Take Three Read online

  WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT KAREN KINGSBURY’S BOOKS

  Karen’s book Oceans Apart changed my life. She has an amazing gift of bringing a reader into her stories. I can only pray she never stops writing.

  Susan L.

  Everyone should have the opportunity to read or listen to a book by Karen Kingsbury. It should be in the Bill of Rights.

  Rachel S.

  I want to thank Karen Kingsbury for what she is doing with the power of her storytelling—touching hearts like mine and letting God use her to change the world for Him.

  Brittney N.

  Karen Kingsbury’s books are filled with the unshakable, remarkable, miraculous fact that God’s grace is greater than our suffering. There are no words for Ms. Kingsbury’s writing.

  Wendie K.

  Because I loaned these books to my mother, she BECAME a Christian! Thank you for a richer life here and in heaven!

  Jennifer E.

  When I read my first Karen Kingsbury book, I couldn’t stop…I read thirteen more in one summer!

  Jamie B.

  I have never read anything so uplifting and entertaining. I’m shocked as I read each new release because it’s always better than the last one.

  Bonnie S.

  I am unable to put your books down, and I plan to read many more of them. What a wonderful spiritual message I find in each one!

  Rhonda T.

  I love the way Karen Kingsbury writes, and the topics she chooses to write about! Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us, your readers!

  Barbara S.

  My husband is equally hooked on your books. It is a family affair for us now! Can’t wait for the next one.

  Angie

  I can’t even begin to tell you what your books mean to me…Thank you for your wonderful books and the way they touch my life again and again.

  Martje L.

  Every time our school buys your next new book, everybody goes crazy trying to read it first!

  Roxanne

  Recently I made an effort to find GOOD Christian writers, and I’ve hit the jackpot with Karen Kingsbury!

  Linda

  When Karen Kingsbury calls her books “Life-Changing Fiction™,” she’s merely telling the unvarnished truth. I’m still sorting through the changes in my life that have come from reading just a few of her books!

  Robert M.

  I must admit that I wish I was a much slower reader…or you were a much faster writer. Either way, I can’t seem to get enough of Karen Kingsbury’s books!

  Jillian B.

  I was offered $50 one time in the airport for the fourth book in the Redemption Series. The lady’s husband just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t interested in selling it. Through sharing Karen’s books with my friends, many have decided that contemporary Christian fiction is the next best thing to the Bible. Thank you so much, Karen. It is truly a God-thing that you write the way you do.

  Sue Ellen H.

  Karen Kingsbury’s books have made me see things in ways that I had never thought about before. I have to force myself to put them down and come up for air!

  Tabitha H.

  I have read many of Karen’s books and I cry with every one. I feel like I actually know the people in the story, and my heart goes out to all of them when something happens!

  Kathy N.

  Wow, what an amazing author Karen Kingsbury is! Her stories are so heart-wrenching…I can’t wait until the next book comes out…Karen, please don’t ever lay your pen down.

  Nancy T.

  Karen Kingsbury’s words leap off the page…I just finished a new series last night and once again she has touched me beyond compare!

  Kendra S.

  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

  Every Now and Then

  Above the Line Series

  Above the Line: Take One

  Above the Line: Take Two

  Above the Line: Take Three

  Above the Line: Take Four (summer 2010)

  Stand-Alone Titles

  Oceans Apart

  Between Sundays

  This Side of Heaven

  When Joy Came to Stay

  On Every Side

  Divine

  Like Dandelion Dust

  Where Yesterday Lives

  Shades of Blue

  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

  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 (spring 2009)

  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

  www.KarenKingsbury.com

  FOREVER IN FICTION

  WHENEVER I RECEIVE THE COMPLETED PAPERWORK for a Forever in Fiction winner, I read through the details of the life being honored in fiction—whether the person is alive or dead—and I am touched by the real-life stories that come my way.

  That was especially true for seven-year-old Annalee Sullivan—or Annie, as her family and friends call her. Blonde, blue-eyed little Annie suffered a brain injury at three years old due to an undiagnosed case of Addison’s Disease. The incident caused her to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, and sing. Today she has a developmental age of just twelve months old. Even still, Annie is sweet and happy. She wears her pretty hair in a ponytail and always wants a colorful ribbon to hold it back. Despite her injury, Annie expresses a desire to go to heaven one day—a place where she will run and play and gaze at the stars the way she once did. Forever in Fiction was purchased by a number of people at the Annie Sullivan Auction in Bothel, Washington. Annie’s friends and church family raised nearly ten thousand dollars for her continued medical care and support. In return, you will find Annie in the pages of this book. I chose to make Annie a famous child actress—one who can do all the things Annie loved doing before her injury. I pray that those who love little Annie will be honored by her placement in Take Three, where she will be Forever in Fiction.

