Leaving (27 page)

Read an excerpt from the next book in the Bailey Flanigan Series:
Learning.
Coming soon!

T
WENTY-FOUR HOURS HAD PASSED SINCE BAILEY STOPPED BY
the hospital to tell Cody goodbye. A full day of wondering and remembering and missing Bailey more than he could put into words. But none of that changed the reality of his situation. He was sitting bedside with Cheyenne, praying for her and pleading with God to save her life.

The machines around her whirred and beeped and reminded him that she was still alive. But everything was tenuous … her condition, her prognosis. Her future. Cody shifted in the chair and looked around. It was a new hospital, and the room had a sofa sleeper against one wall. Tara had gone home for the night, but Cody had stayed. Someone had to be here if she woke up. When she woke up.

Cody had brought his guitar — something he hoped might make a difference in bringing Cheyenne around. He wasn’t very good, and he still knew only a couple songs. But they were songs that spoke of God’s faithfulness, His mercy and grace. If Cheyenne could hear … if any part of her was still connected to the world around them, then these songs would help. Cody was sure. Besides, he had told her that he was playing the guitar a little. They’d texted about it the day before her accident. Cody still had the texts.

So that means you’ll play for me one of these days, right?

He’d laughed at the time, and his response hadn’t promised anything.
I better practice first.

Don’t practice. Just play the way you play. All music is beautiful, Cody.

It was that last line …
all music is beautiful
… that convinced him to bring his guitar to the hospital. He’d had time to rush home after her crash and bring a few things to the hospital. He’d gone home since then to change clothes and shower, to prepare for work and coaching. But otherwise he was here. Last night — after Bailey’s goodbye — he even slept here.

Because if he went home with the box of things Bailey gave him, if he looked through the box and remembered every good and wonderful thing about being with Bailey, he might never come back. Why be here when Cheyenne woke up if he didn’t have feelings for her, if he wasn’t going to be here through her recovery and maybe afterwards? But the truth was something he was still grabbing hold of. Once again, Bailey was dating someone else — this time Hollywood’s most popular actor. He couldn’t compete with Brandon Paul … he wouldn’t try.

Instead he kept reminding himself what Tara had told him, Tara who had once a long time ago dreamed about having Cheyenne as a daughter-in-law.
Maybe God saved you from Iraq for Cheyenne … have you thought about it?
Cody stared at the beautiful girl in the bed, at her peaceful expression and the way her body lay so perfectly still. Maybe Tara was right. It was all he could think about, and so he hadn’t gone home last night. He’d stayed right here beside Cheyenne, sleeping when he needed to, and otherwise praying.

Cody stood and stretched. Tara would be coming soon. She had called and told him that after church she would be by for a few hours. This ordeal had to be so hard on her. She’d lost her son, and now the young woman who would’ve married him was
fighting for her life. The room was quiet other than the sound of the machines. Cody walked to the place a few feet away where his guitar stood and he picked it up.

If she wanted to hear him play, he would play. And never mind that he wasn’t all that good. He sat down at her bedside again and found the right chords. The song was an old one, something he’d heard in chapel every now and then while he was serving overseas. The music filled the room, and Cody was surprised. It didn’t sound half bad. “Great is thy faithfulness … Oh, God my Father … there is no shadow of turning with thee …”

The doctor had explained that when Cheyenne woke up she might not remember him. She could have amnesia or any number of brain injury symptoms. Her list of damaged body parts was long and frightening. The impact of the truck hitting her broadside as it ran the red light had slammed her head against the inside door frame. The swelling in her brain had stopped, but there was no way to tell just how damaged her cognitive functions might be.

In addition, she’d received a laceration across her liver and internal bleeding. Emergency surgery her first day in the hospital had stopped that and stabilized her, but there was no telling exactly what the long-term damage to her organs might be. She had also broken her lower right leg, broken her ankle, and fractured her wrist. She would likely need surgery to repair the broken leg, and possibly surgery on her back as well.

Cody kept singing. There was something stripped down and raw about the hymn, its message painfully honest. No matter what a person might go through, God was faithful. He was merciful and loving … and His abundance was new again every morning. Like he’d once heard Bailey’s father, Jim Flanigan, say: “We can have as much of God as we want.”

Cody needed a lot of Him right now. He closed his eyes and
his song filled the room. “All I have needed, thy hand hath provided … great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”

He finished that last line and was just about to head into the chorus when Cheyenne moved. Not a lot or with any sound, but her fingers flexed, and then her arm shifted a few inches on the blanket. Cody breathed sharply and set his guitar down at his side. “Cheyenne … It’s Cody. Can you hear me?”

