Troubled Sister

By Doris Wagnon

Transformation of the Hearts Series has been filled with family stories being told, secrets revealed, and it seems there is nothing left uncovered. However, one more mystery lies hidden inside these pages, and it's only a 3x5 picture of a five-year-old girl with Helena, her father, Erin Peterson, and "December 10, 1954" written on the back. After sixty years, circumstances will arise that will lead to a discovery that came with a one-time affair.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639032174

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Troubled Sister

Doris Wagnon

ISBN 978-1-63903-216-7 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-217-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Doris Wagnon

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Prologue

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

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Chapter 86

Chapter 87

Chapter 88

Personal Message

Deanne's Story

Character Profile of Transformation of the Hearts

Published Volumes of Transformation of the Hearts Series

About the Author

To my mother, Mary Sabo, who sadly passed away in March 2004, before she had the opportunity to know my novels would be published. She read my first manuscript in a very rough and unpolished form, but she overlooked them and said she loved the story and would be praying it would get published. I know God heard her prayer and even more so when ten volumes will be published.

My mother chose to give me life, and I mean it in a very real way. She already had four children, lost a set of twins, and a daughter, all while living in poverty conditions in an abusive marriage. There were options, even back in those days, to abort an unwanted pregnancy, and she could have chosen to be free of the responsibility of caring for another infant, but her choice of giving me birth gave me an opportunity to live my life and experience my good times, my bad times, and especially the opportunity it gave me to have a relationship with the God who created me.

I have said many times, God was the One who has given me the talent that it would take to compose words, the characters, and the stories in my novels, and I give Him all the credit. I just had to be tuned into hearing His voice and being obedient. He has chosen to bless me so many times with His protection, His talents He bestowed on me that I could never repay Him for what He has given me.

My desires are that whatever I do that will include sharing God's love and making it known anyone can come to Him with a humble heart, and He will welcome them with open arms. I believe as my novels are read, this message rings loud and clear, with the lives written as fiction but are filled with truths.

It is also dedicated to my sister Shirley, who passed away to cancer. My mother had to work to support the family, and Shirley was there to care for me. Many times, as an adult, she came to my rescue.

Most important, to family and friends who were with Transformation of the Hearts, from volume 1 to volume 9, obtained copies, and gave me encouraging words regarding my characters and their lives within each volume. I believe you will not be disappointed.

Preface

Transformation of the Hearts was created on March 1, 1997. I was going through some sleepless nights, my mind filled with the troubles surrounding my life, and a friend suggested, since I couldn't sleep anyway, that I should fill those hours writing. I knew this was a truth. The same thing happened in 1980, when I used that time to write prayers, or let's say letters, talking with God. I received ten beautifully composed poems. That was my first experience of knowing what it is like to be used by the Holy Spirit.

The first line I composed in my notebook was March 1, 1997. The time: one forty-five in the morning. That was the exact date and time, it was when I began writing. The weather conditions: rainy and so foggy you couldn't see. What would others be doing at this time? They would be at the popular establishment in San Bernardino, California, called the Mule Lip Saloon. The inside was like one you would see in Western movies, and so I described what it looked like. It had a great band and hosted many up-and-coming singers such as Kenny Rogers.

I wrote in my notebooks until I had four full books. August of that same year, I purchased a computer and began the process of typing the stories, making chapters, and creating an actual novel.

I had volume 1 and volume 2 in manuscript form and attempted to get them published but didn't have the finances required. December 1999, I placed my notebooks and manuscripts in a box and placed them in my closet, thinking, One day, I will pass away, and all my stories will be thrown in the trash, and my characters will never have their stories told.

Around September 2010, I submitted my two manuscripts to Publish America, and they accepted them. March 2011, on the fourteenth anniversary, I received my first order of Transformation of the Hearts: Volume One; Troubled Son. I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity they gave me to have nine volumes of Transformation of the Hearts in book form.

Acknowledgments

Transformation of the Hearts Series had its birth on March 1, 1997, and now volume 10, being published in 2021, marks its twenty-fourth anniversary.

I want to thank Christian Faith Publishing for accepting my manuscript and publishing Transformation of the Hearts: Volume Ten.

I am sincerely grateful for the letter I received from LeeAnn Krusemark. I received it after she reviewed Transformation of the Hearts: Volume Two: Destiny Called—Her Name Was Helen and was the main factor that encouraged me to continue my writing.

My good friends who gave me permission to publish their music, which made my characters come alive. David Hanna (Stolen Away), Chuck Hertwick (Driving Coast to Coast), David K. Moore (Where Was God When I Needed Him), and Gary Lee Murray (Daddy, Teach Me to Pray and What Did I Do So Wrong).

Editors: Linda Hernandez, Curtis and Karen Delzar.

Those who read my novels and gave encouraging words, I am eternally grateful.

My friend and author William McNulty.

When you see Minnie Mays name mentioned, in reality she was a wonderful lady who I had the pleasure of knowing as a member of the First Baptist Church of Rialto, California. She began reading my stories and told me how much she enjoyed reading them. She passed away before she was able to read all of them. I told the family I wanted to honor Minnie's memory by having one of my characters named after her. I wrote the story in 2015 and now with Volume 10 being published my honoring Minnie is becoming a reality. I don't believe a Sunday goes by that Minnie's presences isn't felt in our church. In Sunday school, there was always a chair for Miss Minnie and she would be surrounded by those who loved her, saying their good mornings. It was the same during church. She had her place where she felt comfortable and was always ready to hear the music and the Word of God present a message for us. There was always a concern when that chair in Sunday School or the special place she sat in for church was empty. She will always be missed, but we know Minnie has taken her special chair at the Master's Table.

