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
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