Special Event Online Read: by Arlene James

Not being at all shy myself, I had to draw on my acquaintance with the shy ones I know to work with this character. One particular lady, who doesn't wish to be mentioned by name, gave me insight into Becca. I never realized how very difficult shyness could make one's life until I sat down to speak with her. I just thank God that she opened up to me!

Arlene 

I can't imagine you ever being shy! I can see why you'd need to research that one. You're such a sunny and warm personality that I bet this character was a stretch for you. :)

Your comment, Frenchie gave me a chuckle because after I spoke to my shy friend, I wondered how many times I'd steamrolled her out of sheer impatience! You and I must have a good deal in common.

I grew up being very very shy.  I still kind of am, but not as bad.  My problem is being afraid of saying something that will be taken wrong by the receiver.  Not that I say inappropriate things, but my thoughts and ideas just don't seem important a lot of the time.

I can relate to Becca being at the ocean and unable to swim because of her glasses - what would the salt spray do to her glasses?  I'm in the same boat.  Can't see without 'em, so they get wet?

I have enjoyed reading the first chapter and look forward to reading the next installment.

I can really identify with the character when it comes to being shy.  I was also a teacher and enjoyed my students.  Had no trouble communicating, being animated, as soon as an adult would walk in the room I would freeze up.  Had a terrible time with administration evaluations because they thought I was as real dud.

I'm not shy, but I can empathize with Becca.  It will be interesting to watch her growth through this story.

I can see that she is going to look for obstacles. Well, I'll be patient with her, even if it kills me.   Really, 5 years is no biggie.  Why do so many women feel that they must be younger than their man or at least the same age.  It's experiences that count, not age.

Arlene, 

   You've definitely nailed the shy person's perspective for this story. As an introverted person myself, I can definitely relate to Becca's misgivings and hesitations, especially with romance. I hope this doesn't endanger her career as a teacher in any way; I'm studying to be a journalist which can be a cut-throat career, so I've learned that I have to climb out of my shell in that regard to be successful. It can take years to overcome shyness (I'm definitely not there yet!), but let's hope Becca isn't too painfully shy to pick - up on Davis' hints!  Here's hoping for a HEA without too many unneccessary complications! Can't wait for the next chapter...

                   ~Kit

I have always been painfully shy (a trait that I passed on to my daughter).  I am loving this story, you have projected feelings so well.  Some people consider me rude or stuck up because I don't interact well with adults (except for a few close friends).  Even if people at work say hi or good morning to me, I usually just smile and nod. I also agree with the others who are shy, lots of times I feel as if I'm put under a microscope and everyone is critiquing what I say.  Having a hard time even posting this.

You did good! 

I tend to be more chatty online with strangers than I am in real life, but hey... gotta start somewhere. 

I can't wait for the next chapter!

I agree--Arlene really nailed the shy personality traits! As someone who isn't really shy at all, (in most circumstances), I was so interested to read about a shy heroine. It is not something I am as familiar with so it was nice to read about something outside of my familiar realm. I really respect Becca. She has taken so much responsibility for her family--and at such a young age--I can't help but having a great deal of admiration for her, though I do feel a bit sorry for her at the same time.

I really like Davis more and more.  He has such a great attitude toward his family and seeing a man who is openly affectionate toward his brothers and sisters is always a turn on for me. 

A pastor in a sleek, sporty car, shifting gears like a NASCAR driver (ok, so that part was my image).. I love the sterotype being broken of what a minister of God is like.  Still loving, committed and all that good stuff.. but a modern, "guy" side too.     (Did I mention that romances about ministers are some of my very favorites?) 

Hmm.  I kind of agree about the age difference.. If he doesn't care, it doesn't seem so bad to me.. Actually it is PERFECT... men tend to die earlier than women, so she'll get to have him for longer!!!

Boy that Davis is sneaky!  "still praying" indeed!  How convenient since that gets him another date and puts her off from turning him down yet.  Very sneaky!

What an enchanting story! The characters are adorable. I'm so sad I have to wait until the 8th for chapter 3.

