Silencing the Heart's Whispers: The Chillings Series, #5

By Levon Sparks Salone

Whispers. Katrina Watson, a married woman with a hidden past, experienced them. Pastor Phillips, an overworked pastor who unintentionally neglected his family, experienced them. Charles Hill, a man who relocated his family to escape his controlling in-laws, experienced them. Sandra Chillings, a former executive who struggled to discover her destiny, experienced them. And other residents of Harrisburg experienced them. Different walks of life, different issues, yet the same experience—the constant beckoning of whispers. Not whispers heard with the natural ear, but whispers that emerged from within—unique and powerful whispers that uncovered secrets, desires, sins and mistakes.

The whispers were reticent, yet invasive. No area was off limits for them. They dabbled in marriages, careers, physical conditions, ambitions, personal possessions and hidden pasts. There was only one way to quiet them and gain freedom. The host had to follow the whisper's directive, even though following was unpredictable and scary, oftentimes ushering the individual out of his comfort zone.

In Silencing The Heart's Whispers, each person was challenged. Each person was given instructions. Who followed instructions and gained true freedom? Who ignored the whispers and toppled down the path of destruction? With so much at stake, only those who learned valuable life lessons emerged victorious. All others suffered dire consequences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Levon Sparks Salone
• Release date: Jun 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201903008

Levon Sparks Salone

Mrs. Levon Sparks Salone served as a Clinical Counselor where she specialized in the areas of chemical dependency, women's issues and family dynamics. During her career, she conducted trainings, workshops and motivational speeches for various agencies, companies and groups across the US. She left her 20-year tenure as a counselor to hone her skills in writing.

Book preview

Silencing the Heart's Whispers

By Levon Sparks Salone

Kindle Edition 2021

Copyright©2021 Levon Sparks Salone

Cover Design: SelfPubBookCovers.com/chiaracattaruzzi

––––––––

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the author/publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and are not related to anyone bearing the same name or names. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations is purely coincidental.

––––––––

Other Books by Levon Sparks Salone

––––––––

Fiction:

Waltzing With Deception (The Chillings Series, Book 1)

Unjust Ruling (The Chillings Series, Book 2)

When Truth Speaks (The Chillings Series, Book 3)

Feigned Allegiance, (The Chillings Series, Book 4)

––––––––

Non-Fiction:

Men Hurt Too!

Writing Prompts For Creative Writers

Writing Prompts For Tweens And Teens

150 Plus 1 Acts Of Kindness

Before We Say I Do: The Premarital Workbook

The Marital Workbook

30-Point Plan To Winning Your Employees' Loyalty And Respect

Life’s Motivational Moments, Volume 1

Life’s Motivational Moments, Volume 2

Life’s Motivational Moments, Volume 3

Life’s Motivational Moments, Volume 4

Life’s Motivational Moments, Volume 5

Help...My Finances Are Out Of Control!

Nuggets Of Faith

Nuggets Of Faith Workbook

As For Me And My House, We Shall Serve The Lord (A Play)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Discussion

Silencing the Heart's Whispers

The Counseling Session

Katrina Watson sat with her back to the both of them. She was used to shutting people out when she didn't want to hear what they had to say, building barriers to keep folk from invading her personal space, and faking happiness to prevent the people she knew from asking too many questions. But now she sat in the session with Patrick Watson, her husband of twenty-five years, and the infamous Norma Rockford, a marriage counselor known for getting to the root of issues.

She didn't know how they reached this point, having to meet with an outsider just to be able to talk, but somewhere along their marital journey, they veered off the path they planned for their lives. It could have been after their first miscarriage, an incident that sent them both reeling into the whisks of depression. It could have been after their second miscarriage, the unfortunate mishap that stripped Katrina of her self-esteem and robbed Patrick of his manhood. It could have been when they started sleeping in separate beds—a minor detail they agreed not to share in the counseling sessions. Or it could have been when she fell out of love with Patrick—something she kept to herself, not even daring to let her husband in on that kernel of truth. Regardless of how they arrived at that troublesome place, they were there, grasping for anything that could keep them together.

When they drove into the parking lot of Rockford's Counseling Services, Katrina mentally rehearsed her script. She grabbed Patrick's hand as they neared the building, and they walked into the office, draped with graciousness, presenting a unified front. Norma smiled at the strategy, a tactic couples used to warn her that she could ask questions but not get too personal, explore but not uncover deep truths, and prod but leave the painful areas untouched. She allowed them to give their reasons for seeking counseling. After they both painted a flowery version of the truth, Norma turned to Katrina, stared at her without blinking, and asked her a question that yanked away the mask of perfection, leaving the startled woman exposed and raw. Instead of answering, Katrina turned her back to them, anger seeping through every pore of her body. She was angry with Patrick for convincing her to come to a place where she was expected to bare her soul, and angry with Norma Rockford for asking a question that if answered, would unravel her past, a past she thought she buried.

Katrina had a decision to make. She could walk out of the session, while she still had her resolve and save herself from dredging up the dreadful, unfathomable truth, or she could reveal things about herself that were still too painful to disclose, things she never discussed with Patrick or anyone else since she left that place.

