Take One Read online

  A special thanks also to Will Montgomery, my road manager. I was terrified to venture into the business of selling my books at events for a couple of reasons. First, I never wanted to profit from selling my books at speaking events, and second, because I would never have the time to handle such details. Monty, you came in and made it all come together. With a mission statement that reads, “To love and serve the readers,” you have helped me supply books and free gifts to tens of thousands of readers at events across the country. More than that, you’ve become my friend, a very valuable part of the ministry of Life-Changing Fiction™. You are loyal and kind and fiercely protective of me, my family, and the work God has me doing. Thank you for everything you’re doing, and will continue to do.

  Thanks too, to Olga Kalachik, my office assistant, who helps organize my supplies and storage area, and who prepares our home for the marketing events and research gatherings that take place there on a regular basis. I appreciate all you’re doing to make sure I have time to write. You’re wonderful, Olga, and I pray God continues to bless you and your precious family.

  I also want to thank my friends with Extraordinary Women—Roy Morgan, Tim and Julie Clinton, Beth Cleveland, Charles Billingsley, and so many others. How wonderful to be a part of what God is doing through all of you. Thank you for making me part of your family.

  Thanks also to my forever friends and family, the ones who have been there and continue to be there. Your love has been a tangible source of comfort, pulling us through the tough times and making us know how very blessed we are to have you in our lives.

  And the greatest thanks to God. The gift is Yours. I pray I might use it for years to come in a way that will bring You honor and glory.

  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 when I heard about Rachel Baugher.

  Rachel was the third of four children born to Dan and Sharon Baugher in Chestertown, Maryland. She was kind and loyal, deeply responsible and intelligent. Rachel gave her life to the Lord at a young age and lived out her faith daily. She had an understanding of God and a relationship with Him that went beyond that normally seen in young people. Rachel had brown eyes and long shiny brown hair that fell in gentle layers around her pretty face. Everyone knew her for her smile.

  During her high school days, Rachel attended Chestertown Christian Academy where she graduated with a 4.0 and was valedictorian of her class. Her classmates and teachers remember her as the perfect blend between the Bible’s Mary and Martha, a young woman who could be serene and reflective while reading or studying the Bible, but who was the first to roll up her sleeves and help out when a project was due. She loved learning and reading, and I was her favorite author.

  Rachel kept a quote book where she jotted down inspirational thoughts and words of wisdom—from teachers and her parents, from friends or politicians, from Scripture and from my books. Everyone who knew her, knew of her quote book—the carefully kept words that inspired her on a daily basis.

  After graduating from high school, Rachel was accepted to the nursing program at Pensacola Christian College and completed one year—determined to someday be the best nurse ever, a nurse who would’ve spent her life serving her patients and showing them Christ’s love.

  Tragically, Rachel never had the chance to live out her dream here on earth. She was killed in a car accident on August 7, 2007, at the age of eighteen. Not long afterward, Dave and Sheila Smith of Chestertown, Maryland, came up with the idea to honor Rachel by having her placed in one of my novels—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.

  Sheila, the development director at Chestertown Christian Academy, wanted to offer Forever in Fiction at the school’s auction, but she was concerned that even if someone met the minimum bid, they would likely want to name their own friend or family member as a character in one of my upcoming books. So Sheila took a different approach. She offered the item at the auction in honor of Rachel, explaining that everyone who donated money toward the item—any money—would be mentioned in the front of one of my books, and that in the process they could meet the minimum bid, and the entire community could honor Rachel Forever in Fiction.

  The community responded beyond Sheila’s wildest imagination.

  At the auction, the donations toward Rachel’s name Forever in Fiction poured in and nearly $10,000 was raised for the school. Rachel’s memory lives on in Chestertown, Maryland, and now her memory will live on in the pages of this novel, and the entire Above the Line Series.

