Let me do it. She slipped off the bed and ran into the living room to peer out the front window. She kissed her on each cheek and ran her hand over her head as she straightened. “I told her to have at anything she wanted in my room while I called Marianne. Pulling the covers up and snuggling them around her, he bowed his head. Daddy was going over ser- mon notes in the small office off the narthex. “How so?” Dutch’s engine rumbled in neutral. Hopping up and down, she clapped her hands. Zeke felt his resolve dissolving. He blew into his hands. What kinds of things does she think will help her achieve her goal? My favorite element of Rivers' writing style is her excellent grasp of authentic, realistic dialogue, and her inclusion of unapologetic, consistent spiritual truth. He kissed her and turned out the light before closing the door. TV Shows . Pastor Zeke gives in to Marianne’s pleas to take the infant Abra home, even though he knows it’s dangerous. As soon as Daddy tucked Abra in, he followed. Do you believe it’s important to distinguish between God’s leading and our own desires? “No. When Abra reads the Gideon Bible in her motel room at Agua Dulce, she seems only able to focus on the verses that confirm her guilt and sin. Isn’t she a cutie, with all that red hair.” Eddie ran a fingertip over Abra’s cheek. Did I allow Marianne to sway me when You had another plan for Abra? “As long as you like,” Mommy said, following them into the living room. They talked high school football, and who might win a scholarship. When she tried, Zeke came out of his seat. “Who better than us?”, Joshua joined in. Spying Mitzi’s rouge pot, she rubbed a bit on each cheek, then used Mitzi’s eyebrow pencil. Zeke came closer. He slipped his hands beneath her. She dug through more makeup and powdered her cheeks, coughing as a sweet-scented cloud engulfed her. Hollywood feels like a million miles from Haven, and naive Abra quickly learns what’s expected of an ambitious girl with stars in her eyes. Abra laughed and imitated her. Abra climbed into the chair with her. Several had been around town long enough to have met Zeke before. .”, “You love her as much as I do, Zeke. Movies. He headed for Thomas Jefferson High School. She needs a family.” “We’re a family.”, “You know what I mean.” He cupped Marianne’s cheek. Don’t forget that. “Pure, genuine religion in the sight of God is shown by caring for widows and orphans.”, “Don’t use Scripture against me when it’s you I’m trying to protect.”, Joshua looked up. “Time to go, Abra.”. “Go to sleep.”. The breeze moved down over the sandy beach and beneath the bridge. She roused, but Daddy told her to rest; he’d fix dinner. . She would rest easier if she weren’t so worried about her husband, but saying so right now would only make Dutch more belligerent. The story speaks volumes about the difficulties of life and how faith, hope, and love can indeed win out.” —Bookreporter.com, Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. The baby lay pale and perfect in the moonlight, on a dark blanket of earth. Zeke bought lumber, nails, tar paper, and shingles and started work on a bedroom off the back of the house. Only way I’ll go is if I’m carried there in a pine box.”. She awakened when Mommy made an odd sound, a low groan, and muttered, “Not now, Lord. “Looks like a little angel.” He drew back. .” A baby lay so still, so small, so white, he wondered if he was too late. “‘I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses . Abra sat on the piano bench, swinging her legs and playing chords. Is there someone in your life who struggles with PTSD? “We should go.”, Marianne squeezed his hand. How long before her health suffered? Mitzi lifted her chin. To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. He lifted her into his arms. Pebbles crunched under his feet. What would that involve? Storyline. You can sense the deep hurt on both sides, but also the … He took her hand. It was too dark to see whether it was a boy or girl, but then, what did that matter? Zeke changed direction and headed for the bridge and Riverfront Park. “We’ll need to save money so we can add another bedroom. Mommy protested when Daddy carried her into the house. Why or why not? Zeke thanked Eddie for the coffee and conversation and headed out into the dark again. Daddy went around the bed. Joshua put his hands on the glass. I highly recommend it. But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking bad boy who proclaims his love and lures her to Tinseltown. Why had she driven so far? The truck’s brakes squealed briefly as it stopped. Miss Mitzi said without the heater up and running properly, “the church smelled damp and moldy as a graveyard.” Abra told her she didn’t know what a graveyard smelled like, and Miss Mitzi said, “Well, don’t look at me like that, missy. “I don’t hear Joshua complaining. Even the demands of an easy child could wear on someone, and Zeke saw the toll on Marianne. