Oceans Apart

313 Pages·2008·1.08 MB·English

by  Kingsbury Karen

A forgotten secret.
A shocking discovery.
A sacrifice of love that will bring Connor Evans to his knees.
Airline Captain Conner Evans has nearly forgotten that stormy weekend in
Hawaii eight years ago when he broke the greatest promise of all. Now Conner
has the perfect life with his wife, Michele, and their two daughters, and the
secret of that long-ago time is his alone.
But an ocean away, a flight attendant is raising her young son by herself
when the plane she's working on crashes into the Pacific. Her will is very clear
about one thing—before the child can be given over to the state, his father must
be contacted.
The news rocks Captain Evans' life, and in the process he is presented with a
choice: Refuse the child and never hear from him again, or take him for two
weeks and decide whether to claim the boy as his own.
Now, the family is on the brink of destruction. Can Michele and their
daughters ever forgive Conner for what went wrong all those years ago? Or will
the presence of one lonely child destroy everything?
Other Life-Changing Fiction™ by Karen Kingsbury September 11
Series
One Tuesday Morning Beyond Tuesday Morning Stand-Alone Titles
Oceans Apart
Even Now
Ever After
Where Yesterday Lives When Joy Came to Stay On Every Side
Divine
Cody Gunner Series
A Thousand Tomorrows Just Beyond the Clouds Redemption Series
Redemption
Remember
Return
Rejoice
Reunion
Firstborn Series
Fame
Forgiven
Found
Family
Forever
Sunrise Series
Sunrise
Summer
Someday (spring 2008) Red Gloves Series
Gideon's Gift
Maggie's Miracle
Sarah's Song
Hannah's Hope
Forever Faithful Series
Waiting for Morning Moment of Weakness
Halfway to Forever
Women of Faith Fiction Series
A Time to Dance
A Time to Embrace
Children's Titles
Let Me Hold You Longer Let's Go on a Mommy Date (spring 2008)
Miracle Collections
A Treasury of Christmas Miracles A Treasury of Miracles for Women A
Treasury of Miracles for Teens A Treasury of Miracles for Friends A
Treasury of Adoption Miracles Gift Books
Stay Close Little Girl Be Safe Little Boy
www.KarenKingsbury.com

Oceans Apart
ePub Format
Copyright © 2004 by Karen Kingsbury
This title is also available as a Zondervan audio product.
Visit www.zondervan.com/audiopages for more information.
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
ISBN: 0-310-29512-2
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International
Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—
except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard St.,
Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Interior design by Michelle Espinoza
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Acknowedgements
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
Reader Note
Study Guide
DEDICATION
Dedicated to Donald, who continues to be my prince, my safe harbor, my
best friend. You give me wings enough to fly, but keep me grounded in
everything that matters. I smile when I think of our long walks and nighttime
talks, the way you make me laugh after a hard day or your way of putting a layer
of sensibility over any situation. You are an amazing man, Donald, gifted in so
many areas, yet content to serve. I am blessed beyond words to be your wife,
gifted with the joy of your presence in my life. Fifteen years have flown by in a
heartbeat, and I can only pray God blesses us with so many more. I love you
forever and always.
To Kelsey, my love and laughter, my silly-heart and only daughter. Can it be
that you are fourteen? That you are standing on the brink of high school and
cheerleading and driving and dating? You are gorgeous, sweetheart, inside and
out. I cherish our together times, whether washing our faces at the same mirror
or figuring out a math problem late at night. The glow in your eyes is the same
one that belonged to that pixie-faced four-year-old. The only difference is this:
now we don't have forever stretched out before us. Being with you is knowing
intrinsically the speed of time, and my helplessness at slowing it even for a day.
And so I celebrate you, Kelsey, and all we've shared, all we have yet to share as
you dance closer to the front door. I love you and thank God for you, sweetheart.
To Tyler, my dreamer. How wonderful that God has blessed you with
passion and purpose, a plan so big you can't help but breathe it and borrow from
it and become it every day of your life. Our time in New York City was
something I'll remember forever. And I'm convinced you will always know
where your talent came from—whether you're singing on Broadway or playing
out a scene in LA, shine for Jesus, Tyler. Shine for Jesus. And no matter what
happens, if you squint through the lights, you'll see me and your dad cheering for
you from the first row. I love you, Tyler. I couldn't be more proud.
To Sean, my humble leader. Watching you among your peers, I am struck by
the reality of how quickly you've worked your way into my heart. You've only
been in our family for three years, and yet every child in class looks up to you.
been in our family for three years, and yet every child in class looks up to you.
Of course, God had you in our hearts long before you came to live with us, and
His plans for you continue to play out. Whether you're flying across a basketball
court or reading devotions in the morning, your enthusiasm for life and your love
for Jesus make you shine like a bright flame. Keep them, Sean. And know that I
love you deeply.
To Josh, my gentle warrior. I'm convinced if I looked up confidence in the
dictionary, there would be your smiling face. You have more determination than
a dozen kids combined, and the belief that no matter what task is set before you,
you'll not only complete it but redefine it. I'm amazed at your talents, whether in
soccer, basketball, mathematics, or artwork. Don't ever forget our family verse,
sweetheart. To whom much has been given, much will be expected. I can't wait
to see how God uses you in the years to come. Keep Him first, Josh … the way
you did when you joyfully went to your room and pulled out half your piggy
bank savings so people in Southeast Asia would have Bibles. I love you and I'm
so proud of you, honey.
To EJ, my overcomer. Before this year, you struggled some. Yet I always
knew you were the first chosen one, EJ, the child God first led us to adopt. And
because of that, we knew He had a plan for bringing you into our family, a plan
for seeing that through to completion. Now you are blossoming, becoming the
most beautiful flower in the garden. Your eyes glow with the light of Christ, and
you sit a little taller each day as the compliments pour in. “EJ, what great seat
work,” “EJ, what great manners,” “EJ, what great sports skills.” I need only look
at you to feel the sting of tears—and the glory of God's goodness all around. I
thank Him for your willingness to see the process through, and I love you,
honey. Isn't God the greatest?
To Austin, my miracle boy (or Brett Favre, as you're calling yourself these
days). Can it be that you are in kindergarten already? What other six-year-old
would ask for shoulder pads for his birthday? Not so you can play on a team, but
so you can spend hours in the yard decked in your Packers jersey—by yourself
or with your brothers—so dedicated to the thrill of sports that no team or game
schedule is needed. I watch you growing and becoming, and I think back to that
day six years ago, the morning when we placed you into the arms of a surgeon