Gifts of Faith for the Graduate
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Compilation Copyright © 2011 Karen Kingsbury
A Thousand Tomorrows Copyright © 2005 Karen Kingsbury
Just Beyond the Clouds Copyright © 2007 Karen Kingsbury
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Karen Kingsbury is represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications.
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Colorado Springs, CO 80920
www.alivecom.com
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First eBook Edition: January 2011
ISBN: 978-1-599-95419-6
A Thousand Tomorrows / Just Beyond the Clouds Page 44