Pastor Davis was a little sneaky there, kinda cute though 

the next chapter should be interesting...

Hot is a fact of life, thankfully, although open to interpretation, and you can certainly say it in connection to Steeple Hill. I may not be able to say/write it in exact words, but I certainly hoped to get the point across--and apparently I did, at least in your case. As to finding Becca annoying, well, it's a hard fact of life that you just can't please all the people all the time, but that's exactly what we writers try to do. Thanks for commenting, and God bless,

They are a perfect match. They both share strong family ties and their differences compliment each other ( his outwardness and her shyness). I think that Davis is a perfect match for her and I can't wait to be there when she realizes that she can't live without him.

You have nailed it down on the head!  Davis is really hot as well as sneaky, and I think Becca is starting to get interested in him.  They are definitely made for each other.

I am also much less shy over the internet than I am in person.  I guess it's because I don't feel afraid.

Great story, Arlene!  I can hardly wait to see how this story plays out!

Hi Arlene. Your book sounds great! I think small towns are so neat to read about because while seemingly quiet, they've got all kinds of things going on beneath the surface. Thanks for chatting today.

I really like seeing Davis being so sweet.  And I like that Becca is seeming to come out of her shell, even if it's only a tiny bit.

I've been thinking about this for a while, but didn't comment on it.  It seems to me that, although I know Becca has a sweet, giving spirit, her grandmother, and to a certain extent, her parents, are taking advantage of her, too.  (Which is why I'm currenly giving Davis the benefit of a doubt.) 

From things mentioned in the story, her grandmother seems to not 'allow' Becca to have a life, maybe because she doesn't have one herself?  But that's no one's fault but her own.  She's allowing her disability to take over her life, and she's taking over Becca's along with it.  As for her parents, they can't make her not want to take care of her grandmother, but she's one of their responsibility, and they should help her, taking such a huge responsibility off Becca as often as possible.

Has anyone else felt/thought this, too?

Making us think is the goal, I know, Arlene.  And I think you're doing a wonderful job of it!

I so agree with everyone else on the Grandma issue. Here she is 30 something years old and taking care of her grandma, who's taking care of Becca? I find it hard to believe that her parents as well as her sister are so wrapped up in their own lives that they can't see that Becca is suffocating under her the responsibility of her Grandma's care.....Davis is her knight in shinning armor and I just know that he has come to save her,,,,the question is will she let him?

How prescient you all are to foresee this added complication! Yes, Grandma is controlling Becca to a large degree, but give the old girl a break. She is pretty helpless, has lost her anchor (Grandpa) and feels very much alone, a product of her distance from God--as I hope you will see. In her position, wouldn't you be terrified of being relegated to some dingy, impersonal facility and forgotten? Isn't that the fear of so many of our disabled elderly? Having been through the difficult process of caring for aging, disabled parents and grandparents, I know that sometimes the only option is skilled nursing care, but I also know that the specter of it hovers mercilessly over those who can no longer entirely care for themselves.

And yes, Becca's parents are taking advantage of her to a degree, but that's understandable, too. Look around and you'll see similar scenarios in real life.People are busy, especially if they run their own business and are married with family, as are Becca's parents and her sister. When a "less burdened" individual has shown a deep caring and concern for a disabled person, who is going to wind up the caretaker? It's all too easy to get on with life and forget that the caretaker's freedom has been severely curtailed. Besides, is it their fault if Becca's shyness prevents her from also making a life of her own?

On the other hand, to expect Becca to overcome her own handicap (extreme shyness) without support, encouragement and unconditional acceptance is not realistic. If she could do that, she already would have at her age. Something, or someone, has to spur that change in her. Enter Davis, whose wisdom and open heart allows him to see beyond the shyness to the lovely and talented woman beyond. In my mind, that wisdom, openness and loving heart trumps any behavior that might be deemed "sneaky."

But don't expect Becca to abandon what she accepts as her duty, anything that she sees as her duty. She has too much strength of character for that, despite her natural shyness, no matter how much she might be tempted to reach out for what she truly wants. Thankfully, she has her faith and the power of prayer to rely upon for guidance--and she's not the only one.