  I chose to mirror Rachel’s life in her character in this novel, making her the deceased friend of one of my main characters—Andi Ellison. In Above the Line: Take One, Andi will be deeply hurt and troubled by Rachel’s death. Rachel’s character will have been a very genuine friend for Andi, and now Andi is questioning her faith in light of Rachel’s accident. The actual quotes from Rachel’s quote book—copies of which were handed out to all who attended her funeral—will be used occasionally in the Above the Line Series as a way of giving Andi a look back at the roots of her faith, a way of helping Andi find the answers that will often elude her through the early telling of this new series.

  The death of a young person is difficult—especially the death of one with so much love and joy, so much potential and faith. I believe all of us will learn something about the value of life—however long or short—while traveling the pages of this novel alongside Andi as she processes the loss of Rachel, and the way Rachel’s life truly did make a difference.

  I pray that Dave and Sheila Smith, and the community of Rachel’s family and friends in Chestertown, Maryland, will always see a bit of their precious Rachel when they read her name in the pages of this novel, where she will be Forever in Fiction. I also pray that her character in this series will deeply honor her memory, and the memory of all the lives she touched along the short journey of her life.

  Rachel was survived by her parents, Dan and Sharon; her older sister Janet and brother-in-law Butch Singleton, and their children Grace and Luke; her older brother Daniel and sister-in-law Beth; and her younger sister, Rebekah.

  A special thanks to the following people who helped place Rachel Forever in Fiction: Ron, Julie, Eddie, and Tricia Athey; Dolly and Robin Baker; Benjamin and Sarah Baugher; Dan and Sharon Baugher (Dad and Mom of Rachel); Daniel and Beth Baugher;Joe and Katie Baugher; Joe and Debbie Baugher; John and Dianna Baugher; Rebekah Baugher (in memory of Stuart and Sara Baugher); Curtis, Derikka, Tatiana, Andrew, Quinn, Genevieve, and Aurora Baughman; Amber Beach; Lynn Beauchamp; Mark and Becky Botts; Shannon Boyle; Pete, Joyce, Jared, Sam, and Kenley Brice; David and Jamie Brindley; Jim, Susan, James, and Sam Brindley; Pastor, Jeannette, Bill, and Emily Brindley; Helen Bryden; Daniel, Angela, and Tyler Cerniglia.

  Also Lee, Chris, and Shelby Clough; Lewis and Norma Clough; Gordon and Sue Collison; Nathan and Cindy Cronquist; Larry and Brenda Cryder; Frank, Becky, Catherine, Elizabeth, Lydia, Allison, George, and Elizabeth Davis; Mr. and Mrs. Joe DelCiotto; Kurt, Connie, Mason, and Megan Dill; Aunt Alice and Uncle Jack Douglas; Joe and Julie Dugan; Greg, Cyndi, Cody, and Caleb Eichler; Thomas and Helen Elville; Mommom Faulkner; Andrew and Stephanie Feehan; John, Lois, David, and Karyn Foxwell; Madison Gibson; Todd, Missy, Elizabeth, Amber, and Thomas Green; Ruth Haines; Lois Haines; Lyle Hammer and Melyn Rhodes; Carl, Jennifer, Carl-David, and LeAnna Hardin;Harry and Pam Harrison.

  Also Ray and Anna Harris
on; Ken and Edie Hearn, and James Bugaj; Esther Heatwole; Leonard and Jerry Herring; Ken and Jan Hibbs; John and Gale Holland; Uncle Sonny; Joe Holmes; Sandee Baugher Holmes and Alon Holmes; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ingram; Marion and Marilyn Ireland; John and Deb Jones; Trenton Kersey; Larry and Judy Leonard; Diana Long; Dickie, Heidi, Ryan, and Logan Manning; Michael, Ruthie, and Elizabeth Marine;Don, Cindy, Kristen, David, and Brianna McFarland; Wayne and Barbara McFarland; Charlie Miller; Kelly Mills; John and Debra Mullens; Lesley Murray; Ken and Tammy Newton; Frank, Robin, Leah, and John Plummer; Lauren Plummer; Dolly Pratt and family; Marian Quick; Peter and Tracy Raymond; Vicki Rhodes; Dave and Cheryl Richardson; Rick and Diane Rokita; George Rust; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Rust; Ben and Nancy Baugher Sauselein.