No, it is too risky, a risk I'm not willing to take. She looked at the paintings on the wall— abstract paintings, not having much meaning, reminding her of her marriage and her life. At that moment, she wanted to enter the world of the paintings, rest on a fresh canvas, start her life anew, but instead, she spoke just above a whisper, allowing the back of her head to face her husband and the woman he called their counselor. Thank you for your time Ms. Rockford, she politely stood, eyes glued to the floor as she straightened her jacket. My husband and I will no longer be needing your services.

Norma Rockford smiled and handed Patrick her card. If you change your mind, please give me a call. I'll be more than happy to work with the both of you.

Katrina tilted her head, threw Norma a partial smile and exited the office, Patrick following.

She'll be back, Norma smiled and closed her appointment book. A hornet's nest has been stirred, and it is too powerful for her to handle on her own. Norma didn't want to scare Katrina, push her too hard, force her to face the truth too fast, but the wounds were deep, and the only way she could help her was to go directly to the root. Now Katrina had a choice. She could get help—real help if she wanted it, or she could continue to carry the old, daunting secrets that robbed her of her joy and drove her straight to Norma Rockford's office.

Chapter 1

Sandra Chillings tossed and turned in bed, not only struggling to find a comfortable position, but straining to find her purpose in life. Since Lavern Petty, the Russell Greene impersonator, had been sent to Leesville Correctional Institution, she vowed to stop living her life through the lens of her past accomplishments at Jones and Associates. She realized that for many years her role at that company defined her, and when she lost that position, she lost her idea of who she was. Now she felt like a wanderer, lacking clear direction, an uncomfortable situation for a woman of her caliber. Drew, her husband and the man she was learning to trust with her fears and insecurities, told her that finding her purpose would be a journey, and God would lead her if she asked for His help, but she wasn't used to releasing the reins and allowing someone or something else to take control and lead the way—not even God.

I've made some foolish mistakes in my life, she thought as she rolled over in bed and turned towards the bay window, blinking at the early morning light that weakly made its appearance, but going to Russell's office and letting my guard down when I knew my history with him ranked in the top five of my lapses of judgment. And to find out that he is actually Lavern Petty, a known sex offender, still makes my insides quiver. If Drew hadn't shown up when he did, there's no telling what would have happened to me. She hugged the spare pillow, hoping to find an ounce of security. I don't know what my next steps are, but if I want to move forward, I have to do things differently. She turned her attention to the sensation or premonition that she couldn't shake. And I think this impression, the one that keeps nagging me on the inside, has something to do with my next steps. I don't know what it means, and I don't know where it'll lead me, but it seems that I have no other choice but to take Drew's suggestion and ask God for guidance.

As soon as she made her decision, she felt the same impression again, this time stronger than all the others: Give it away.

She rolled over on her back, closed her eyes and waited. She didn't know what it was, and she didn't know to whom she had to give this mystery thing to; but something inside convinced her that if she wanted to silence that voice, she had to uncover the directive's meaning and follow its instructions, no matter what it would cost or where it would lead.

*****

Honey, Patrick rushed in the house behind his wife, weary that once again she shut him out of her life emotionally, why did you walk out of Norma's office like that? You didn't even give the woman a chance.

Katrina spun around and eyed him directly, her pupils slightly dilated. "Give her a chance? Did you see the way she looked down at us? She treated us as if we had some incurable disease. And to top things off, she expected me to bare my soul to her. I don't mean any harm Patrick, she stressed his name when she was angry, but I'm not going to tell my personal business to a stranger. Besides, I thought we were going there to fix our problems, but instead, she turned the spotlight on me. Who in the world does she think she is?"

Katrina you are making a big deal out of nothing. She was doing her job. And she wasn't looking down on us, she was trying to get to the root of our issues.

Well, I know what the root is. Our marriage is in trouble, and we don't know how to fix it. Any fool can see that. We don't need to pay a stranger to figure that out. She paused, folded her arms across her chest and stood defiantly in front of him, her anger escalating as she thought about the debacle. We went there to talk about us, not me. If I had known that she would have taken your side, I would have stayed home.

Patrick sat on the sofa, realizing that he was not a skillful opponent when it came to their verbal spats. Instead of resisting, he did what felt comfortable and caved in. I'm sorry Katrina, he stood then moved close to his wife and threw his arms around her. I should have never asked you to go to counseling with me. We have a problem, but we can work it out together. And you are right—Norma shouldn't have asked you a question that was so personal.

Patrick swallowed hard, the knots in his stomach tightening, draining him of another ounce of life. Once again, he stuffed his feelings, and instead of being honest, he squished his inner voice and agreed with his wife to avoid another argument.

All is forgotten, she threw up her hand as she left the room. We don't have to mention this incident ever again.

Patrick knew he wouldn't verbalize his feelings directly to Katrina, especially since things were as bad as they were; and as a result, the chasm between them grew wider, making it harder for him to fight for them. In the earlier years of their marriage, it was easier to swallow the pain, but the pressure had grown so intense that he didn't think he could swallow much more. If he didn't get relief soon, he would erupt like a volcano that had been simmering too long. And if that eruption was anything like what he imagined, people would get hurt— the kind of hurt that Norma Rockford or no other marriage counselor would be able to fix.

