At the Edge of a Dark Forest Read online

  Her eyes grew soft and searching. “You think that’s all there is between men and women?”

  “I don’t know.” Chris bent to pick up the towel, but the woman swiveled just as he straightened, and he collided with her paint-filled, plastic plate, knocking her off balance. She toppled backward off the step stool. Chris instinctively placed his left hand at the small of her back, using his right hand at her hip to steady her. He drank in the scent of toasted almond spiced with tempura paint. Lunch couldn’t come too soon.

  The lady RD caught her breath and looked into his eyes. Her blue irises didn’t waver. He got lost in them as he lifted the towel to wipe the paint off her chin. His hand stopped midway, gesturing to the yellow line. “You’ve got paint on your face.”

  She slid it from his grasp and wiped her cheek.

  “No. Right there.” He pointed to her chin.

  She traced her straight, brown hair behind her ear and wiped a little lower, peering at him as if to ask if she got it.

  He shook his head and drew his index finger along the line of her jaw. Her skin was soft and smooth.

  She flinched, then wiped off the paint. “Thank you.”

  Chris stood for a moment as she brushed a rich, clay color into one of the mesas.

  He stepped back and turned to his work, strangely unsettled. “I just think it’ll be harder for a woman to be seen as a serious authority figure in a building full of over-ripe testosterone.”

  The lady RD kept her attention to the wall and harrumphed.

  “I guess I better shut my trap and get back to work. Just have to check the switches in the bedrooms.” He left the room.

  Twenty minutes later, Chris packed up his tools and left the apartment without looking into the living room. The lady RD filled his mind. Something rattled him, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. She was not his concern. He had very important reasons for being at Resident Life, and this woman would not get in his way.

  DOWNLOAD NOW!

  Acknowledgements

  As we often say in the writing biz, books do not happen in a vacuum. They require help and sacrifice from the people around them. The first to sacrifice was my husband, who, when I said I wanted to write a novel, replied, “Okay, I’ll do the laundry.” Wow! I did not expect that. Thank you, dear! In that vein, I should also thank my children, who have to bear with my husband’s idea of laundry, and my frequent response to their questions that goes something like this, “Don’t talk to me now, I’m in story world.” You guys have been extraordinarily patient with me. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.

  Thank you to my critique partners who virtually taught me how to write: June Foster, Gail Palotta, Vanessa Riley, and Mildred Colvin. Though Jean Huffman is not an official critique partner, she was good enough to help me with the final polish. Thank you, sistah.

  So I didn’t make up any new laws that might get me into trouble, I consulted my Gomer (Third-Day-Psycho-Fan) buddy, Breauna Murphy on the legal stuff.

  Thank you beta readers, Jan Wisooker and Jody Kilmer.

  A couple years before this project was conceptualized, I did a Military ministries series on my blog LivingtheBodyofChrist.Blogspot.com. I came across a real, Christ-centered ministry for the military and their families now called CruMilitary and received lots of suggestions from Jean King. I was very impressed with the resources they provide churches to help our veterans. I hope you will check out their website and consider using their resources to start a ministry of your own.

  A book cannot be written without inspiration. I received it from many sources, all at the Holy Spirit’s leading—Thank you God. I want to thank our members of the military and their families for all they do to keep us safe and free. Thank you NEEDTOBREATHE for being the muse on this one. You always help me delve into the emotional depths of the characters and the hard roads they travel.

  Lastly, I want to thank Julie and Randall Alley for allowing me to use Randall’s High Fidelity Interface Socket design in the story. Julie was so good to share with me about the field of prosthetic creation. Any mistakes or inaccuracies in this work are solely mine. If you’d like to find out more about the High Fidelity Socket, check out their website http://www.biodesigns.com/. It’s really cool!!!

  Reading Group Questions

  At the Edge of a Dark Forest is a modern-day re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. In what ways did this story depart from the original? Do you feel it detracted or enhanced the re-telling?

  Cole feels his disfigurement is just punishment for the self-absorbed man he’d been. Do you have events in your own life that you carry as a form of punishment, not accepting the grace Jesus has given you?

  Cole is not very nice to Carly when she first arrives, but she eventually sees there is more to him than his gruff exterior. What is the best way to approach someone like Cole?

  Carly is gifted at listening to her clients and providing products that will meet their needs. She almost gave up using that gift to fulfill what she thought were her father’s dreams. Have you given up what you know is God’s calling in order to pursue things others have told you to do?

  When Cole first sees Carly, he notices she is very plain. He calls her “Beauty” to mock her, but eventually the mocking turns into a term of endearment. What do you think he is responding to?

  Carly explains to Cole what it means for a person to “slay a dragon” for another—to take a personal risk to give that person something he or she needs. What dragons have been slayed for you by those who love you? Have you shown your appreciation to them for doing so?

  As things seem to be crumbling in Cole’s life, Carly is called away. What do you think God was doing in Cole’s life at that time, and do you think Carly responded appropriately?

  Beckett’s favorite book of the Bible is Psalms because most of them were written by whom he called “A Warrior King.” Beckett related both to the author’s profession as well as his heart for God. Though Cole finds peace in many of those verses, he is most touched by a verse in the letters of Paul. What is the book of the Bible you most relate to today, and which did you relate most to when you first became a Christian?

  God placed many good people in Cole’s life—those who led him, counseled him, cared for him and challenged him. Do you have people who do these things for you? In what ways?

  Eventually, God used Cole’s ugliness, brokenness and emptiness to help others suffering from the effects of war. How has God used negative events in your life for His glory?

  At one point, Carly had to decide between staying with Cole as he spiraled downward, and helping her father. Joe tells her God is calling her away so He can do the work with Cole alone. Have you ever had to “let go” of someone you cared for so God could work in his or her life?