  Also Jason, Brandi, Savannah, and Barron Scott; Norman and Donna Scott; Victor and Susie Shepard; Mike Singleton; Butch, Janet, Grace, and Luke Singleton; Barbara Smith and Gracie, Dave, and Sheila Smith; Al and Nikki Snover and Kathryn Shaw; Chris, Fiona, and Katrina St. Remy; Jonathan, Jennifer, Emma, Kendall, and Jonathan Stoltzfus; Richard, Marian, Allysa, and Dillon Stoltzfus; Thomas and Lourdes Suarez; Stephen Swift and family; Aunt Joanne and Uncle Carl Taton; Jennifer Todd and family; Matt, Torie, Austin, and Ashley Troyer; Tommy, Bonnie, Amanda, and Tommy Tucker; Taylor Walker; Frank and Linda Williams; Jen Wilson; John, Josie, and Jonathan Wiltbank and Dorothy; Grayson and Beilin Zia.

  In addition, a special thanks to Jessica Bryant who won Forever in Fiction at the Christian Youth Theater auction in Washington State. Jessica chose to honor her deceased mother, Janetta Drake, by naming her Forever in Fiction. Janetta had blonde hair and blue eyes and an extraordinary love for God and the people He placed in her life.

  She was married twenty-three years and raised three children—Jordan, Jason, and Jessica—all of whom are young adults. Janetta spent her younger married years traveling the country doing evangelism events for children. Later she became a nurse and spent time as the head of a nursing home. She loved playing the piano and writing, and once penned a children’s book called Jessica’s Special Angel. Janetta loved children, and was happiest when she spent time with her family—children and grandchildren. People often said of Janetta that she loved all children as if they were her own.

  Janetta’s character in Above the Line: Take One is that of an actress in the first movie being produced by my main characters. In the fictional world of the actors and actresses that make up the cast of my producers’ first film, there is much arrogance and self-indulgence, many difficult people. In that arena, Janetta’s character is a bright light, a quiet example to others, and one of the main reasons the producers feel encouraged to continue in their work.

  I pray that Jessica will see the memory of her mother deeply honored by her gift and by Janetta’s placement in Above the Line: Take One, and that Jessica will always see a bit of her mom when she reads her name in the pages of this novel, and in subsequent novels that make up this series, where she will be Forever in Fiction.

  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.

  One

  CHASE RYAN DOUBTED THERE WAS ENOUGH oxygen in the plane to get him from San Jose to Indianapolis. He took his window seat on the Boeing 737, slid his laptop bag onto the floor space in front of him, and closed his eyes. Deep breaths, he told himself. Stay calm. But nothing about the job ahead of him inspired even a single peaceful feeling. On Monday Chase and his best friend Keith Ellison would set up shop in Bloomington, Indiana, and start spending millions of dollars of other people’s investment money to make a film they believed would change lives.

  Even during the rare moments when that fact didn’t terrify him, Chase could hear the quiet anxious voice of his wife, Kelly, splashing him with a cold bucket of reality. “Only two million dollars, Chase? Seriously?” She had brought it up again on the way to the airport. Her knuckles stayed white as she gripped the steering wheel. “What if you run out of money before you finish the film?”

  “We won’t.” Chase had steeled his eyes straight ahead. “Keith and I know the budget.”

  “What if it doesn’t go like you planned?” Her body was tense, her eyes fearful. She gave him quick, nervous glances. “If something happens, we’ll spend the rest of our lives paying that off.”

  She was right, but he didn’t want to say so. Not when it was too late to turn back. The actors were arriving on set in two days, and the entire film crew would be in Bloomington by tomorrow. Plans were in motion, and already bills needed to be paid. They had no choice but to move ahead and stick to their budget, trusting God that they could make this film for two million dollars, and illustrate a message of faith better and stronger than anything the industry had ever seen.

  Failure wasn’t an option.

