Book 7- The Guardian
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Summary (SPOILERS!!!)
Julie. Mike. Jim. Richard. Singer.
Julie is more than certain that life is never easy. She understands that life is hard. There is nothing to prepare you for what life has in store. She and Mike marry and their relationship is one of those that changed lives. Julie was homeless when Jim came into her life. With promises of a new beginning, Jim offers to find her a job and a place to live, if she moves to his hometown. She agrees, what does she have to lose? She becomes a hairdresser and befriends the salon owner. She and Jim have a wonderful marriage. Until he is diagnosed with a brain tumor and unfortunately passes away. Julie, left heartbroken, doesn't know how she may survive this loss. Suddenly, a few days after Jim's funeral, a knock at the door changes her grief for good. A Great Dane puppy that Jim arranged to be delivered to her with a note attached that he will hopefully help her as she begins this life without him. Someone to help her in this time of sadness and watch over her while he can't. She doesn't know the first thing about owning a dog, let alone a Great Dane. But, his soft heart and singing voice win her heart. And Julie and Singer embark on a new life together, proving that it was meant to be.
Fast forward 4 years, Julie is still at the salon and Singer is practically the dog of the entire town. Everyone knows where Julie goes, and Singer goes too. He even has designated areas in the salon where he rests every day that Julie is at work. The only person he may like a little more than Julie, is Mike, Jim's best friend and local mechanic, right across the street from the salon. He likes Julie, more than a friend, but knows that that may never change, at least in his mind, it won't. But, 4 years after losing his best friend, he starts to push the relationship between them beyond friendship. Julie thinks she's ready to date and has already had a few dates to begin with, none that would be life-changing, just enough to get her feet wet. Until she meets Richard Franklin.
Richard is a very sophisticated engineer who is infatuated with Julie. He came to the salon and requested she give him a haircut, and he returned with a request for a date. He is everything she or any girl could dream of. Tall dark, handsome successful, understanding, and he works hard to impress anyone. So, why even after three dates does she feel so unsure? Even though Singer, who growls and barks whenever Richard is around, she thinks it may just take some time.
Richard is called away on business one day and Julie, unexpectedly, finds that connection again with Mike. During the duration of her and Richard's relationship, she and Mike have actually seen less of each other, and on a night with pizza and beer, their friendship is rekindled and Julie realizes not only how much she missed Mike, but how important he is to her. He knows that Richard could impress her with extravagance, and he feels ill-equipped to compete with that. But, trust and comfort with who Mike is, is in his favor. Julie and Mike have a rocky start, his clumsiness is endearing and he slowly begins to win her heart. They know this may change things, should anything go array. But, they like each other. Now what or how will she ever explain this to Richard? He has been nothing but kind to her, she doesn't know how to even begin. The opportunity comes before she planned, the same night as her and Mike's first date.
Their exchange is uneasy as she explains that she and Mike have decided to take a go of it and she no longer wants to see him. He doesn't take it will and Singer ends up biting his arm when she asks him to leave and he doesn't. Richard is apologetic and says that his call out of town was actually because his mother died and he needed someone to talk to. They end up talking for hours, as she invites him in for a drink, and he ends up passing out. She and Singer turn in for the night leaving him asleep on the couch. The next morning, apologizing he seems to concede and actually wishes her and Mike luck. With that, all is well. Until...
The coming weeks seem off. Richard shows up out of nowhere and calls to her house with silent messages, Singer is almost on high alert all the time, and Julie just feels like she is being watched. Mike says that it could be nothing, just nerves, but as she becomes more worried, so does he. And the closer they become the worse the feeling gets. As the accusations and disturbances worsen, Julie begins to actually fear for her life. The police can't do anything because there hasn't been any physical harm. But, they advise Julie and Mike, if it is Richard, they may have to do whatever they can to protect themselves.
This proves a possibility after Julie's coworker, Andrea, comes up missed and is later found beaten into a coma. It is learned that the last person to be seen with her was Richard. Now, Julie and Mike are unsure what more he would be capable of. They decide to leave town in case he decides to come back. They leave and the police begin a full investigation of Richard Franklin. But, no record even suggests he is who he says. He was desperate enough to change his name and identity, and now all that remains for him to start over is Julie. He needs Julie and then they can start over and forget the past.
Favorite Quotes:
"Be happy again. Find someone who makes you happy."
"If my dog was any more bizarre... we could team up and work for a carnival..."
"'Suffer and smile?'
'It's a woman's plight, you know.'"
"It's not gossip... It's called keeping in touch."
"It was funny that you could know someone for years and still discover something you never noticed before."
"'Imbeciles'...' Never forget that men are imbeciles.'"
"She's always believed that people come in two varieties: those who look out the windshield and those who stare in the rearview mirror."
"You can shove that nod where the half moons meet..."
"It's okay, sweetheart. No more fighting. I'm safe now, you can go to sleep..."
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