From the Publisher

Things are ever changing at Peerbaugh Place, and Evelyn Peerbaugh is once again opening her home to new boarders. This time she's got more than she bargained for. With one new tenant whose vanity exceeds all bounds and another who is a doormat to her dominating fiancé, it seems these women will never find common ground even as they share one house. But Mae, Piper, Audra, and Tessa are all close by to keep the Sister Circle going. Evelyn even finds the courage to open her heart to new love . . . and she's not the only one! The women of Peerbaugh Place are about to enter a whole new season of the heart.

What People Are Saying

J.R.
I have read the 3 sister books within the last 3 weeks and can hardly wait until the next one is out. I can identify with Evelyn as I was widowed at 46 and opened my home to students at our local college. I should have kept notes!!!

C.C.
I just finished your third book today and LOVED it. It is so comforting and inspiring - I LOVE to visit Peerbaugh Place and become friends with Evelyn, Mae, Piper, Wayne, Margaret and all them. What wonderful characters!

M.B.
There are not words to express how excited I was when I was loaned a copy of the first novel in the Sister Circle series. I finished it in two sittings and went out the next day to buy the two following books. Since then I have given away a set of the books to a kind lady who is always doing volunteer service in the church; a copy of the first book to several friends. Daily another person comes to my mind with whom I want to share a copy.

Product Details

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Table of Contents

Read a Sample Chapter

An Undivided Heart

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Chapter One

Something was up.

Evelyn knew it from the moment Herb Evans knocked on the door to pick her up for their date. He usually rang the doorbell, but this time, he announced his presence with a snappy rhythm.

Herb was nice ... but snappy?

She opened the door and found him grinning at her, holding a bouquet of yellow mums. "Hi-ya, Evelyn."

She drew in a breath. "Hi, Herb."

He shoved the flowers toward her. "These are for you."

"What's the occasion?"

"Oh, nothing."

Just the way he said it told her it was something. And her first inclination was to push the mums back into his arms, keep pushing him out the door, shut it, and flip the lock.

How odd.

Herb bounced twice on his toes. "Ready to go?"

I have a headache, a backache. I have to clean the oven....

For the first time, Herb's face clouded. "Evelyn? Is something wrong?"

Evelyn was saved from having to answer by the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. "Hi, Herb. Where you two heading?"

"Hi, Piper." He put a hand on Evelyn's shoulder. "It's a surprise."

She was doomed.

Piper gave her a questioning look, letting Evelyn know she wasn't hiding a thing. If only she didn't have such a transparent face.

"Can I steal her away from you a moment, Herb?" Piper slipped a hand through Evelyn's arm.

"Sure ... I guess."

"Have a seat in the parlor. I'll get her back to you in just a minute." Piper led her away. Evelyn had rarely felt such relief and would have been content if the minute would be extended tenfold. Or a hundred.

They entered the kitchen. Piper made sure the door was shut before she spoke. "Okay. Spill it. Why the look of total panic?"

It would sound dumb because it was. It didn't make any sense at all.

"Evelyn ... you're acting like you don't want to go out with him. You've been dating Herb for nearly eight months."

"Has it been that long?"

Piper let out a sigh. "Evelyn ... what's happening?"

She moved to a chair and sat. Piper joined her. "He brought me flowers."

"How dare he."

"He's smiling."

"A sure sign of a scheming man."

Evelyn's left hand found her right. "He's not a scheming man. He's a nice man."

"I figured as much, or else you wouldn't have dated him so long."

"He's ... he's serious about me."

"Of course he is. You're both in your late fifties, Evelyn. People your age generally don't date around. They're done playing the games of youth."

Evelyn felt herself being studied. She didn't like it.

"Have you been toying with his affection?"

"No!"

Piper's right eyebrow raised.

"I didn't mean to."

Piper sat back, looking at the kitchen door. "Do you think he's going to propose? Is that what you're afraid of?"

That was it. "I don't know, but when he showed up today, my entire body started vibrating-and it wasn't from anticipation." She leaned toward Piper, whispering. "I wanted to run."

Piper shook her head. "Oh, Evelyn ..."

"I know. What should I do? I don't want to hurt him."

"I'm afraid there's no way not to."

"Oh dear."

"Surely this isn't a total surprise. Surely the idea of marriage crossed your mind at some point these last eight months."

Evelyn rubbed the space between her eyes, wishing all her thoughts and feelings would become clear. "I suppose it did. But I never let it get past the idea stage."

"Do you love him?"

She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. "I like him a lot. I like being with him. I like ... I like having a man tell me I'm pretty. Aaron never did that."

"Herb fills a need."

It sounded so callous. "Well, sure. I guess. But I think I fill a need in him too."

"Obviously. But now he wants more."

So simply said. "He wants more."

They shared a moment of silence. "He's waiting."