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks. God, what do I do now? Zeke and his son, Joshua—Abra’s closest friend—watch her grow into an exotic beauty. “Oh, forget I mentioned it.” Mitzi flung the shawl on the pink chenille bedspread. Few know her real name is Abra. Why do you think they are prepared to love this abandoned baby? But Zeke knows the circumstances surrounding her birth have etched scars deep in her heart, scars that leave her vulnerable to a fast-talking charmer who … I’ve got to get you cleaned up before he gets here.” She laughed as she whipped off the big hat and sent it sailing into the closet. They’ll find someone to take her.” He tried to lead her away. .’” She’d sleep for a while, and stir when Zeke stopped in at Eddie’s Diner or paused to talk with Dutch. Dutch rolled down his window. He walked along Mason, across First and down McMurray, back up Second, toward Good Samaritan Hospital. Abra liked going out the front gate after dinner and looking at the house all lit up. “Thanks, but I think I can manage on my own.” Dutch ground the gears, uttered a vile word, and drove down the alley. Shelve Bridge to Haven. Dutch was with her, looking grim and worn. “You’ve forgotten what it was like to take care of a new baby.”, “I’m up to it, Zeke. In what ways were those things fulfilling? He almost tripped over Abra, sitting cross-legged in the hallway, her teddy bear clutched against her chest, thumb in her mouth. “Play your scales first and then ‘Silent Night.’ Can you do that?”. 4.5 • 304 Ratings; $12.99; $12.99; Publisher Description. “Can I look at your jewelry?”, “Sure you can, honey.” Mitzi waved toward the bedroom. In what ways do they show their love for Abra, both as a child and as a rebellious young woman? Mommy was asleep on the couch. To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Abra liked spending time with Miss Mitzi. Abra won’t be a baby for long. When Abra’s tiny fingers grasped Dutch’s pinkie, he looked ready to cry. She’s snug as a bug in a rug.” And right next to his heart, where she’d been from the first moment he laid eyes on her. Zeke pulled up the collar of his jacket. Joshua came in the back door and talked with Daddy. She heard sweeping and something being dumped in the trash under the sink. Zeke knew every shortcut and was at Good Samaritan Hospital before the sun came up. What was it? “Found it so soon.” She set it on the mantel. You know how much I love them both. Mitzi sure had a lot of shoes. Redeeming Love and the Mark of the Lion series are my favorites by her, and Bridge to Haven is in their caliber. The darkness was loosening, though it would still be a while before the sun rose. Just go back to sleep.” She spoke in a strained voice, as though talking through her teeth. “You’re supposed to be in bed, little one.” Tucking her in again, Zeke tapped her on the nose. He always showered and shaved before sitting down to breakfast with Marianne and Joshua. A soft mewling mingled with the sounds of the river. Then he came out to the living room. “I’m fine, Zeke. Someone needed help. He couldn’t leave without going back to the nursery. I felt like how he treated Abra at the beginning of the novel was kind of cruel, but at the same time I understand why he did what he did. Opening her mouth wide, she imitated one of the women she’d seen in the church ladies’ room and smeared on the lipstick. The sound came again. Their son was all gangly arms, long skinny legs with knobby knees and big feet. “And these old necklaces! The child melted against him, her head on his shoulder, her thumb in her mouth. She put on a wide-brimmed hat with a big red bow and found a black shawl with embroidered flowers and a long fringe. What do you imagine will happen to Susan Wells after the conclusion of the story? Time to head home. “Look in the closet; check through the drawers, too. Pastor Zeke finds her there. He shouldn’t have been surprised to see Marianne standing outside the window, her arm around five-year-old Joshua. God put her in your arms, Zeke. Bridge To Haven was a sweeping novel, the story of Abra Matthews, who was left under a bridge as an infant and found by a pastor. She’s not.” Unless there was a miracle, she didn’t have much time left. Hitler grew ever more ambitious. Bridge to Haven is one of the edgiest Christian romances I have had the pleasure of reading in a long while. This is a book you won’t want to miss and won’t soon forget. Parents Guide. Abra soaked in the warmth and felt drowsy. If things become too much for you, we’ll call the caseworker. You can sense the deep hurt on both sides, but also the … “You know what he’ll say.” She started to cry. Usually Mommy stood right next to her. He passed by Eddie’s Diner, the students’ favorite hangout place. Joshua cleared and washed the dishes. no.”, A Path to Redeeming Love: A Forty-Day Devotional. Her husband had put up gates so their four-year-old, Penny, couldn’t escape the living room. “I think it’s time to go home.” He put an arm around Mommy and drew her to her feet. . “Well, I won’t speculate. Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody. He could see a campfire and approached the men sitting around it, asking if they minded if he joined them. Doesn’t she break your heart?”, He did look, and his heart softened. Bridge to Haven is replete with this theme of unconditional love meets temptation, trial, and failure. Daddy sat on the bed, rocking her back and forth as he sobbed. How do you know when it’s time to keep pursuing something or time to let go? Taking her in for her first years, he eventually feels he must give her to another family from his church to raise. “Now, we must be serious.” She stepped aside and waved her hand airily for Abra to sit on the stool. In the end, it ends up being a story of redemption when Abra finally gives her life over to the Lord. What is missing? . Uttering a strangled sob, she turned away, searching. Now, all she wants is a way back home. How did you handle it? Come on, now. Before he could raise his head, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pastor Zeke finds her there. Why. Filling his lungs with cool October air, Pastor Ezekiel Freeman started his morning vigil. “This is another compelling and moving story by one of the genre’s most honored and talented writers. Eventually she is baptized under the bridge. Abra sat shivering in the front pew while Mommy practiced hymns at the piano, even though Daddy had turned on the furnace so the sanctuary would be warm for tomorrow’s service. “What’s the matter?”, Daddy picked Abra up. