Sadie Robertson - Life Just Got Real: A Live Original Novel

Howard Books

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New York, NY 10020

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the authors imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2016 by Sadie Robertson

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Howard Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Howard Books hardcover edition June 2016

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Interior design by Jaime Putorti

Jacket Design By Kirk Douponce/Dogeared Design

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-5011-2646-8

ISBN 978-1-5011-2649-9 (ebook)

I want to dedicate this book to Anna Catherine, my best friend since pre-K. One of us was a cheerleader, the other a basketball player, one was weird, the other laughed (okay, we took turns on that one), Weird 11-5-4-7 say yeah, boy, yeah, Yeah, boy, yeah. Love you long time.

AJ (Allison Josephine) Smith

Life is about change. Thats what my father used to say, as wed stand on the edge of the bayou, fishing poles in hand. Life is like the water in that stream, always rushing past, always moving, different moment to moment.

I thought this was his way of telling me to enjoy the stillness of those quiet moments we had together, shoulder to shoulder on the solid bank. But now, I dont think thats what he meant at all. I think he was trying to warn me that life could change, just like that. That currents could shift, and suddenly I could be headed in a direction I never imagined.

Well, the current has shifted, thats for sure, I think as I search my bedroom floor around open boxes and crumpled piles of newspaper.

I call to Mom and my brother Micah. If anyone finds my keys or my red Converse shoe... Ill give you something, though I dont know what since I cant find anything. But it will be worth it.

Across the room, my black Lab looks up with hopes that Im searching for his leash but then drops his head back down onto his dog bed as if Ive really let him down.

When I get home, I say, as I pick up a sheet of bubble wrap.

Maybe in here.

Its Micahs voice but somewhat muffled.

Where are you?

There arent a lot of places he could be, so I head toward the living-dining-kitchen combination in the tiny cottage that has become our new home, sort of.

Mom peers over her laptop from her perch at the kitchen counter. I havent seen them, she says. Then when she looks at me adds, Um AJ, darling... you arent wearing that, are you?

She has that wrinkle in the space between her eyesbrows, as if the world is coming apart due to my wardrobe choices.

Whats wrong with what Im wearing? I glance down and bite the inside of my lip to hide the subtle pleasure that Mom has noticed. My look today was supposed to be a statement.

My brother rises up from beneath the kitchen sink with a wrench in his hand and looks at me, then grins. Looks good to me. Or she will if she finds that other shoe.

Mom frowns and then hops off the bar stool and grabs a potholder. She reaches into the oven and pulls out a pan of baked French toastmy favorite breakfast. Its almost enough to make me feel guilty, except I know its her attempt to make up for what happened last night.

I glance down at my T-shirt that says Chuck & Sons Auto Repair, my favorite jeans, one red Converse, and a gray sock on one foot. No one says it, but we all know the reason behind my clothing choice, or at least T-shirt choice.

I just think, well, first impressions are important. This is a very nice school and its a blessing you were admitted. And we arent in Louisiana anymore, Mom says.

Micah and I share an eye roll before he disappears back under the sink. I give Mom my widest fake smile. Im well aware we arent in Louisiana. Were in the land of glitzy cowboy boots and perfect hair. I think my outfit will be a refreshing change.

My brother chuckles and peers out from beneath the sink. Now, AJ. You cant go around talking like that. Who knows? Maybe youll be the next country star now that were here.

All right, I have to admit, that makes me laugh, even though Im not exactly in the mood. I am so not country star material.

Theres a lot more to Nashville than that, Mom says. And there are more opportunities here than back home. I know its a big change, but its for the best... Moms voice drifts off, as if shes too tired to try convincing my brother and me.

And shes got a lot of convincing to do, especially after the bomb she dropped last night. We had been here only a week and were just starting to get settled, whenbam! just like thateverything was changing again.

Our video call with my other brother Noah, Micahs twin, had been going so wellalmost like old timeseven though Noah was just transferred to a military base in Germany. Noah was telling us about buying a pair of lederhosen and how his German friends had asked him to stop yodeling, since that was a Swiss thing, not Bavarian. Micah and I were telling Noah about the glitzy city people wed seen in downtown Nashville with their black glasses and designer jeans that even men wore so tight we called them painted jeans instead of skinny jeans. I noticed Mom getting all twitchy, and at first I brushed it off as her missing her son and being worried about the war zone he might be sent to. But her foot kept tapping, and she breathed in and out like someone about to dive underwater.

Mom, are you okay? I asked. My brothers, one beside me and one on the laptop screen, turned their attention toward her.

Um...

Mom begins sentences with um when she isnt sure of what shes about to say. Our laughter and joking died down pretty fast, and we waited. I almost chuckled at the serious expression on Noahs face as he leaned closer to the screen from the other side of the world. Then I saw Mom looking as nervous as she did when she told us we were moving to Nashville, and all humor completely dissolved. What was she about to tell us? The last serious news had changed our lives forever.

Is something wrong? Noah asked via video call.

Um, no, no, not at all. Nothing wrong.

Not a good sign.

Its just... um... Micah and AJ already met my friend, Charles Worthington.

She turned to the laptop screen and leaned in. Remember, my friend I told you about? He and his son helped unload some of the boxes over the weekend, and Charles gave me a lot of advice before we moved up.