Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(89)

Meridith felt her lips curling upward. She nodded.

Jake’s grin turned into a full-fledged smile. He turned to the judge. “Downstairs, you said?”

The children whooped and hollered.

The judge tapped his gavel. “All right, all right. Settle down, and let’s get this done. You’ll need to apply for a marriage license and you’ll need a court waiver for the three-day waiting period. Fortunately, I can help with that.”

He cleared his throat. “Now, upon the immediate marriage of Mr. Walker and Ms. Ward, I’ll grant shared custody of the three Ward children, if that’s agreeable to you all.” He pointed the gavel at Meridith and Jake. “And remember, you’re still under oath.”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Jake said.

“Yes, I accept.” Meridith met Jake’s gaze and saw the promises reflected there, felt the love she’d longed for all her life.

The judge shuffled his papers. “Fine, fine. I now pronounce you a family. We stand adjourned.” He gave a hard tap with the gavel. “Now, go get married.”





Dear Friend,

If you’re familiar with Nantucket, you’ll know that Driftwood Lane is a fictional street. I take special care to get the details right, so I hope you’ll grant me artistic license in this one thing.

I hope you’ve been entertained and inspired by the special love between Meridith and Jake. Meridith learned through her relationship with Jake that her fear was robbing her of life’s greatest joys. Maybe you’ve faced your own fears, whatever they are, and found that doing so will ultimately set you free, just as it did for Meridith.

Writing this letter is bittersweet because it marks the end of my journey to Nantucket with you. I’ve learned so much about God’s love through these four stories and I hope you have too. Going on these adventures would be no fun without you, so thank you, friend, for coming along for the ride. May God bless you and your family with His lavish love.

— In His Grace,

Denise





Reading Group Guide

1. Meridith’s father left her the gift and responsibility of his children. Has God ever given you a responsibility that you felt was more than you could handle? What did you do about it?

2. Meridith knew about her siblings before she was asked to be their guardian, but she didn’t know them personally until she came to the island. Do you think it’s possible to know about God but not know Him personally? Why or why not?

3. Meridith’s unstable childhood left her with the need to control everything around her. How does this kind of control give us a false sense of security?

4. Jake had a way of making Meridith feel unsettled. Has God ever made you feel unsettled? Are you afraid to let Him have control over every aspect of your life?

5. Piper was afraid of leaving her yard because doing so in the past had caused her pain. Have you ever had the whole world at your feet and settled for the yard?

6. Jake brought a lot of changes and growth in Meridith before she even knew who he was. Has there ever been a situation where God worked, unrecognized, in your life? How did you come to recognize His handiwork?

7. When Meridith realized Jake could offer the children more stability than she, she gave them up. How does this show her coming full circle in light of her childhood?

8. Driftwood is symbolic in the story. In what ways does it symbolize Meridith or, for that matter, all of us?