Broken Pieces: Handle with Care

By Shirley Ann Williams

Putting fear of rejection aside, Nellie lay pen to paper, scripting an offer of forgiveness. In her heart, she knew there was no other way but to reveal the truth from decades past. Her selfless act of love no longer held the clarity it once did; the weight of the burden now consumed the very depths of her soul, her heart weeping with anguish.

So many years had passed; so many opportunities, wasted. She asked God to forgive her, but would Darcy do the same? Could Nellie ever forgive herself for committing such an unforgivable act? It was from love the secrets were kept; now, it was because of love the truths revelation had to be.

Meanwhile, in the silence of the moment, one solitary figure willed the tears to cease, but failed in the effort. Words hastily written before the thoughts vanished forever from his mindresounded back to his heart in heightened confusion.

Laying the notebook aside, he shut his eyes and entered into a fitful restlessness. Gods plans were in the making, unknown to the author of the script. With words placed in his heart to pen, the mission was yet to be. Gods hand was on both; their journeys under way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jun 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781480800922

Shirley Ann Williams

Shirley Williams writes what God has laid upon her heart. Writing is a part of her faith journey; giving witness to God’s love, mercy, and grace. Now a retired teacher, Shirley pens stories of inspiration and hope amid the struggles and confusion life offers; creating characters searching for God’s peace.

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Copyright © 2013 Shirley Ann Williams.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

1-(888)-242-5904

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover design by Shirley Ann Williams

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013909058

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0091-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0093-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0092-2 (e)

Archway Publishing rev. date: 6/3/2013

Contents

Prologue

1.   Prayers From His Children

2.   Still Critical

3.   Outgoing Mail Only

4.   Identity Clues

5.   Letter To Nathan

6.   Times To Remember

7.   Questions Shared With A Friend

8.   Pastor And Doctor

9.   Discovery In The Office

10.   Nellie…I’m Here For You

11.   Nathan’s Contact

12.   Gabe’s Visitor

13.   The Address

14.   Connections

15.   Doctor Gill’s Findings

16.   Thoughts Beyond The Journal

17.   A Visit To Darcy’s

18.   Exploring Another Option

19.   Trip Of Hope

20.   The Letter

21.   Reaching Out

22.   The Visit With Gabe

23.   Concerns And Discrepancies

24.   Questions Without Answers

25.   Hospital Visitor

26.   Listening To A Friend

27.   Test Results

28.   Discoveries

29.   The Plea

30.   Guest At The Parsonage

31.   The Empty Room

About The Author…

This Book Dedicated To:

Jana Boone

For your belief in this writing project, I offer a prayer of thanks to you.

Without your encouragement, nurturing of thoughts,

and the love shown in your editing,

this book would never have reached the purpose God intended.

God paired us together in the writing;

as He breathed life into both of us as sisters.

I love the gifts you have graced me with…

The most endearing: your love.

Editor and Author

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Jana Boone, editor         Shirley Williams, author

In the beginning, God created us sisters.

Throughout life’s venture, He commissioned

us editor and author.

We count it a blessing to write and edit for God’s honor and

glory; listening to the whispers He so gently breathes to our

hearts; following His divine directions for the novel.

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Jana, The Editor

BEFORE GOD BROUGHT US TOGETHER as author and editor, He birthed us as sisters. It was in the creation of this bond that initiated a relationship that grew into an unbelievably remarkable journey. Neither of us could imagine the plan God had mapped out before us; growing up in the same family, yet never fully realizing the harmony we would share in later years. Growing up, I’m sure we crossed many fine lines that required patience and tolerance. Yet, there was something of a treasure innately within; urging us not to abandon the closeness that was ours for the asking: the blending of being sisters into a rich and endearing friendship.

I was always in awe at how astute Jana was in her concentration to details. Even as a young kindergartener, she conceptualized outside the box. There are memories to substantiate that claim; the results culminating in proof that she thought deeper than most that age.

Picture day at school was a case in point:

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Jana as a Kindergartener

It, perhaps, captured the only picture with a most uncharacteristic shot: a frowning portrait of a young girl. When asked why she had not smiled, she simply replied that Mother told her not to put on a smile; to just be natural; proof of a higher level of thinking than anyone deemed possible for one so young. True and false tests were challenging, for she would read more into them than what met the eye. She felt she had to explain the reasons for her answers; and so she did, one at a time.

Still to this day, she ponders all sides of what is said or written; making sure there is no ambiguity in the message. She has rescued the integrity of my writing more times than I can count, grounding the dramatic themes of the stories. Had she not corrected my misplaced modifiers and awkwardly placed adverbs, the novels I wrote would be classified as humor rather than the intended genre. Her attention to details is one of her gifts in editing. With red pen in hand, she has been diligent in catching even the smallest of errors; those no one would count critical; yet, none the less, major thorns for an author’s credibility. My novels are richer due to her deliberate input.

Writing became a passion for both of us; me, as the author; Jana, as the editor. While Jana was in college, she earned extra money typing term papers. Her ability to notice details suited her well for this venture. The papers she typed gained high praise from the professors receiving them. This, perhaps, encouraged me to approach her with the idea of being the lifelong editor for my writings. How blessed I was when she accepted the challenge. The gift of writing for the two of us had been there since birth; safely harbored in our hearts until the time God deemed it prudent to unveil. What a gift He gave us!

