Shannon here: Christina Rost shares how she met her husband and how her characters meet in an excerpt from her debut Contemporary Romance, The Decision. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy. Deadline: July 1st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Christina:
How I met my best friend and love of my life.
Steve and I were in French class together. I was a sophomore, and he was a senior. I was the better student, but he knew more French.
As Christmas break approached, our teacher gave us minimal work and plenty of time to socialize.
Steve had his music with him, and I was curious about what he liked to listen to. It was a great excuse to start up a conversation. I discovered he loved rock. I wasn’t a fan. But he had a quiet way about him and kind blue eyes, so I decided it couldn’t hurt to just hang out for the class period.
After that day, on my walks to and from school, something odd happened–a sleek, red 65 Chevy Impala, with heart-pounding music, began appearing on my route home. It was Steve. He’d slow down, rev the engine, then speed away.
Since we only had a few days left until break, I decided to bring up the subject of his attempt to run me off the road.
“Instead of trying to run me over, why don’t you just take me home?”
He agreed.
I was shocked. If I was dropped off by a senior, in a hot red car, blaring rock music, I would be grounded–forever. Maybe my dad wouldn’t care because he loved classic cars.
I had another burning concern. Who was the other girl in the front seat? The one I noticed as he sped away on my walks home. Did he really agree to take me home with his girlfriend in the car? What had I just gotten myself into?
It’s just one ride home. Right? After break, we won’t even be in class together.
After school, I found his car and met his … sister. Who he quickly relocated to the backseat. (To this day I still feel a little bad about that. Sorry Melissa.)
From that day forward Steve’s been my ride home, my lunch date, my prince charming, but most of all my best friend.
He still drives a hot red car, but he’s stopped trying to run me over.
Steve and I have three amazing children and will celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary this October.
In my debut novel, The Decision, my main characters are thrown together as prisoners for very different reasons. Her captors believe Ava is a nurse and her first few hours with Blake (who she mistakenly calls Maxwell because of his uniform) are heart wrenching and emotional as she takes on the daunting task of cleaning his wounds.
Excerpt from The Decision:
Taking off the man’s uniform jacket, she folded it and laid it next to her. The fabric smelled like earth and blood, and looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks. Frowning, she tugged at his worn, caramel-colored undershirt. Unable to lift his bulky arms out of their sleeves, she opted to rip the thin tatters of fabric and discard the shirt into the corner of the room. Now with him on his stomach, she studied the stripes on his back.
Ava blinked back tears. The wounds were no longer bleeding but only swollen and wet. “What happened to you, Maxwell?” The question fell off her lips in a whisper as her heart twisted like a vine. Whatever he’d been through, she was grateful he’d made it out alive.
Scanning the small room, she eyed a metal bucket near the door. Blowing out the dust, she poured in some of the steaming hot water, dipped a cloth in part way, then waved the blazing hot fabric in the air before she wrung it out. Blinking back tears, she pressed the cloth onto the soldier’s ripped skin. “I’m sorry, Maxwell. I hope this isn’t too painful.”
He flinched under her initial touch, his back muscles tensing and then releasing slowly. In a whisper, she prayed he wouldn’t be too uncomfortable while she undertook the heartbreaking job of cleaning his wounds. Dipping the rag into the water, she repeated the process and begged God for the strength to continue. She’d only ever washed skinned knees and runny noses, not the beaten backs of grown men.
After several minutes, the soldier’s breathing slowed under her hands and Ava started to hum. Her lashes lowered, and her humming turned into the whispered words of Amazing Grace. She continued the refrain, along with her care of his wounds, being careful to keep her voice low and soothing. When her world was falling apart, it was the one song that gave her peace, and she hoped it would do the same for him.
Question for Readers: My husband and I met when we were in high school. We’ve learned so much about life and love in our 29 years of marriage and I’m grateful for the mentors who took time to be Christ-like marriage examples to us. What godly marriage advice would you give to a young couple just starting their marriage?
About Christina: Author Christina Rost is a mother to three amazing children and is married to
her high school sweetheart. While she currently resides in Oklahoma City, she’s lived all over the US, a few years in the UK, and loves to travel. When she isn’t spending time with her family or writing you’ll find her chatting over coffee and perusing antique stores for tattered books. Learn more & connect:
About the book – The Decision:
Running from her grief, interior designer Ava Stewart makes a hasty decision to join a missionary group heading to Uganda. She’s in the country only a few days before tragedy strikes and a mistaken identity leaves her with an uncertain outcome.
Special Operator Blake Martin is assigned to a humanitarian mission when he’s captured by a group of armed men. Wounded and miles away from his team, Blake’s brought to Ava, and she’s ordered to care for him.
Thrown together in chaos, with the threat of danger pressing in from all sides, Ava and Blake are forced to rely on each other–and God–to escape. An undeniable bond is formed during their flight to safety but opening their hearts to love carries its own risk. A risk they aren’t sure they’re willing to take.
Now, miles apart and living separate lives, they need to decide if the connection they shared in the untamed, wilds of Uganda is strong enough to confront the future. A future where Ava’s fragile heart and Blake’s hazardous job collide, and only God knows the outcome.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Get your copy now!
Come back June 27th for Donna Schlachter!
Glad to have you Christina. As a preacher’s wife, I often get to give engaged couples advice. I always tell them when you’re mad at your spouse, don’t tell your family and friends all about it. They’ll hold grudges. You’ll forgive, but they’ll turn bitter because they’re on your side and don’t love your spouse like you do. Then if they don’t like your spouse, they can plant little issues. Keep it between yourselves and God, and work it out.
That’s wonderful advice!
Hi, my advice is Always keep an open communication, tell each other what is going on and if something is bothering you let them know especially if it is something they said or did, always be able to talk to each other . And also it is now the 2 of you so it is not me, me, me it is now Us. Have a great weekend .
So true! Sharing isn’t always easy but takes care of so many misunderstandings!!
be respectful
Yes! Agree!
Thank you for sharing your story! So sweet 🙂
The advice – love God and love each other! Talk to each other!
Talking is so important! & I agree if you love God it does make loving one another easier!
Always be the first to apologize and forgive.
Oh that’s a good one! I’ll admit not always easy for me!
I have a winner! Pamela Freeman won the drawing. I appreciate Christina for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.