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since she d met them two years ago outside this very church.
Gone were the anxious, traumatized looks they d worn in those
early days. Thanks to Clay s willingness to fight for their hap-
piness, they were now cheerful, well-adjusted children.
Finally, her gaze came to rest on Clay as he smiled at his new
son. With selflessness, courage and love, he d accepted the chal-
lenge God had set before him and given two lost little children
new hope and new life. Just as he had done for her.
Sensing her scrutiny, Clay smiled at Cate. She was beautiful
every day, he thought, but today she looked radiant. And angelic.
In truth, he didn t think that description was a stretch. In
many ways, she was a gift from God. Until she d come along,
he d been drifting like a ship without a rudder or an anchor.
He d been moving through life, not living it. It had taken Cate,
208 Apprentice Father
with her courage and strength and tremendous capacity to love,
to show him that commitments and relationships and love didn t
hold you back. They gave you a reason to go forward.
As the minister spoke the beautiful words of the baptismal
rite, reminding them of the transforming power of God s miracu-
lous love, Clay knew he, too, had been transformed by that same
love. For nothing short of a miracle would have brought him
home to the Lord. Or forged a reconciliation with his father. Or
given him the courage to open his heart to love.
And so, as he reached for Cate s hand and entwined his fingers
with hers, he gave thanks.
For one more chance.
And for happily-ever-afters.
* * * * *
Dear Reader,
This book started life as a romantic suspense novel. But it became
clear to me early on that the suspense element distracted from
the gripping story of Clay s emotional journey toward faith,
family and love. So after some revisions, APPRENTICE
FATHER was born. The final product touched my heart, and I
hope it touches yours.
To learn more about my books, I invite you to visit my Web site
at www.irenehannon.com. And please watch for my new
Nantucket-based Steeple Hill series, Lighthouse Lane, beginning
this May with TIDES OF HOPE.
In the meantime, I wish all of you a spring filled with hope and
promise. Like Clay, may you always be open to the  one more
chance the Lord offers each of us with the dawn of every new day.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. In Apprentice Father, Clay decides to put the interests of the
children above his own a choice that radically alters his
life. Have you ever been faced with a decision that required
sacrifice on your part? What did you decide? Why?
2. When Josh and Emily first enter Clay s life, he doesn t think
he s qualified to care for them. Yet early on, he displays
behavior that suggests otherwise. Describe some of the
things he does in the first fifty pages of the book that show
his caring nature.
3. When Clay s sister dies he blames his father, who pressured
her to stay in an abusive marriage. Yet, there are many
reasons women remain in bad relationships. Do you know
of anyone in an abusive relationship? Why is the person
staying? What can you do to help in a situation like that?
4. Cate is jilted by the man she loves because of her disabil-
ities. In a society that idealizes physical perfection, it can
be difficult to look past appearances. Have you ever been
rejected or judged because of your appearance? How
did you handle it? How can we do a better job valuing
people for what is inside rather than outside? What does the
Bible teach in this regard?
5. When the book begins, Josh and Emily are traumatized.
How does their behavior reflect their ordeal and the home
environment in which they lived? What are the most impor-
tant things Clay and Cate do to help them recover? Do you
think their experiences will affect them long-term? If so,
how?
6. Clay and his father have been alienated for many years.
Was the estrangement justified? What could each of them
have done to heal the rift sooner? Are you estranged from
anyone in your life? Can you think of some ways to bridge
the gap? What keeps you from making an overture to that
person?
7. Cate s quiet faith and Clay s experience at the church he
attends alter his view of Christianity. What did he discover
that helped him find his way back to the Lord?
8. Cate comes from a large and loving family that welcomes
Clay and the children into its fold. Yet belonging whether
to a church or a family makes Clay nervous. Why? What
does he learn that helps him overcome his aversion to
commitments?
9. Despite the loss of her dreams, Cate goes on to find a new
life. Yet she admits that her faith faltered in the face of ad-
versity. Have you ever had a setback that shook your faith?
In what way? How did you find your way back to the Lord?
10. Why is Clay so touched by the children s Father s Day gifts?
Talk about the best gift you ever received and why it was
special. What does the gift of salvation teach us about the
attributes of a good gift?
11. According to Pop, roots are anchors that allow a plant to
grow strong enough to withstand any storm. In the begin-
ning of the book, Clay thinks of roots as chains. How do you
view roots? Why? How have your roots played a role in
making you the person you are?
STEEPLE HILL BOOKS
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2822-5
APPRENTICE FATHER
Copyright © 2009 by Irene Hannon
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any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments,
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