Two Weeks (Karen Kingsbury Book)

Two Weeks is a Christian novel written by Karen Kingsbury. It was released in 2019.

It is the sixth novel in her Baxter Family Collection series, and the 29th novel overall featuring the Baxter Family.

Plot[edit]

The novel centers around three couples: 1) Cole Baxter Blake and Elise Walker, two high school seniors; 2) Aaron and Lucy Williams, who both work at the hospital (Lucy in the NICU) but who struggle with infertility; and 3) Theo and Alma Brown and daughter Vienna, who have fostered children in the past.

Elise came to Bloomington from Louisiana, after her relationship with her mother deteriorated to the point of open rebellion (Elise wanted to be an artist; her mother would not consider it) leading her mother to send Elise to live with her aunt. Elise discovers she is pregnant, the result of a rape at the hands of a fellow boy while in Louisiana, which is confirmed by Cole's aunt, Dr. Brooke Baxter West.^[1]

Elise is strongly considering abortion due to the circumstances surrounding the conception; Cole suggests that she speak with Ashley (his mother, who is also an artist), who tells her that Cole was also born out of wedlock, but that God spoke to her not to abort Cole. Cole has even stated that he would forego college and marry Elise so as to give the baby life.

Meanwhile, Lucy shares her infertility struggles with Brooke; Brooke in turn shares the struggles in her own marriage, due in part to a near-drowning accident leaving her youngest daughter, Hayley, with brain damage.^[2] Later, Brooke meets the father of one of her former patients; he mentions he is an attorney specializing in adoption and gives her two business cards; Brooke gives one to Aaron and the other to Elise. As a result, Elise decides to give the baby for adoption (she also chose not to name the father; the attorney later gets the father's consent to terminate his parental rights); while reviewing prospective parents she sees the bio of Aaron and Lucy and chooses them to be the adoptive parents. She finally has the courage to call her mother, over time the two restore their relationship.

The attorney mentions to all parties that, under state law, Elise has two weeks to decide on adoption or keeping the baby; he suggests that upon the child's birth the child be placed in foster care for that period so as to avoid legal issues with the Williams having the child from the outset (she could argue that she was coerced into adoption and have a judge rule in her favor, even years later). During this time, Elise is accepted into New York University, her first choice.

Meanwhile, the Browns discuss getting back into the foster family routine at the encouragement of Vienna; tragically she is killed in a car accident shortly thereafter. Afterwards they agree to foster Elise's baby (which is a girl, the Williams's named her Gracie Anne months earlier). The two weeks pass and Elise doesn't change her mind, thereby giving the Williams's the child they wanted for so long.

As Cole is heading to college (Liberty University) he remembers the girl who would be his first crush.

Values Portrayed[edit]

The main theme of the book is the sanctity of life, specifically the choice of adoption over abortion. The book explains how Elise's choice to give up her baby for adoption, instead of getting an abortion, changed the lives of two other families.

Notes[edit]