Paper Hearts (35 page)

“He’s a keeper,” Betsy whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. “The real thing, Abigail.”

Jacob stood off to the side, an embarrassed look on his face.

“We have to go to town for supplies,” Gigi said, bustling the other ladies away. “We’ll leave you two. The crew arrives in an hour. We’re going to transform this barn for our first annual Paper Heart Ball.”

After they’d gone, Abigail ran a hand over the counter, then over the sign that had been affixed above it. “The Paper Heart?”

Jacob kicked at an imaginary something on the ground. “You don’t have to use the name. I just sort of liked it.”

“I love it.” She moved toward him. “I love everything about it.”

He removed his hands from his pockets and carefully tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, his eyes searching hers. Then he
leaned down and kissed her. “I hope all of your dreams come true, Abigail.”

She breathed in the scent of him, loving the way his lips felt on hers. His kisses breathed something new into her
 
—hope. Hope that while she knew love would never be easy, if it was right, it was worth it.

“I thank God for you, Jacob Willoughby,” she said, pulling him closer. “You are my dream come true.”

Paper Hearts
is a version of a story I’ve been wanting to tell for a long time, but I didn’t have all the pieces to make it complete. I needed to live through some things to learn what this book is really about
 
—allowing God to take your broken dreams and turn them into something new. I’ve been broken and felt forgotten. I’ve experienced loss and disappointment. I’ve wanted to raise a fist to the heavens and ask God why he didn’t keep things from spiraling out of control.

I’ve lost my own version of The Book Nook. And through that loss, I’ve discovered long-forgotten dreams buried in places I had never planned to revisit. I’ve seen God take my brokenness and turn it into something better than I ever imagined.

Was it painful? Yes. Was it necessary? Absolutely.

See, sometimes we feel the darkness closing in. We feel abandoned or forgotten or disappointed. Like maybe God forgot to do what he said he would do. But even in those moments, my prayer is that you cling to the hope of his promises. My hope is that you know deep down he hasn’t left you or forsaken you. He wants what’s best for you, and above all else . . .
you are loved
.

Thank you, dear reader, for taking the time to get to know these characters who’ve become my friends. I know your time is
precious, and it means so much to me that you’ve chosen to spend some of it with Abigail and Jacob. Maybe you’ll be inspired to write your own string of paper hearts for someone you love.

I love hearing from my readers and invite you to visit my website,
www.courtneywalshwrites.com
, or drop me an e-mail at
[email protected]
.

Courtney

I
T TAKES A VILLAGE, RIGHT?
I couldn’t do any of it without my people. They know who they are, but I’m going to remind them anyway. My heart is full of gratitude for the ways they inspire, encourage, and help me. Even when I’m convinced I can do it on my own.

God. I know it sounds cliché, but man, I wouldn’t know what to do without you. Thank you for not giving up on me even though I’m stubborn and hardheaded. Your grace is undeserved, but I am so thankful for it.

My parents, Bob and Cindy Fassler. Pretty sure it’s your prayers that keep me from imploding. Thank you for believing in me and reminding me of God’s promises. You are my inspiration.

Sophia. My favorite bookworm and my most honest reader. I pray you continue to dream big as you grow into your purpose. You have my heart.

Ethan and Sam. Thank you for reminding me to stop and laugh once in a while. Your giggles make me so happy.

My sister, Carrie Erikson. Your courage and bravery coupled with your wisdom and love for the Lord inspire and challenge me in the very best ways. Thank you for pointing my eyes upward in my meltdown moments.

Natalie Emenecker. I will never forget our Panera moment and all the moments since. Thank you for speaking truth to me and for your precious friendship. I will cherish it for as long as I live.

Deborah Raney. There really are no words except thank you. For being my mentor and my friend.

Sandra Bishop. We’ve been through so many changes together and you’ve always been right by my side. Thank you for helping me breathe new life into this story and for continuing to believe in me.

Stephanie Broene, Danika King, and the entire Tyndale team. Dream. Come. True. You guys are an answer to my prayers. Thank you for making my work better and for being such an amazing team. I’m still pinching myself.

And above all, Adam. My very best friend. There aren’t enough words to tell you all the ways you make my dreams possible . . . so I’ll simply say thank you. You make me better.

C
OURTNEY
W
ALSH
is a novelist, artist, theater director, and playwright. Her debut novel,
A Sweethaven Summer
, hit the
New York Times
and
USA Today
e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two more books in the Sweethaven Summer series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois with her husband and three children.

Visit her online at
www.courtneywalshwrites.com
.

1. Teensy often oversteps her bounds in an effort to help her daughter Abigail find romance. Has a family member or friend ever done something similar to you
    
   —gone too far while trying to help? How did you handle it?
   
2. Why has Abigail given up on finding love at the beginning of the book? How have her great-great-grandparents’ story and her parents’ marriage influenced her view of relationships?
   
3. Why do you think Jacob lets Kelly control business matters in a way that he disapproves of for much longer than he’s comfortable with? What advice would you give him? What makes him stand up to her eventually?
   
4. Abigail wonders if she’s so afraid to lose her business because she doesn’t know who she is without it. Has your identity ever been wrapped up in a job, a dream, or a relationship? What are the dangers of that? How can you give your best effort for something without letting it define you?
   
5. Though they have something of an ulterior motive, Gigi, Ursula, and the other Valentine Volunteers come alongside
   Abigail during a difficult time and offer advice and encouragement. When have you received encouragement from an unexpected source? Is there someone in your life who could benefit from your comfort or counsel?
   
6. Abigail realizes that “she’d been so caught up in her self-pity that she’d failed to ask God to intervene [in her romantic life]
    
   —yet she’d blamed him when he didn’t.” Have you ever blamed God for something that went wrong or that didn’t live up to your expectations? Why is it so tempting to accuse God at times? What is an alternative to getting angry with God when you don’t understand your life circumstances?
   
7. Jacob says he spent hours begging God to intervene for Gwen, but God stayed silent. Can you think of a similar experience from your own life? How do you reconcile that silence with what Scripture says in Matthew 7:7: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you”?
   
8. Gigi tells Abigail that “the very best love stories are the ones that are flawed and full of forgiveness and pain and joy and challenges and happiness.” What does she mean by this? Do you agree?
   
9. Think of a time when you endured a prolonged season of waiting for something, whether it be marriage, a career opportunity, or an answer to prayer. What was the most difficult part of waiting? Did God teach you anything through that experience? If so, what did you learn?
   
10. What about the paper hearts is so appealing to the people of Loves Park? If you could write a paper heart for a loved one, what would it say?