  Also in Take Three, you will find the Kunzmann family. Felix Kunzmann, 44, and his family are citizens of Switzerland, where Felix is a banking executive and his active, young family loves and serves the Lord. Felix won Forever in Fiction on my annual ebay auction. The recipient of this year’s ebay auction was our local C
hristian Youth Theater—the inspiration for my Christian Kids Theater that first appeared in the Firstborn Series.

  Felix’s winning bid was nearly $4,000. But he sent a check for $13,000 to CYT. His explanation? He told me that if I believed in a charitable cause, he could believe in it. He had one request. Could I please make his whole family Forever in Fiction, if possible? As it turned out, the fit was perfect for Take Three. The Kunzmann family plays a family visiting the United States for a year while the dad takes part in an American banking project. In Indianapolis they play a crucial counseling-type role in the life of Andi Ellison. Felix, thank you for your generosity and for helping me think outside the box when it comes to Forever in Fiction™.

  In addition to his banking expertise, Felix is known among his family and friends as a man very much in love with his wife. He met her at age ten at a Christian Scout camp, and he knew from the moment he saw her that one day he would marry her. But it took a little longer to convince Lucia. Seven years later he began to turn her head, and Felix still remembers their first kiss. Today Lucia remains a devoted follower of Jesus, and she oversees the lives of their three children. The Kunzmanns have a big house with lots of activities for kids, and an open door to the teens in their area who need to know someone cares for them. Lucia is taking counseling courses so she can better help teens and married couples. Their children are Marco, 17; Kenny, 15; and Nathalie, 13. Like their parents, the Kunzmann kids do Christian Scouts. They also love soccer, music, and being available to hang out with the kids who frequently visit their house. Felix, I hope you see yourself and your family in Take Three, and I hope you are honored to know that the five of you will now be Forever in Fiction.

  For those of you who are not familiar with Forever in Fiction™, it is my way of involving you, the readers, in my stories, while raising money for charities. To date, Forever in Fiction has raised more than $100,000 at charity auctions across the country. Obviously, I am only able to donate a limited number of these each year. For that reason, I have set a fairly high minimum bid on this package so that the maximum funds are raised for charities.

  If you are interested in having a Forever in Fiction™ package donated to your auction, contact my assistant, Tricia Kingsbury, at [email protected]. Please write Forever in Fiction in the subject line.

  Take Three

  ABOVE THE LINE SERIES

  Karen Kingsbury

  ZONDERVAN

  Take Three

  Copyright © 2010 by Karen Kingsbury

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

  ePub Edition FEBRUARY 2010 ISBN: 978-0-310-56468-3

  Requests for information should be addressed to:

  Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

  * * *

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Kingsbury, Karen.

  Take three / Karen Kingsbury.

  p. cm.-(Above the line series ; bk. 3)

  ISBN 978-0-310-32201-6 (hardcover, jacketed)

  1. Motion picture producers and directors – Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3561.I4873T365 2010b

  813’.54 – dc22 – dc21

  2010001895

  * * *

  All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

  Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

  DEDICATION

  To Donald, my Prince Charming…

  How I rejoice to see you coaching again, sharing your gift of teaching and your uncanny basketball ability with another generation of kids—and best yet, now our boys are part of the mix. Can you believe it? Josh, one of the leading rushers in our area in his freshman year? Sean catching everything thrown to him? And Tyler tearing up the basketball court? You and our boys, making memories together. Isn’t this what we always dreamed of? I love sitting back this time and letting you and God figure it out. I’ll always be here—cheering for you and the team from the bleachers. But God’s taught me a thing or two about being a coach’s wife. He’s so good that way. It’s fitting that you would find varsity coaching again now—after twenty years of marriage. Hard to believe that as you read this, our twentieth anniversary has come and gone. I look at you and I still see the blond, blue-eyed guy who would ride his bike to my house and read the Bible with me before a movie date. You stuck with me back then and you stand by me now—when I need you more than ever. I love you, my husband, my best friend, my Prince Charming. Stay with me, by my side, and let’s watch our children take wing, savoring every memory and each day gone by. Always and always…The ride is breathtakingly beautiful, my love. I pray it lasts far into our twilight years. Until then, I’ll enjoy not always knowing where I end and you begin. I love you always and forever.

