Payne & Misery Page 28
Zora Jane sighed. “Such a sad story.”
For a second, I feared they might blame me for not rescuing Lila. My failure in that department still stung. Would I ever fully forgive myself for not getting to her before it was too late?
Will didn’t usually acknowledge our presence. At that moment, his steely eyes were closed, and he appeared to be sleeping. Jesse watched our nearest neighbor with a thoughtful expression. “They made some rotten choices, didn’t they?”
I nodded, considering the pain inherent in everyone’s life.
Ed stared at Will. “Some people get all tangled up in their misery, though, and they never get out.”
Russell Silverthorne’s entrance interrupted our analysis. “Came to say good-bye. Time to head back to Iowa.” Jesse dragged a chair from the hall. When Silverthorne had settled in it, he laced his fingers in his lap and stared downward, chin quivering slightly.
I patted his arm. “I bet your wife will be glad to see you.”
When he glanced up, tears had pooled in his eyes. “Especially since I’m coming back free. Now that I know what happened to Baby Blue, we can get on with our lives.”
Jesse extended his hand. “We sure appreciate what you did. Wouldn’t have happened without you.”
Silverthorne gripped Jesse’s hand. “Nor you four.”
Ed slapped Silverthorne’s shoulder and left his hand resting there. The three men seemed reluctant to disconnect.
I sensed a group hug coming. “You’re going to make me cry too.”
“Oh.” Silverthorne chuckled. “Don’t want that. Anyway, the DNA results finally came back.”
Jesse arched his eyebrows. “DNA?”
I’d forgotten about that.
Ed leaned forward. “I wondered about the DNA.”
Silverthorne’s blue eyes twinkled. “They matched Baby Blue with Lila.”
“Sure,” Jesse said.
That was a no-brainer. “Of course.”
Zora Jane nodded.
Silverthorne grinned. “We all expected that part.”
What was he saying? “Is there more?”
He paused.
We collectively tensed.
“Also, Will Payne’s DNA came back as a positive match to Lila’s.” He looked at each of us, turning last to Will’s quiet form resting between the white sheets. “Pretty sure that means Lila Kliner was Will’s daughter.”
Will’s delicate eyelids fluttered.
I bent over him. “Did you hear what Mr. Silverthorne just said? Lila was your daughter.”
Will didn’t open his eyes, but he bobbed his head up and down a couple of times. Then gravelly words tumbled out, low and slow. “Thought so.”
A soft murmur rippled around the bed.
“You thought so?” I leaned closer. “Is that what you said?”
He blinked his steely eyes open, looking from one face to the next. “Met Lila’s ma at a farm show in Des Moines one summer.” He closed his eyes again and shook his head. “Never should’ve gone without the wife.”
All eyes in the room registered shock.
I could hardly believe my ears. “Did you and Lila discuss that?”
William Payne opened his eyes a slit—just enough so I could see the familiar glint. “Didn’t need to. She looked just like her ma.”
The highlights and lowlights of the Payne tragedy flickered across my mental movie screen. All that misery could have been avoided if they had been able to communicate.
I shook my head. Relationships. Was anything in all creation more difficult to do the way God intended?
I met Jesse’s gaze across the bed and our hearts connected.
Waiting for Jesse to return on the day Molly went missing, I whipped up a batch of his favorite chicken lasagna. I inherited this recipe from my mother, an outstanding cook.
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
3 Tbsp. unbleached flour
1 can chicken broth (no fat)
2 C. nonfat milk
1 large clove garlic (minced)
½ tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. nutmeg
½ C. fresh mushrooms (sliced and sautéed)
½ C. chopped green onion
½ C. non-fat sour cream
½ C. low-fat mayonnaise
12 lasagna noodles (cooked)
3 lb. chicken (boiled, skinned, boned)
fat removed and shredded (3 C)
8 oz. Reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese shredded (2 C)
8 oz. Reduced fat jack cheese, shredded (2 C)
Parmesan cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter or margarine in saucepan. Add flour and stir over medium heat 1 minute. Do not brown. Add broth and milk and stir over medium heat with wire whisk until mixture comes to a boil. Add garlic, salt, pepper and mushrooms. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and mayonnaise. Spray 13” x 9” lasagna pan with PAM. Layer one-third noodles, one-third chicken, one-third sauce, and one-third cheese. Sprinkle with one-third green onions and nutmeg. Repeat two more layers. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and bake for 30 minutes until bubbly. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Makes 8 servings.
