Abide With Me. Delia Parr

      

      PRAISE FOR DELIA PARR AND HER NOVELS

      “Parr has a superb sense of narrative pacing…”

      —Philadelphia Inquirer on A Place Called Trinity

      “Parr’s writing is fresh and original.…”

      —Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on The Minister’s Wife

      “Written in the tradition of LaVyrle Spencer, Parr’s books are beautifully written in elegant prose…the characters’ faith is always a big factor in their growth and triumph…”

      —Tina Wainscott, author of In Too Deep on The Promise of Flowers

      “Always one to break the rules and craft intelligent, thought-provoking romance…”

      —Romantic Times BOOKclub on Sunrise

      Dedicated to my mother, Evelyn, and her three sisters, Doris, Elaine and Catherine, who taught us all the joys of sisterhood and faith

      Abide with Me

      Delia Parr

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      Contents

      Acknowledgments

      Questions for Discussion

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Chapter Eighteen

      Chapter Nineteen

      Chapter Twenty

      Chapter Twenty-One

      Chapter Twenty-Two

      Chapter Twenty-Three

      Chapter Twenty-Four

      Chapter Twenty-Five

      Chapter Twenty-Six

      Chapter Twenty-Seven

      Chapter Twenty-Eight

      Chapter Twenty-Nine

      Chapter Thirty

      Chapter Thirty-One

      Chapter Thirty-Two

      Chapter Thirty-Three

      Chapter Thirty-Four

      Chapter Thirty-Five

      Chapter Thirty-Six

      Chapter Thirty-Seven

      Chapter Thirty-Eight

      Chapter Thirty-Nine

      Chapter Forty

      Epilogue

      Afterword

      Mother’s Blueberry Boy Bait

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      Writing a book about the relationships between sisters would not have been possible without the support of my own sisters. Pat and Joanne are my biggest cheerleaders. Carol Beth is my first “editor,” who saves me from making dumb mistakes that wind up on my editor’s desk. Like Joanne, she is also a registered nurse, so I have a medical expert at my fingertips while I’m writing. Pat’s work with senior citizens also gave me insight that I used in creating some of my characters. Kathy and Susan have already gone Home, so they watch over me, too. My friend, Jeanne, is my sister-by-affection. A retired chemistry teacher and licensed real estate agent, she provided insight into the world of real estate that proved very helpful while writing the book. Unlike the Long sisters in the book, however, we have a brother, John, who has somehow survived growing up with six sisters!

      I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the great support and love I receive from my children, Matt and his wife, Ileana, Brett and Elizabeth. I am so proud of you all!

      QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

      1 Sisterhood is a powerful theme in Abide with Me. How have your sisters or women in your family influenced your life? How have you been a “sister” to another person—someone not an actual relative? What does that mean to you?

      2 Jenny and her husband face something of a role reversal when her full-time work supports his writing career. When have you taken on a new role to help out a family member? Why do we do such things?

      3 The Sisters’ Breakfast is a tradition the surviving Long sisters created as a time to remember their late family members. How do you honor family members who have passed on? What traditions have developed in those situations?

      4 Russell’s betrayal of Madge offered a chance for them to rebuild their marriage and renew their commitment to one another. How can painful experiences be transformed into second chances? How can we position ourselves to make good use of them?

      5 Andrea was loath to relinquish control over certain aspects of her cancer treatment or to confide in her sisters. Was this the right approach? Why or why not? What Scripture would you share with her to encourage her to give her problem over to God?

      6 The Shawl Ministry is a unique program created to help others—what ministries has your church developed to help those in need?

      7 The sisters marvel at Andrea’s ability to forgive when she hires Jamie Martin, but in what way does her sister Madge’s ability to forgive come to the fore in this story? How would you have dealt with Russell’s infidelity?

      8 Working in a small office can cause friction between workers with different work habits. Though Andrea was the one to hire Doris, she quickly finds it difficult to work with her. How have you coped with difficult coworkers?

      9 Bill Sanderson’s romantic interest in Andrea is something she initially refuses to accept, given that she is struggling with cancer at the time. Share an instance when God’s timing sent unexpected opportunities your way. What did you do?

      10 What role does the beach house play for each sister? How does it differ character to character? Does it?

      Chapter One

      S urrounded by animated conversations and mouthwatering aromas, Andrea Long Hooper waited for her sisters in one of The Diner’s corner booths, gazing out the plate-glass window to distract herself from being overwhelmed by memories of Sandra.

      Bright July sunshine reflected on the windshields of the cars that eased by on Welles Avenue and circled around the old bronze monument that anchored the community. While some residents drove off to start another workday, still others filled the commuter rail that bisected the town of Welleswood, carrying them across the Delaware River to work in nearby Philadelphia.

      Inside The Diner, the regulars, mostly retired folks from the nearby senior-citizens complex, sipped at coffee and enjoyed the daily special: one scrambled egg, one strip of bacon, a small glass of orange juice and coffee or tea with unlimited refills. No substitutions. All for $1.95. Served daily, from six to eight.

      Only a few years ago, Welleswood’s business district along the main street had