  To Kelsey, my precious daughter…

  You are twenty now, a young woman, and my heart soars with joy when I see all that you are, all you’ve become. I’ll never forget your tears that last night when you were still nineteen. Not tears of sorrow or fear for the future. But quiet, pensive tears because your childhood is truly behind you. I remember what you said: “Mom, I’ve loved being your little girl, and I’ve loved being a part of this family. I can’t imagine how leaving it all behind one day soon will be somehow better.” My sweet, sweet girl. Remember that God walks with us every step of this life, and for those who love Him, the best is always yet to be. This year is a precious one for us because you’re still home, attending junior college and spending nearly every day studying, preparing, readying for the future. When you’re not dancing or singing, you’re helping with the business and ministry of Life-Changing Fiction™—so we have many precious hours together. I know this time is short and won’t last, but I’m enjoying it so much. I know that come some bright fall morning you’ll be going to Los Angeles to finish college, and you will grow and become all that God desires of you. Meanwhile, you will always have a place here with us. Of course we pray you’ll fall in love and find that special young man who will love God more than you, and who will treasure your innocence and integrity, your passion and purity. But even as you find him, you’ll never really leave our family. Rather you will add to it, honey. You’ll always be our little girl, Kelsey. And you’ll always be part of this family. Forever and always. I’m so proud of the strength you’re finding in this, your twenty-first year. You are beautiful inside and out, and I am more convinced than ever that God has great, wonderful plans for you. Take your talents and go find your platform for Him! In the meantime, we’ll leave the porch light on. I love you, sweetheart.

  To Tyler, my lasting song…

  What a tremendous year of growth for you, my precious son. You put aside the stage for now and focused on becoming the young man God wants you to be. In the process you have become convinced that you’d like to be a Christian artist—writing and singing songs for His glory. You’ll never know how proud that makes me and your dad. We love our evenings when your homework is finished and you head into the piano room. The chords blend together as you create, and your golden voice fills our home. How blessed we are that your music is the soundtrack of our life. And yet I know that the song will only last so long. You are nearing the end of
your junior year already. One more school year and you’ll be off to college. One more trip for back-to-school supplies, one more homecoming, one more basketball season, one more prom. I’m holding onto every precious moment, with everything I have. These are the bittersweet years, when the end is all too clearly in sight. And yet, like Kelsey, you will always be a part of our lives here, Ty. You’ll excel in the coming year, growing in your talents and convictions, I’m sure. And the deep and lasting relationships you’ve begun here in your childhood will remain. Thank you for the hours of joy you bring our family, and as you head into a year of lasts, I promise to stop and listen a little longer when I hear you singing. I’m proud of you, Ty. I’m proud of your talent and your compassion for people and your place in our family. However your dreams unfold, I’ll be in the front row to watch them happen. Hold on to Jesus, son. I love you.

  To Sean, my happy sunshine…

  What a thrill it was watching you take on varsity football, this, your freshman year of high school. You were concerned going in, and that’s understandable. “What if I can’t play as well as the older guys?” you asked me. “What if I can’t tackle?” We prayed and believed and then, right before the season started, you did something I’ll always remember. You came to me and asked if I could find custom wristbands for the team. “I want them to say Philippians 4:13,” you told me. You’d seen the University of Florida’s Timmy Tebow donning that verse on his eye black before each game, and now you wanted to have a similar show of faith. A week passed and another, and every few days you asked until finally I set everything aside and ordered them for the whole team. I’ll never see that verse without seeing the sincerity in your eyes, the desperation, almost, that if you were going to play football, you needed to always remind yourself of the truth. You can do everything through Christ who gives you strength. And you can, Sean. You proved that this year by being the team’s leading receiver. Oh, and one of the best tacklers on the team. You remain a bright sunbeam, bringing warmth to everyone around you. And now you are an example of faith as well. I’m proud of you, Sean. I love you so much. I pray God will use your dependence on Him to always make a difference in the lives around you. You’re a precious gift, son. Keep smiling and keep seeking God’s best for your life.