Nowhere but Up (24 page)

To my son, Justin, my heart: I’m proud of you beyond words. You’ve brought so much joy into my life, and I’ve always known you were created for greatness. I’m grateful for you standing with me through this writing process. I know I haven’t been able to travel with you as much lately. Know that I’ve missed you. (PS: I just had a burst of love for you.)

To my parents: Mom, you are and always have been a good mother. I’ll always be grateful for your sacrifices for our family, from staying up nights when we were sick, to always being around, to cooking and cleaning every day and doing whatever it took to provide for our needs. Thank you, Mom. I love you. Bruce, thank you for being an amazing husband to my mom and loving her like you do. I know I wasn’t always the easiest daughter, but you were always a good and faithful dad. (I never did grow up to be that boxer, but I did write a book!) You both are unbelievable grandparents.

To my siblings: Candie, I always looked up to you. You were a great big sister. Thanks for always listening to me and giving me advice. Chris, thanks for being a protective older brother and always scaring the bullies away. Sorry for always getting you in trouble when we were younger. To the other Chris, thanks for letting us call you Chuck and for being sweet and always making me laugh. Sally, I can’t wait to meet you in heaven.

To Jeremy: I’m eternally grateful to you not only for giving me the greatest gift of my life, Justin, but also for becoming the man and father you are today. Though our relationship was rocky, I wouldn’t take any of it back or change any of it because God has turned it all around for good and continues to do so. My intentions are not to hurt you. With that said, this is my side of the story that could not be possible without you. I love you. There will always be a special place in my heart for you.

To Lesley, my publicist and my assistant/manager/advisor/whatever-I-need-in-the-moment beast: You are amazing! Above all else, you are a really great friend. I treasure you.

To A. J., my co-writer, a wife, a mother to a baby girl, and an author: I honestly don’t know how you do it. You work harder than any woman I know and somehow still manage to produce the gold. After countless hours together, I have gained a friend. We did it!

To Esther, my literary agent: Thank you for believing in me. You’re the best at what you do.

To Dwight Baker and the team at Revell: Thank you for your hard work, your patience, your diligence, and your expertise. A special thanks to Jennifer and Twila for going the extra mile (specifically, 267 miles for Jen to drive to Canada).

To my abusers: I forgive you.

Pattie Mallette
, known to most of the world as Justin Bieber’s mom, is more than just the mother of a world-renowned pop sensation. Pattie walks a rarely traveled road parenting her son through the unpredictable journey of fame. As a young woman and a single mom, she fought hard to rise above her painful past of abuse, shame, and poverty. Pattie hopes to encourage troubled youth, struggling single moms, and the brokenhearted through her story. She continues to expand her outreach to young women and youth (including her nearly one million followers on Twitter) while overseeing the management of Justin and his team. Follow her on Twitter (@PattieMallette).

An accomplished writer,
A. J. Gregory
has collaborated with fascinating high-profile figures on nearly twenty books. She is also the author of
Silent Savior
and
Messy Faith
.