**I modify this recipe depending on what I have on hand. Sometimes I add grated carrots, or layer in well-drained cooked spinach. I may also use uncooked lasagna noodles, increasing the liquid so the noodles soften in the oven.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Until I slugged through six years of writing and rewriting this book, I never understood the collaborative aspect of authorship. Creating a novel requires a large, fluid team. The writer merely strings words together to make a story. God sends ideas, encouragement, training, and sometimes inspiration through various channels at the appropriate times. I appreciate your contributions, so I have tried to remember all your names.
God’s wise design of family functions best as fertile ground to nurture the dreams we don’t speak of in public. But for their support, I never would have taken the necessary baby steps to get started. My husband, Bob Leggitt, never said no to the needs of my writing obsession, even when it meant no dinner on the table or folding his own laundry. My faithful cheerleader and firstborn child, Jule Wright, read each revision with enthusiasm and even sponsored one of my visits to a writer’s conference. Son, Jason Leggitt and his wife Angie, provided a real writer’s iMac—a dream machine. My father-in-law, Dale Harman, never let me off the hook. If I wanted to be a writer, then why didn’t I write? Sister-in-law, Merrilee Leggitt, trusted me with a Thesaurus for the Extraordinarily Literate bearing her inscription to the family author and critiqued one or two drafts. My fabulous sisters—Toni Deaville and Patty Little—begged for more after reading one draft of this book. My sweetheart Pop, Gene Rogers—formerly employed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office—explained just enough about the complex world of the sheriff’s department to keep me on the right track. I also thank Gary Wright and Jerry Leggitt for supplying just-right words of support.
Friends and acquaintances played important roles, as well. God answered the prayers of Virginia and Ben Coats, Dan and Kathleen Prout, Sandy Balaam and Maxine Arvidson, helping me understand that God’s story must be part of every story. My sweet friend, Vickie Quiarte, suggested I take the manuscript to the writer’s conference at Mount Hermon. Neighbors Sarah and Mike Wynn boosted my morale and imparted information regarding local law enforcement. Donna Nelson at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Debbie Harris, Crime Scene Investigator from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office supplied technical details.
At the 2006 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, I was introduced to writing as a craft. The wonderful network of Christian authors I discovered there planted the desire-for-excellence seed in my heart. In that fertile mountain soil, it sprouted immediately. I offer much gratitude to the beautiful and talented author Brandilyn Collins for being truthful without breaking my spirit in my first critique. She saw a story “ hiding behind too
many words.” Author Nancy Farrier, my Mount Hermon first-timer buddy, consoled me afterward. Sherry Kyle, my first writer friend, became a sounding board for my walk through this process.
Head bulging with new ideas, I rewrote the manuscript and tentatively submitted the first three chapters at the 2006 Mount Hermon Writers Clinic in the fall. Oceans of thanks to our critique group leader, the astute and tactful author/editor/publisher Karen Ball. Her interest in my work and accessibility as a mentor spurred me onward. To our fabulous critique group—Jackie Strange, Beth Self, Sandra Lee Smith, Lizette Vega, John Clarke, Nancy Ellen Hird, and the unbelievable nice guy, Techno-Thriller author Austin Boyd—who contributed interesting new insights, a giant thank you.
I rewrote the manuscript again along with the first three chapters of The Dunn Deal, and attended the 2007 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. There I met the marvelous and creative author, Susanne Lakin—winner of the 2009 Zondervan Writing Contest for Someone to Blame. After the conference, she read the fourth version of Payne & Misery. Her right-on suggestions jumpstarted my fervor for writing at a time I felt overwhelmed by the massive remedial work my manuscript still required. Two more visits to writer’s conferences, professional editing, and several online writing courses led to six more rewrites. Through it all, Susanne has relentlessly spurred me forward and challenged me to reach ever higher. She continues to bless my life with ready wisdom, a perpetual fountain of knowledge and experience. The idea for the new first chapter came from her. I cherish her friendship as a precious treasure.