Again she moved, and this time she winced. Cody sat up straighter, his heart thudding hard inside him. If she could feel pain … if she could respond like that, then she had to be better off than they thought, right? “Cheyenne … I’m here.”

She breathed in deeper than before, deeper than she’d breathed since she’d been in here. She was responding to his voice! She had to be. Slowly, like someone coming out of a winter-long trance, Cheyenne tried to blink, tried three times before her eyes opened just the slightest.

Cody looked over his shoulder at the door to her hospital room. Should he call for the nurse … tell them what was happening? He looked back at Cheyenne and decided to wait. Better to put his full attention on her right now and not worry about what the doctors would say, what tests they might want to run now that she was showing signs of consciousness. At least for the first few minutes.

More blinking, more movement — and again she made an expression that showed how much pain she was in. “Cheyenne … I’m here.” He stood and leaned over the bed, touching her healthy hand with the lightest sensation. “It’s Cody … can you hear me?”

Cheyenne turned her head so slowly it was almost hard to tell she was moving at all. But she did move, and this time she blinked a little faster than before and her eyes remained open. As they did, she looked right at him and their eyes held. Cody hadn’t known her very long, but he knew her well enough to be absolutely sure
about this — Cheyenne remembered him. Her eyes searched his, and she seemed to have a hundred things to say.

“Can you talk, Chey?” He didn’t want to push her, but he was desperate to know exactly how much of her might come back … her mind, her intelligence, her kindness … her love for God and people.

She moved her mouth a few times and then closed her eyes, clearly exhausted.

“Don’t work too hard. It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. As long as you can understand me.”

Again she opened her eyes and looked straight at him, and in a way that was unmistakable, she nodded. Yes … she could hear him. She understood. Another blink and the slightest sound came from her throat.

“Are you trying to talk?”

She nodded again.

“It’s okay … You can talk later. You’re very tired … don’t overdo it.” Once more he wondered if he should call for the nurse. But she looked a little more uncomfortable than before, so he let her have this moment. He soothed his hand gently over her dark hair. “Does it hurt … are you in pain?” His voice was soft, his tone quiet so she wouldn’t feel startled.

A sigh came from her and she nodded again. But then the corners of her mouth lifted just a little and a hint of the familiar sparkle danced in her eyes. Almost as if to say, Of course it hurts. But none of that mattered as long as she was alive.

Still, again she opened her mouth, and this time in a scratchy whisper she began to speak. “Cody …”

She knew his name!

A fierce sense of protection and caring came over him. This precious girl had been through so much, so many seasons of heartache. How could she face the days ahead without someone who looked out for her, who understood and appreciated her?
He ran his thumb over her brow. “I’m here for you … I’ll stay no matter what.”

Peace filled in the pained lines on her forehead and she nodded, more slowly this time. Her eyes looked deep into his soul, to the places that might’ve doubted the wisdom of being here. “Please … stay.”

“I will.” Cody felt the commitment to the outer edges of his heart. He put his hand alongside her face, speaking close to her, directly to her lonely soul. “You have my word, Chey … I’m not going anywhere.”

(To be Continued — June 2011)

Dear Reader Friends,

When I wrote about Bailey Flanigan for the first time — years ago in the Firstborn series — I never dreamed that one day she would have her own story, her own set of books. Her own series. As most of you know, the character of Bailey Flanigan was inspired by my daughter, Kelsey. In real life there is no Cody Coleman, no Brandon Paul. But the way Kelsey lives for God, her passion for her family, for God’s Word, and for His truth are a mainstay in her real life story—the way they are with the fictional character of Bailey.

In addition, Kelsey is the oldest of six kids — the others all boys, three of whom were adopted from Haiti. When I write about Jenny and Jim Flanigan, I am — for the most part — writing about my family. Kelsey and I have the relationship that Bailey and Jenny share: an open communication that has allowed Kelsey to trust me with any conversation, any decision, any heartbreak. I have had the privilege of raising this one-in-a-million girl, and the very great responsibility of seeking God’s wisdom in helping shape her into the young woman she is today.

And so, along the years — through five Firstborn books, and four Sunrise series books, and especially during the four books in the Above the Line series — as I watched Kelsey (and Bailey) develop a love for musical theater and a longing for the dreams God has placed in her heart, I could feel the time coming when the character of Bailey would need her own story.