Thanks so much for reading and participating in the discussion. God bless. 

Becca is definitely being taken advantage of.  It's understandable, but it doesn't make it right.  Either her parents or sister should be helping out here.

Arlene, you are doing a great job of drawing us in to this story!  You even got us steamed up about gramma! 

Davis appeared at her concert, prayed with her to help give her the courage she needed, gave her roses,  just asked to call on her, and she just said yes!  She has also admitted to herself that she loves him.  It looks like she is starting to come out of her shell a little bit.

I think Davis will step up to the plate for her, and win over gramma as well as Becca in the end.

I'm looking forward to the next chapters to see how this will all play out.

Most of the stress that is on Becca is her own fault but i think that her mannerisms have been this way for years, well into her childhood which moves the issue back to the parents......We as people tend to use those who allow us to use them and avoid those who would put up a fight.   i think her sister being as free spirited as she seems would have complained from the beginning so of course she wasn't the chosen one. Coming from the south, respecting elders is a huge thing and I think I would probably be more like Becca than I care to admit but like you have all mentioned, it dosen't make it right.. GOD states that we should treat other as we would have them treat us : i think Becca is doing this as far as her Grandma is concerned now it's time for soemone to do the same for Becca and i know that Arlene has it coming, Let's just keep on watching (reading) girls.

Oh, wow. I'm learning so much from you guys. What a gift for an author. Thank you all for taking the time to comment.

Frenchie, you're correct. Just because something is normal doesn't mean that it's right. 

CathyP, you got it! This is Becca poking her nose out of her shell for the first time.

Crystal, I didn't take your earlier comment about Davis being sneaky as meaning that he was "bad." The analogy of taming a skittish horse (ahem, gal who grew up on a working ranch here) is an apt one, not that I would equate Becca with an animal. Nevertheless, sometimes you have to creep up on a nervous horse and distract it in order to catch and tame it. Just so, Davis has to ease up and distract her from her fearful, automatic refusal to engage with him in order to win her over.

CJohn, I think you are correct, too. Good parents draw out their timid children and take their natural inclinations into consideration. At some point, however, even a good parent backs off, and Becca is in her 30s. Adult patterns are long established by her age. I put her in her 30s for that very reason, and I gave her an outgoing sister who demanded, and continues to demand, the lion's share of attention. Otherwise, Becca's crippling shyness would be inexplicable. As it is, her personality simply does not appeal to everyone (but that's always the case, alas), so I had to give her as much "excuse" for such crippling, continued shyness as I could.

 April, you, too, have nailed it. Grandma IS being selfish. Her fear and self-pity have led her to be so, but she does have reason for that fear and some self-pity. Also, she doesn't have your wealth of experience to draw upon and give her wisdom beyond herself.

I know from experience that fear and self-pity can result in selfishness. After my mother-in-law died, my father-in-law's heart became so weak that he periodically blacked out. We didn't want him to continue living alone, and he certainly could not continue to drive! Yet, he fought us every step of the way and even wanted my husband to retire early and move into his old, falling-down house to take care of him. He wouldn't even consider coming to our much larger home, though he was very lonely without his wife. He was a loving, funny, kind man who never had a bad word to say about anyone else. He took care of his late wife's ex husband for many years, even built him a house of his own after he lost his legs to diabetes. He was not a bad man in any sense of the word, but he became angry, controlling and, yes, selfish in the end. It was heartbreaking, and even his own pastor said at his funeral that he would not have known another moment of happiness here on this earth. He could have made everything much easier for all of us, but his fear got the better of him, and we understood that even then and cut him as much slack as we could. Thankfully we have many wonderful memories of him to cherish and knew well his heart.

Again, I thank you all for following Davis and Becca's story and for taking time to comment and discuss. You are blessings to me! 

I can hope to express it better, but I'm constantly made aware of how poorly I actually communicate with some readers. I'm just glad you're enjoying the read. God bless,