"I know."

"What are you going to do?"

Evelyn sat up straight. "Maybe he won't ask. Maybe I've read the situation wrong."

"But maybe you haven't."

She had a thought that contradicted the rest, and yet was very strong. "Maybe I shouldn't fight it."

"What are you saying?"

What was she saying? "What would be wrong with me marrying Herb?"

Piper's hands filled the space between them, fending off the idea. "What just happened here? One minute you're scared he will propose and now you're thinking about saying yes?"

"It might be nice to be married again."

Piper sprang from her chair and began to pace. "If you love someone, Evelyn. If you love him."

Love. What was love? "But like you said, Herb and I are in our late fifties. Maybe the type of love we're supposed to experience in order to be married has changed. Maybe there isn't supposed to be ... passion."

Piper stopped pacing and gawked at her. "Don't you dare say that."

"Companionship is good. It's nice."

"Enough with the 'nice.' If you want nice, be his friend. You're thinking of this all wrong, Evelyn. You don't marry someone as an antidote to eating alone."

"But maybe you do."

Piper shoved her hands on her hips. "Fine. Go marry him. Go settle."

Settle. It was an awful word.

The kitchen door swung open a few inches. It was Herb. "Evelyn? Is everything all right?"

Piper also waited for her answer. Two against one.

Evelyn stood. "Everything's fine, Herb. Let's go."

"Good," he said. "'Cause I have a real nice evening planned."

Evelyn felt Piper's eyes on her back even after the kitchen door swung shut.

* * *

Piper poured herself a glass of milk, cut herself a brownie-a monster brownie-and sat at the kitchen table. Comfort food was essential to a good pity party.

It's not that she begrudged Evelyn her dates with Herb. She was sincerely thrilled for them.

But what about me?

Ah. That was the bottom line. Herb and Evelyn had been dating eight months, the same amount of time that had elapsed since she'd broken off with Dr. Gregory Baladino. Piper lost a man and Evelyn gained one. Not fair. Not fair at all.

Especially since she'd given up Gregory for God. Not that she'd given up all men for the Almighty, but she'd broken off with Gregory because God was very specific in His instruction not to be "unequally yoked." It was like connecting two different animals to a common yoke. They wouldn't pull the same, or with the same strength and purpose.

So it was with people. A believer in Jesus like herself was not to become romantically involved with someone who didn't believe, because without that common bond, they wouldn't pull the same, with the same strength and purpose. Marriage was about complementing each other, sharing everything. But it wasn't enough to like the same movies and food, want the same number of children, or want to be with each other every moment of the day. It was important to share the spiritual side too, because in the end, in the dark times and the bright, faith would be needed to see them through.

Breaking up with Gregory had been the hardest decision Piper had ever made. And Gregory, who'd grown up not believing much of anything in a house divided between Catholic and Jewish, had actually praised her for standing up for her beliefs, for obeying her God's instructions.

Then why did she feel so empty?

Piper took a bite of brownie and heard the front door open.

"Yoo-hoo? It's me."

Me was Mae. Mae Ames from across the street.

"Back here," Piper said.

Mae appeared holding the handle of a measuring cup with both hands. "I've been sent for macaroni."

"By whom?"

Mae swept one hand through the air, rolled her eyes, and took a seat, seemingly in a single motion. "My dear Collie has decided he wants homemade mac 'n cheese. Can you imagine?"

"What's wrong with the boxed kind?"

"Exactly. And since my kids and I OD'd on the cheapy food after Danny left us, I vowed I'd never eat the stuff again." She placed both hands flat on the table as if bracing herself. "Get this: he even has a recipe for it."

Piper gasped in mock horror.

"I know, I know. He's over the edge."

Piper laughed. "You're getting quite domestic."

"Shh! Don't tell anyone. It will blow my image." She noticed Piper's brownie. "Ooh. Point me to one of those."

Piper pointed to the pan on the counter.

Mae got one the size of a piece of bread and helped herself to a glass of milk. She took a bite as she returned to her seat. "I saw Evelyn leave with Herb. They're a cute couple."

Piper answered with a sigh.

"Uh-oh. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. They are a cute couple."

"Mixed vibes! Mixed vibes. Fess up."

"I'm not sure if I'm distressed or relieved that you can read so much into my sigh."

"Hey, it's a sister's job to read another sister. Sister sighs are almost as telling as sister moans."

Piper suddenly felt tears threaten.

Mae's hand was on hers in a second. "You thinking about your mom?"

Piper was appalled to realize she wasn't. And her mother's death was certainly something to cry about.

"It's only been three months, Pipe. It takes a long time to deal with the death of a parent. How's your dad doing?"

She was glad to talk about someone else. "He's doing okay. He's getting involved in church again. That helps. I'm having dinner with him Thursday."