  They reached the airport, but before she dropped Chase off, Kelly turned to him, lines creasing the space between her eyebrows. She was only thirty-one, but lately she looked older. Maybe because she only seemed to smile when she was playing with their two little girls, Macy and Molly. Worry weighted her tone. “Four weeks?”

  “Hopefully sooner.” He refused to be anything but optimistic.

  “You’ll call?”

  “Of course. Every day.” Chase studied her, and the familiar love was there. But her anxiety was something he didn’t recognize. The faith she’d shown back when they lived in Indonesia, that’s what he needed from her now. “Relax, baby. Please.”

  “Okay.” She let out a sigh and another one seemed right behind it. “Why am I so afraid?”

  His heart went out to her. “Kelly …” His words were softer than before, his tone desperate to convince her. “Believe in me … believe in this movie. You don’t know how much I need that.”

  “I’m trying.” She looked down and it took awhile before she raised her eyes to his again. “It was easier in Indonesia. At least in the jungle the mission was simple.”

  “Simple?” He chuckled, but the sound lacked any real humor. “Indonesia was never easy. Any of us could’ve been arrested or killed. We could’ve caught malaria or a dozen different diseases. Every day held that kind of risk.”

  The lines on her face eased a little and a smile tugged at her lips. She touched her finger to his face. “At least we had each other.” She looked deep into his eyes, to the places that belonged to only the two of them and she kissed him. “Come on, Chase … you’ve gotta see why I’m worried. It’s not just the money.”

  He caught a quick look at his watch. “You’re afraid we won’t finish on time and that’ll put us over budget and—”

  “No.” She didn’t raise her voice, but the fear in her eyes cut him short. “Don’t you see?” Shame filled in the spaces between her words. “You’re young and handsome and talented …” Her smile was sad now. “You’ll be working with beautiful actresses and movie professionals and … I don’t know, the whole thing scares me.”

  She didn’t come out and admit her deeper feelings, those she’d shared with him a week before the trip. The fact that she didn’t feel she could measure up to the Hollywood crowd. Chase ached for her, frustrated by her lack of confidence. “This isn’t about the movie industry. It’s about a bigger mission field than we ever had in Indonesia.” He wove his fingers into her thick dark hair, drew her close, and kissed her once more. “Trust me, baby. Please.”

  This time she didn’t refute him, but the worry in her eyes remained as he grabbed his bags and stepped away from the car. He texted her once he got through security, telling her again that he loved her and that she had nothing to worry about. But she didn’t answer and now, no matter how badly he needed to sleep, he couldn’t shake the look on her face or the tone of her voice. What if her fears were some sort of premonition about the movie? Maybe God was using her to tell Keith and him to pull out now—before they lost everything.

  Once on the plane, he tightened his seatbelt and
stared out the window. But then, Keith’s wife was completely on board with their plans. Her father was one of the investors, after all. Besides that, Keith’s daughter, Andi, was a freshman at Indiana University, so the shoot would give Keith a window to Andi’s world—something he was grateful for. Andi wanted to be an actress, and apparently her roommate was a theater major. Both college girls would be extras in the film, so Keith’s entire family could hardly wait to get started.

  Chase bit the inside of his lip. From the beginning, all the worries about the movie came from him and Kelly, but now that he was on his way to Indiana, Chase had to focus not on his fears, but on the film.

  He ignored the knots in his stomach as he leaned against the cold hard plastic that framed the airplane window. The movie they were making was called The Last Letter, the story of a college kid whose life is interrupted when his father suffers a sudden fatal heart attack. The kid isn’t sure how to move on until his mother reveals to him a letter—one last letter from his father. That letter takes Braden on a quest of discovery in faith and family, and finally into a brilliant future Braden had known nothing about.

  The story was a parable, an illustration of the verse in Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” The verse would be their mantra every day of the filming, Chase had no doubt.

  He closed his eyes, and in a rush he could hear the music welling in his chest, feel the emotion as it filled a theater full of moviegoers. He could see the images as they danced across the big screen, and he could imagine all of it playing out beyond his wildest expectations.

  But the way from here to there could easily be a million miles of rocky back roads and potholes.