Scion of Gethsemane

Paige Barhydt's fianc is a tall, blond-headed hunk of masculine magic who not only makes six figures a year, but also exudes a class, style, and charisma most men lack and certainly all envy. So if Paige has a man like Chris, then why is she so unhappy?A chance encounter allows her to meet Dennis Dru, an average-looking, minimum-wage worker who is also a paraplegic. Paige is happy to discover that Dennis is one of the kindest, sincerest men she has ever met. Most of all, he seems to admire her for who she is as a person, rather than for how attractive she looks.As their relationship grows, Paige is introduced to Dennis's sister and finds out that there's more to Jasmine than just a brooding, disillusioned recluse. Jasmine proves to be an enlightened intellectual who's also an extremely gifted painter. Paige is instrumental in boosting Jasmine's self-esteem, and persuades her to pursue a career in fine art, much to the chagrin of brother Brent.Jasmine's own past involves a degree of turmoil, enough to inspire Paige to rethink their growing friendship. A disturbing similarity between Brent's sadism and Jasmine's own iniquities surfaces, hurling Paige into the middle of the family's struggles and angst, which ultimately leads to the story's heady and most unexpected conclusion.