"Collie wondered if your dad plays golf."

"Not well."

"Perfect. I'll have Collie give him a call."

"That would be nice."

They ate another bite in silence. Piper felt Mae's eyes on her and wished she could deflect some of the sister radar.

It didn't work.

"Have you seen your handsome doctor lately?"

Bingo. "He's not my handsome doctor."

"Which is the real problem before us this evening, isn't it?"

Piper downed her milk so she'd have a reason to get up from the table, pretending to want more. "The book's closed on Gregory and me. You know that, Mae."

"Zounds, sister. I see pages turning, practically flapping in the wind, trying to get to the next chapter."

Piper leaned against the refrigerator. "You're reading way ahead."

"But if he does get with the program ..."

Piper had to laugh. "I've never heard that phrase used in conjunction with becoming a Christian."

"An oversight, I'm sure." Mae patted Piper's place at the table. "Sit down and tell Auntie Mae all about it."

Piper returned to her seat. "There's nothing to tell."

"Gracious Gobstoppers, Pipe, you still love him. That's plenty to tell."

"I keep praying God will take the feeling away."

"Why? Love's a good thing."

"Not when it can never be fulfilled."

"Never tell God never. Maybe He's working on Gregory's heart this very minute."

Piper shrugged.

"Arghh! I swear I'm going to the legislature to get shrugs banned." Mae grabbed the measuring cup and headed to the pantry. "You are a most frustrating woman."

"Frustrated."

The phone rang. Mae was closest so she picked it up. It must have been Collier because she said, "My, my, you are hungry, aren't you? Hold your tootsies, Mr. Husband; I'm on my way." She hung up, found the macaroni and poured the cup full. "Don't give up on love, sister. Look at me. It was nearly thirty years between Danny and Collie."

"If you think that's encouraging ..."

"Ah, but it should be. If God can find a strange bird like me a good man, He most certainly can do the same for a nice girl like you."

"I'm not a girl anymore, Mae. I'm thirty-five."

Mae paused at the door. "Yeah, well ..."

Exactly. What could she say?

Mae backtracked for her brownie, balancing it on top of the cup of macaroni. "If you feel like some company later on, come on over. Collie's starting a new puzzle." She made a finger circle by her ear. "It will be another rip-roaring evening at the Ames residence."

When Mae left, as the silence of Peerbaugh Place tucked around her, Piper cut herself another dose of chocolate.

* * *

Evelyn was running out of conversation. Keeping a stream of banter going throughout dinner was exhausting, and yet it was the only way she could think of to prevent Herb from popping the question.

She could tell it was getting to him. His brows were in a holding position, nearly touching. Could she blame him? She was annoying even herself. But what choice did she have?

"Heddy is moving out this weekend because she needs a larger place for her sewing. Catherine's Wedding Creations is a huge success, and she and Audra have weddings booked way into July."

"Speaking of weddings ..."

She sped ahead. "So you see I'm in the looking-for-tenants mode again. Already have one empty as Gail moved out a couple weeks ago, all nicely reconciled with Terry and little Jacob. Sure, we're sorry to see her go, but we're happy for her too. It's always nice to witness happy endings."

"Or live one."

Evelyn felt herself redden. She dabbed her mouth with her napkin even though it had been ages since she'd eaten a bite. Her mind was suddenly blank.

"Well-" Herb put his fork down-"I finally said something that shut you up."

"Herb!"

"I'm sorry, Evelyn. But you've been going on and on all evening making it impos-"

"I was only sharing my day with you, Herb."

"Your day, Piper's day, Audra's day ... I didn't take you out to dinner to get an update on the world."

She knew an apology would be appropriate. "Not the world. My world. Peerbaugh Place. If you don't like-"

"If I don't like it, what?"

Did she just pick a fight? "Forget it. Let's move on."

"How nice of you to finally give me a turn."

"I was just trying to make conversation."

"Conversation is two people talking, not one person giving a ... a ..." His forehead contorted as he searched for the word. She wasn't about to help him. "A monologue. That's it. Monologue."

It was better than diatribe.

"I thought you were interested in my life."

"I am. But I'm more interested in our lives. Us. Together. Plural."

Was this how it was going to play out? A proposal in the middle of an argument? This isn't how she wanted it to happen. Yet she didn't want it to happen at all. So maybe the argument was a way out. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Maybe it-

Herb was studying her. Did he see her inner battle? Obviously yes, for he suddenly turned around, looking for the waiter. "Check, please!" He turned back, pointing at her leftover pasta. "You want a doggie bag for that?"

"No thanks."

Oh dear. She doubted she'd ever eat again.

Continues...

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Excerpted from An Undivided Heart by Vonette Z. Bright Nancy Moser Copyright © 2004 by Vonette Bright and Nancy Moser . Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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