But here’s the part I didn’t see coming.

As the time drew closer to write the first book in the Bailey
Flanigan Series, Kelsey announced that she wanted to attend university in California — fifteen hundred miles from our home in the Pacific Northwest. That meant that while I was outlining
Leaving,
I was helping Kelsey pack her things, helping her get ready to leave home. (Talk about an intense time of research.)

I remember sitting on my porch one day, feeling like all of life was about to change. I felt heavy with the hurt of actually reaching this season: the season of goodbye. But I also knew that I couldn’t end a book called
Leaving
with only sadness. See, there is a joy in knowing that our kids are ready to leave home and become who God made them to be. No matter how sad, it’s right that they grow and become … and yes, sometimes even that they leave.

The story of Bailey has many twists and turns ahead—believe me. The books to come will be
Learning, Longing,
and finally,
Loving.
And I think you’ll be amazed at where God takes this fictitious girl in the books ahead. Here’s a funny, fictional fact. The books in the Bailey Flanigan Series will release over the next eighteen months. But during that same time, we’ll follow Bailey through three years of life.

Ahh, the marvels of storytelling.

Anyway, thanks for joining me on Bailey Flanigan’s journey. And, yes, the journey of one more ride with the Baxter Family. Some of you might have seen Landon’s lung issues coming. I have to admit, I saw it … even though I didn’t want to write about it. Only God could’ve given me the strength to take Ashley and Landon through yet another trial. But even with that there is much ahead.

As always, I look forward to your feedback. Take a minute and find me on Facebook. I’m there at least once a day—hanging out with you in my virtual living room, praying for you, and answering as many questions as possible. I have Latte Time, where I’ll take a half hour or so, pour all of you a virtual latte, and
take questions. We have a blast together, so if you’re not on my Facebook fan/friend page, please join me. The group of friends there grows every day, and each of you is very special to me.

You can also visit my website at
www.KarenKingsbury.com.
There you can find my contact information and my guestbook. You could even join the Baxter Family Club — a special set of benefits for those of you who read all my books, pretty much as soon as they hit the shelves! (Just one way I can show how much I care.) Remember, if you post something on Facebook or my website it might help another reader. So please stop by. In addition, I love to hear how God is using these books in your life. He gets all the credit, and He always will. He puts a story in my heart, but He has your face in mind. Only He could do that.

Also on Facebook or my website you can check out my upcoming events and get to know other readers. You can hear about movies being made of my books and become part of a community that agrees there is life-changing power in something as simple as a story. And you can post prayer requests on my website or read those already posted and pray for those in need. If you’d like, you may send in a photo of your loved one serving our country, or let us know of a fallen soldier we can honor on our Fallen Heroes page.

When you’re finished with this book, pass it on to someone else. By doing so, you will automatically enter my “Shared a Book” contest. Email me at
[email protected]
and tell me the first name of the person you shared with, and you’ll be entered to win a summer day with my family. In addition, everyone signed up for my monthly newsletter is automatically entered into an ongoing once-a-month drawing for a free, signed copy of my latest novel.

There are also links on my website that will help you with matters important to many of you: faith and family, adoption, and ways to reach out to others. Of course, on my site you can
also find out a little more about me, my faith, my family, and the wonderful world of Life-Changing Fiction
^™
.

Another way to stay in touch is to follow me on Twitter. I give away books all the time, and I’d love to see you there!

Finally, if you gave your life over to God during the reading of this book, or if you found your way back to a faith you’d let grow cold, send me a letter at
[email protected]
and write
New Life
in the subject line. I encourage you to connect with a Bible-believing church in your area, and start reading the Bible every day. But if you can’t afford one and don’t already have one, write
Bible
in the subject line. Tell me how God used this book to change your life, and then include your address in your email. My wonderful publisher Zondervan has supplied me with free paperback copies of the New Testament, so that if you are financially unable to find a Bible any other way, I can send you one. I’ll pay for shipping.

One last thing. I’ve started a program where I will donate a book to any high school or middle school librarian who makes a request. Check out my website for details.

Again, thanks for journeying with me through the pages of this book. I can’t wait to hear your feedback on
Leaving!
Oh, and look for Bailey Flanigan’s Book No. 2:
Learning
in stores this June. Until then my friends, keep your eyes on the cross.

And don’t forget to leave the lights on.

In His light and love,
Karen Kingsbury

www.KarenKingsbury.com