Grounded in our faith, we seek God’s guidance in our endeavors. It is to Him we give praise for what He has commissioned us to do. Jana understands our mission; and fully comprehends the responsibility we have as author and editor; writing for the glory of God. As an editor, Jana must separate herself from being my sister; reading the story and following the steps God wants her to take. She shares her expertise with honesty and vision; encouraging me to stretch further than initially ventured. She is responsible for so much depth that has culminated throughout the series; giving small suggestions…yet those suggestions have been monumental in conveying the message both of us were given by our Heavenly Father’s whispers.

Never could I imagine writing a story if Jana was not there; supporting me from page to page with her words of confidence. We work as a team; having the same vision for the story lines. This series would never have reached such promise without her words; the very words that gave seed to a five book series. I am convinced God sent her my way; taking on the task as His messenger.

Sister? Yes Jana is that and will never cease being my sister. Editor? Yes, for a lifetime, if she so desires. Friend? Without a doubt! Before we were a team of writers, we were soul mates; born in the same family by a Father who planned the journey He wanted us to take. It is a precious path He laid out before us. It is our gift to Him…as sisters working together for His plan…to give Him all the praise and glory in the stories we offer. It is for Him we write…

I love you, Sis.

From your sister, the author,

Shirley

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Shirley, The Author

GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH a sister who loves to imagine and create. I can’t remember a time in our childhood when she and I were not making things or just pretending. We would ride our bikes to ‘James Town’, donning silly names, pretending to be on a secret mission as we made codes that no one could decipher (unless the papers were found that contained the letters decoding our messages). We had no idea we were creating cryptograms long before we knew what cryptograms were. We as girls did not realize that God was already molding our thoughts into a love for words. We only knew we were on a mission. We just didn’t understand the extent of what was to come. But God did.

Shirley loved to draw and write as far back as I can remember. I was fascinated with her ease in doing so. As long as she had paper and pen, she was content. Although I liked her drawings, it was her writing that really spoke to my heart. Whether it was poetry or short stories, she had a special way to convey those treasures coming from her heart.

Shirley realizes that God is her source for inspiration. No one can tell her to draw or write a certain way or to draw or write on a certain topic. If she is not inspired, she cannot draw; she cannot write. Years ago, while in college, her art professor mandated her to a specific way of drawing. Frustration set in, for there was no way she could abide by rules from someone else’s agenda. And so it is with her writing; no one but God can tell her how and what to write. I know she has a message that was given to her by God. As you read her books, you will understand the reason for this statement.

When my sister and I were young girls, we checked out books from our church library. Wanting to read at the same pace as my sister, I would turn the pages in my book at the same time she turned the pages in hers. Although I had no idea what my book was about, I was pleased I could compete with her in my reading. Little did I know that someday I would ponder over each word in each sentence as I edited my big sister’s books. What an honor it was when she asked me to take on the task! God had laid out His plan from the beginning and hindsight has allowed my sister and me to understand the steps He led us on as we reached a passion that is so dear to both of us.

Sis, thank you for letting me travel with you on such an enjoyable journey. With God as your guide, you’ll go far.

Love you, Sis.

From your sister, the editor,

Jana

Foreword

A STORY IS CONCEIVED WITHIN the depths of one’s soul; waiting for the writer to be awakened by its arrival. At first, the writer might feel the nudging of something wonderful, but in the haste of the moment, dismisses the thought. Yet, the story will not die. Thoughts surround the heartstrings, arousing the passion. So it was with me in this series. At first, only a vague thought came upon me; like a fleeting breeze… softly caressing the moment. Then, as if given new life, the fleeting thought became a part of my waking moments; my mind engaged in a world of imaginative awe and beauty. I listened.

A word…

A phrase…

A gentle whisper.

What I had envisioned for this story was but a seed to the real creation. With a suggestion of a word or two from my sister, the story grew to immeasurable possibilities. I contemplated different characters and how they would fit in the scheme of it all. Many characters evolved with no prompting from me; developing into more than I ever anticipated. Even the names were given without hesitation or forethought. The words came; the story wrapping itself around the purpose intended.

Without God’s guidance, this series would have never been written. I listened to the people He sent with the words and phrases He specifically imparted to them. It is with deep humility that I acknowledge this was not just my story, but one felt by others.

Perhaps in real life, this story might have happened. Striving to find peace within their struggles, the characters come to realize a deeper understanding of their conditions: God is an ever-constant presence no matter what befalls them.

Beginning a series is ever so humbling; drawing from one’s experience and coupling it with imagination and a ‘writer’s license’ to find new boundaries to cross. What seemed an impossible task…tying all the loose ends together…was an adventure gladly pursued. The story began to write itself. God had a purpose for its beginning; and the end was immensely soul-searching as well. In the beginning: what more appropriate start for a novel?

As you read this first book in the series, my hope and prayer is that you will identify with the characters, making them a part of your life in the reading. The struggles, though fictional, are made real through the development of