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Sometimes, she made coffee and even filled a teacup for Abra, letting her pour in cream and as much sugar as she wanted. “Our Father, who art in heaven . Caring for another newborn would be far too taxing for her. He searched the shadows, heart pounding. Is Abra to blame for Franklin’s suicide? “Marianne. Marianne laughed. How did that scene make you feel? “Cold morning to be gadding about the streets, Pastor. Even fewer know the price she's paid to fin… More. “I felt impelled to go. No longer in the protected warmth of a mother’s womb, the abandoned baby felt the stinging cold of the world. “She needs a real name, Zeke. Haven’t I said so?”. “It’s just an idea your daddy got into his head a long time ago. Did you have a mentor like that when you were growing up, or do you have one now? .” When they finished, he leaned down and kissed her. She’ll be in a crib, then a regular bed. Waving her hands around her face, Abra said she was fine and dandy, and headed for Mitzi’s closet. “Well, hellfire and hallelujah, don’t let me stop you from doing your business.” He barked a hard laugh. “I love you, Daddy.” He said he loved her, too. “You already know the invitation is always open.”, Dutch wilted slightly. A name full of promise and hope.”. “Oh, Lord . “You found her, Daddy. I gave up and packed away every- thing breakable. He breathed on her face to warm her up. Do you think he made the right choice? Daddy and Joshua put up lights around the outside of the house. He went down to the riverbank and followed them across the sand to the gravel beneath the bridge. by Novel Rocket. You can rest without worry or interruptions for a few hours.”. How did you handle it? I forgot all the temptations. As a teenager, Abra tells Joshua, “I can’t remember a time when I haven’t felt like I wasn’t enough.” Why do you think she feels this way, when she is surrounded by people like Pastor Zeke, Joshua, Mitzi, and the Matthews family— all people who love her? . To those who matter in 1950s Hollywood, Lena Scott is the hottest rising star to hit the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe. God does that sometimes.”, Dutch looked pained. She chose the darkest red lipstick from Mitzi’s horde of small tubes. She had. She stood, nudging the stool aside, and kept playing, putting one foot out and then the other, in a clumsy hop-kick, hop-kick. Bridge to Haven (Book) : Rivers, Francine : Having been abandoned as a newborn and found and raised by Pastor Ezekiel Freeman in the small California town of Haven, Abra Matthews feels like she doesn't belong and at the age of seventeen runs off to Hollywood, becoming starlet Lena Scott. The crickets in the tall grass and the hoot owl in a towering pine fell silent as a car pulled into Riverfront Park, stopping near the rest- rooms. Except when she didn’t feel good. Summaries. . “She’s been after me for years. Please. There is one bridge that we will all cross. Zeke came back to the hospital in the middle of the day to see Sharon. Her name came out then in a hoarse cry as he flipped away the covers and lifted her. Panting in the shadows beneath the bridge, she looked up between the steel supports to the star-studded sky. Mommy lifted the covers. “Marianne?” Straightening, he turned on the light. You might cut yourself.” When she burst into tears, he pulled her close. The door swung open and Mommy appeared, her smile dying. The lights were on inside. “Be good for Mitzi, honey.”. To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. She rolled onto her back. He crossed Main Street and walked down to the railroad tracks toward Hobo Junction. During summer months, he often crossed over to Riverfront Park, especially when the camp was full of visitors living in pitched tents at the small adjacent campground. How and when is her prayer eventually answered? To Pastor Ezekiel Freeman, Abra will always be the little girl who stole his heart the night he found her, a wailing newborn abandoned under a bridge on the outskirts of Haven. Mitzi is a stable force in Abra’s life, a loving friend who is always honest with her. The insatiable führer continued sending planes west across the English Channel to bomb England while his troops stormed Russia’s borders to the east. He waited another moment and then turned away. He frowned. Bridge to Haven has been added to my Top Ten for 2014 and My All Time Favorites List. Even fewer know the price she's paid to finally feel like she's somebody. “Did you cut yourself?” She shook her head. A New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller! The child came in a rush of slick warmth, spilling from her body, and the young woman gasped in relief. She shook her head, smiling faintly. Right now, all I feel like doing is spitting in God’s face. Eventually she is baptized under the bridge. Finders, keepers.” “She’s not a penny I found on a sidewalk, Son. Mommy helped Miss Mitzi wash and dry cookie plates. Even fewer know the price she’s paid to finally feel like she’s somebody. When Sharon held out her hand, he took it and prayed for her and for Dutch. Essential for Rivers’ many fans.” —Library Journal (starred), “One of the edgiest Christian romances I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time. The attack also was made on all Naval and military activities on the principal island of Oahu. What are some bridges in your own life? 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