Third Time's a Charm (36 page)

She grinned up at him. “Thank you. So do you. You should wear a tux more often.”

He stuck a finger in his collar and tugged at the bow tie. “Nah. It makes the customers at the hardware store nervous.” Then his eyes softened. “The next time I wear one of these, I won’t be walking down this aisle. I’ll be waiting up at the altar.”

A delicious thrill shot through her as heat flooded her face. Some day she’d have her turn. But today was Joan’s day. She looked toward the end of the line, where Joan waited with her arm tucked into Eric’s. The happiness in her sister’s face stirred up a joy deep in Tori’s soul.

She deserves to be this happy.

Ryan saw her glance and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Is she sad that your father isn’t here?”

“Oh, He’s here.” Tori covered Ryan’s hand with hers and squeezed. “He’s always here.”

Acknowledgments

As I wrote this book, I was so aware that this would be the last novel about the Sanderson sisters. Writing their stories has been a tremendous joy. I’ve poured my own family relationships into the Sister-to-Sister books, and when I first started on this fictitious journey, Joan, Allie, and Tori bore more than a passing resemblance to me and my sisters. But as their stories developed, the Sandersons took on personalities and thoughts all their own. It has been delightful—and sometimes surprising—to record their journeys to a place of ultimate peace and happiness with their heavenly Father.

There is zero possibility that these books would have existed without my sisters. Susie Smith and Beth Marlowe are not only constant sources of inspiration, they’re my best friends and a true gift from the Father we share.

My husband, Ted, made this book possible in tangible ways—he has supported me in every way a writer (or wife) needs support, and I’m more grateful than I can express.

My daughter, Christy Delliskave, remains one of my most ardent fans. What a joy to see her becoming the woman I’ve always prayed she would be. I love you, sweetie.

My mom, Amy Barkman, has been an unceasing source of encouragement, support, and prayer cover my whole life. Thanks so much, Mom.

Funny story: when I wrote
Stuck in the Middle
, which focused on Joan Sanderson, I had to come up with an occupation for Allie and Tori. I arbitrarily decided Tori would be a marketing research analyst. It sounded like a good idea at the time. But when I started writing her book, I realized I had no idea what a marketing research analyst did! I contacted Martin Jackson, who actually has a degree in that stuff, and offered to buy his lunch if he’d help me. What followed was a crash course in marketing over a long lunch, and then several months of detailed emails on the subject. Martin’s patient tutoring helped me craft the story, and I can’t thank him enough.

Of course, a good researcher uses multiple sources. I also put out a call to the American Christian Fiction Writers, and received many pieces of advice from marketing-savvy authors. (Thank you, one and all!) In particular, author James L. Rubart exchanged many lively emails with me, and threw a monkey wrench into my original plot. His comments sparked the idea for Tori’s competitive attempt to be promoted to Account Executive, which shaped the entire story. Since Martin got a lunch out of the deal, here’s my official IOU to Jim—next time we’re together, lunch is on me!

Special thanks to my friend and fellow writer, Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury, for putting up with my complaining when I’d reached that awkward halfway point, and for saying, “What if she suffers from the impostor syndrome?” Amazing how one little comment will rekindle the flames of motivation that see you through to the end. Thanks, Kathleen! And another special thanks to my longtime friend, Barbara Penegor, for jumping in to proofread the manuscript on super short notice. I’m so grateful, Barbara!

Several people have helped me stay the course in this crazy publishing industry. Thanks to Wendy Lawton, who is everything an agent should be. And to my editor, Vicki Crumpton, for believing that I had something worthwhile to say, and helping me say it effectively. And thanks to Michele Misiak, Barb Barnes, and all the others at Revell for being so professional and amazingly awesome at everything they do.

My stories are fiction. But I strive to demonstrate one Truth in every book: we have a very real heavenly Father who will go to extreme measures to let us know how much He loves us. I pray you’ve felt that love as you read
Third
Time’s a Charm
.

Virginia Smith
is the author of eleven novels, including
Stuck in the Middle
and
Age before Beauty,
the first two books in the Sister-to-Sister series. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines, and her short fiction has been anthologized. An energetic speaker, she delights audiences with her high-energy style and poignant illustrations from her own life.

Visit her website at
www.VirginiaSmith.org
.

Books by Virginia Smith

S
ISTER-TO-
S
ISTER

Stuck in the Middle

Age before Beauty

Third Time’s a Charm