*****

Mother Perkins couldn't remember the last time she laughed so hard. She and Brother Strickland had attended a dinner theatre, and the members of the cast put on a show to be remembered. During the finale, they allowed several members of the audience to participate, and she was fortunate enough to be chosen to display her singing talent. When she sang an old country song in her southern dialect, the crowd roared with delight, and after her rendition, the members of the audience gave her a standing ovation. Brother Strickland ran on the stage, bowed before her and encouraged the audience to scream louder. After the show ended, Mother Perkins shook hands and said goodnight to a few of her newfound fans. When the emcee announced that lights would be out in five, the elderly pair left the event, their bellies full of good food and their hearts full of happiness.

Sara, you are an amazing woman, Brother Strickland locked the fingers of his right hand with the fingers on her left hand as they headed to his car. When I think I have you all figured out, you dish out another surprise.

I've got to keep you on your toes, she laughed. You may be dating a mature woman, but I still have a few surprises under my belt.

So I see.

When they entered his vehicle, the aged car that had been with him for years, Mother Perkins fastened her seatbelt and leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. I had a wonderful time tonight Harry. I hadn't done anything like this since—to think of it, I've never done anything like this.

From looking at you on stage, no one could have guessed that. You are a natural.

Brother Strickland headed towards Mother Perkins' house, driving under the speed limit, doing his best to prolong their date. When he reached her driveway, he turned off the ignition and turned towards her. Sara, he reached for her hand as he looked into her eyes, you have made me a very happy man. We've been dating for the last six months, and they have been the best six months of my life. I look forward to spending more time with you and getting to know you better.

Instead of bowing her head, Mother Perkins squeezed his hand. She started to respond, but he interrupted her.

I love you Sara.

I love you too Harry. She was shocked at how quickly the words escaped, but once they were said, she felt relieved. She knew it was only six months, but within that time, they established something special, something she never thought she would find again.

Brother Strickland walked her to the door. And instead of the usual pat on the back or peck on the cheek, he kissed her passionately, allowing the kiss to seal what he felt in his heart.

Goodnight Sara.

Goodnight Harry.

The date ended on a joyous note, but his life with Sara Perkins was just beginning. He was ready to take the plunge, and if things went as he hoped they would, she would join him and become the next Mrs. Harry Kingston Strickland. The only thing he had to do was figure out the date, time and place where he would pop the question.

Chapter 2

Pastor Phillips, the Senior Pastor of Zion Tabernacle of Love, sat at his desk feeling overwhelmed. He was glad that the church was growing, and according to his calculations, they had a ministry for everything —or almost everything—but as the church prospered and expanded, his personal life dwindled to nonexistent. He would have continued to operate this way, thinking it was par for the course, but Charlotte Phillips, his dedicated and faithful wife, started to complain.

Hunter, she said one Sunday morning as the two of them sat in his office waiting for church services to begin, we haven't been on a vacation in years. I'm not talking about church outings and events—I'm talking about a good, old-fashioned vacation—one that doesn't include any members from the congregation.

I know honey, but the Lord's church is growing more rapidly than I expected, and I must be here to manage things. I can't leave the congregants unattended. They look to me for guidance and support. You know how crazy my schedule is. I have meeting after meeting, and session after session.

That's the problem. You need to start delegating some of your responsibilities. There are many talented people in the congregation, and I know if you give some of them the right opportunity, they will rise to the occasion.

You may be right hon, and to be honest, it's time for me to start grooming someone as my replacement. Neither one of our children is interested in the job, so I should start looking around to see who will follow in my footsteps.

That sounds like a good idea.

There's only one problem.

What's that?

I'm not sure how to single out that right person. There are many faithful members here, but being a faithful member or having the gift of teaching and/or preaching doesn't necessarily mean that that person is qualified to become a pastor.

But you have several ministers here. Don't you think at least one of them is qualified?

Honey, they are good people, and they have special talents and gifts, but the position of a pastor carries a lot of responsibility with it. I have to make sure that the person whom I choose will be up for the challenge. As a matter of fact, I have someone in mind— someone who is a great teacher and preacher—but I have to make sure that he has the heart of a pastor.

Don't you usually pray before you take action?

Yes, I usually do.

Then I suggest you start there.

Good idea. We can pray now. He approached her as she stood and gently reached for her hands.

Knock, knock, knock. The incessant banging from the other side of the door interrupted them before they could bow their heads.

Come in, Pastor Phillips released his wife's hands and waited.

Pastor, a short man dressed in a red suit and breathing excessively shoved open the door, I hate to bother you, he spouted the rest of his sentence between breaths, but it's an emergency.

Son, he affectionately addressed the agitated man, remembering his face but not his name, can it wait until after services?

No Pastor, I need to talk to you now.

Somewhat perturbed, Pastor Phillips looked at the young man, momentarily hating that he didn't have armor bearers, male personal assistants or