Another author in our Mount Hermon critique group, the witty Renae Brumbaugh, also faithfully read and critiqued my manuscript.
My incredible content editor at Glass Road Public Relations, Jessica Doty, contributed sparkly suggestions; line editor, John Leatherman, polished the grammar; and Rebeca Seitz of Glass Road gave good counsel.
The Valley Springs Book Club called me author before I dared refer to myself by that esteemed moniker and contributed a generous financial gift. Thank you to Janna Schumacher, Sandy Pend-ley, Michelle Erbeck, Lonnie Reid, Laurel Jolliff, Gael Mitchell, Susie Gossett, Danielle Byerly, Laurie Johnson, Carla Zermeno, and Kim Campos.
The sweet ladies in the Stockton Day Women’s Bible Study Fellowship leaders’ circle, led by the inimitable Pam Regan, were a constant inspiration and example. You have taught me much about patience and perseverance. Thank you for your faithful prayers and encouragement.
To the gracious judges of the Westbow Press Writing Contest where Payne & Misery came in second place—particularly to the wonderful author and mentor Kathi Macias—may I say what an honor to be singled out and encouraged by your praise. I am grateful for the able assistance of the editors and production staff at WestBow Press who first published this manuscript.
To Rochelle Carter of Ellechor Publishing House, who fulfilled my dream of having all three of Christine Sterling’s adventures published together, I offer much gratitude. May God bless the work of your hands.
To my generous benefactors who wish to remain anonymous, your reward will surely be in heaven. Thank you for believing in me and in this project enough to invest in it.
Most thanks of all to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You who hung the stars in space, your creativity knows no bounds. Thank you for sharing this tiny bit with me and for letting me have such fun discovering it.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Christine Sterling learned that pain is an inevitable part of life, but misery is a choice. How did Will Payne’s choices lead him down the path of misery? How about Lila Kliner’s choices? Helen’s? Alan’s?
2. When Christine focused on what was missing from her relationship with Jesse, she considered her marriage convoluted and troubled. With God’s help, she let go of complaining and saw a change in her relationship. Where are you complaining about what you don’t have—choosing misery—instead of being thankful for what God provides?
3. Christine discovered that God had been answering her prayers all along. She simply hadn’t acknowledged his presence or given him credit. Does God care about the details of your daily life? Does he listen to your prayers? How do you know? Can you think of a time God answered your prayer?
4. Christine’s impulsive nature landed her in trouble more than once. Have you ever jumped into a situation without planning or praying beforehand? What happened?
5. Christine’s motives for wanting to help Lila Kliner were noble and good, but what do you think about her methods? Were you bothered by the predicaments that resulted from her snoopiness? Does the end justify the means?
6. God seems to have built waiting into his world. Christine struggled with waiting, often allowing her impatience to prod her into action. How do you handle waiting? What’s your attitude toward waiting?
7. Zora Jane Callahan wanted everyone to know about Jesus. Would boldness like hers draw people to God or push them away? What kind of witness does God call us to be in the world?
8. Whether you agree with her methods or not, when faced with someone who needed help, Christine did move toward serving someone in need, regardless of the personal cost. What do you do when you meet people in need? What about the people who beg on the streets? Do you offer them assistance? Why or why not? Bessie Parrish, the older woman who spoke at Christine’s church, took food to the homeless teens living in the local park. What can you do about the homelessness problem?
9. Christine struggled with finding meaning and purpose in her retirement years. Do you wonder what your purpose is? How can you discover what God would have you do in whatever stage of life you find yourself?
10. Did you see yourself in any of the characters in this book? Which character did you identify with the most?
Catherine Leggitt welcomes comments, ideas, impressions, and questions at: www.catherineleggitt.com or c.leggitt@aol.com
Table of Contents
Front Cover
Copyright
Title Page
Dedication
Author's Note
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
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Acknowledements
Discussion Questions