Minnie Elizabeth Mays 1926-2015

Prologue

Eighteen years have gone by since 1998, when James Harrison was doing an investigation into Helen's troubled childhood. One piece of evidence that troubled him was a name, Helena Ann Peterson, written on the back of a small black-and-white photo picturing a curly-haired blond child. James believed it to be Helen Lynn Peterson and was just the name written wrong. There was no evidence her mother, June, gave birth to twin girls.

At the conclusion of his investigation, James was able to bring reconciliation to the troubled family. Helen; her mother, June; the elderly twin brothers, Eric and Erin; and her brother Robert—all will share the joy of bringing peace to their troubled past with a reunion held on the Peterson Ranch in 2002.

Circumstances will occur on August 15, 2015, revealing another family secret hidden for sixty years and bringing about another reunion.

Chapter 1

The time was one of those last weeks in Oklahoma, August 15, 2015. The weather was constantly changing. One day hot and muggy, next day rainy, even a chance of heavy storms or tornado warnings.

Marie Hatcher was still experiencing the unexpected loss of her mother, Nora. It has been mentally and physically difficult fulfilling the obligations of handling the funeral, but with her father, Owen, coming home and offering his help, and the support of her husband, Randy, she has made it through the difficult part. Now she has to face entering her mother's home and handling personal affairs.

She requested her brother, Doug, to use the remainder of his time and go in Nora's home, but the familiar vows uttered when he left to join the army, I will never go in that house again, then revealing he wanted to spend the remaining hours with his father.

This caused Marie to be angry and sternly said to him, You are the eldest son. You have to be with me when the time comes for legal matters to be handled.

Then Marie, mimicking her mother, demanded Douglas to put his life on the back burner and be present. I will not be responsible for anything that Mother has asked you to do.

With that, Doug held his temper and quietly told her he had a family to take care of, and they came first. Marie knew the truth. Doug could not deal with going back into a home where unforgiving words were spoken.

The day before Nora was scheduled to have her operation, she instructed Marie, if anything happened, she was to go to her home, and it would be her responsibility to handle all her affairs. She would find a letter in her safe that would instruct her as to what obligations were to be fulfilled. When Nora said this, Marie had shunned it off.

As Marie drove up the country lane, her mother's beautiful two-story home came into view. Memories flooded her mind of past days spent by her mother's side at the hospital. There was plenty of time to ask questions or even utter words I forgive you, Mom, or just to say, I love you, but they were never uttered or forgiveness offered from either of them. It was business as usual and making demands on Marie.

It was July 20; Nora was taken to the Tulsa hospital, experiencing minor chest pain, to be checked in and supposedly released. After enduring many tests, the doctors attending to Nora said he found minor complications and concerned enough to suggest an operation to make corrections but encouraged Nora; her vitals were excellent for a woman her age.

Marie notified her father Owen and her eldest brother, Doug, Nora was admitted to the hospital but added what the doctors had told her; it wasn't serious. Then had to notify them again of Nora passing away during the operation.

Marie was filled with remorse at her lack of concern. Doug and Owen weren't given an opportunity to be with Nora, and a possible reconciliation could have taken place and mend broken relationships. Of course they are grown men and could have made their own choices to go see her anyway, she consoled herself.

Marie apologized to both of them when they arrived and inquired what had happened. She told them, The doctors told me unexpected things can happen with any operation.

Marie had fulfilled Nora's request to take care of her home up until the twenty-ninth of July, when her mother passed away. While Marie was grieving, and then handling funeral arrangements and contacting people to let them know of Nora's passing away, her husband, Randy, would drive by and pick up the mail, verify that the gardeners were continuing their weekly chores; however, Marie could not deal with seeing her mother's empty home.

Now on August 15, she had to face the obligations Nora had given her.

Chapter 2

Marie unlocked the door, and commandments that had been instituted as a teen came with obedience as she removed her shoes, putting on the slippers prepared for visiting family or guests, and headed directly for the stairs leading to her mother's bedroom. She could almost feel her mother's eyes watching as she walked across the carpet, her slippers leaving marks. She recalled many times seeing Nora pulling that vacuum out right after company would leave and make the carpet lie in one direction with no traces of footsteps. Marie made a mental note to do just that before she left for home.

Nora had obtained her license as a real estate broker while working as a waitress. Marie recalled she was thirteen when her mother began working in a real estate agency. In a very short time, it became obvious she was very good at what she did. She began receiving promotions, and bonus money became frequent. With this came longer hours away from home and handing over the responsibilities of taking care of the home and Doug to Marie.

Time for Nora to be home became far and few between, then the final shot was when she gained a partnership in the company, leaving Marie fully responsible. This caused a breach between brother and sister. She took her mother's place, having dinner waiting for him, but because of her mother's wanting everything kept perfect, Marie began harping at Doug to keep his room clean or help her do the housework, mimicking her absent mother.

After a severe argument occurring among the three of them, he threatened to move in with his father. When Doug found that option was not available, he settled for staying with the conditions he was allowed to have the empty room off from the kitchen. His mother, not wishing for Doug to move out, finally agreed.

There was a private bathroom, which he closed off to the rest of the family and opened the door directly to his room, then placed a lock to insure himself. If they can't inspect my room, there would not be a cause for arguments. He would use the kitchen but never entered any other part of the house.

Other things happened between Doug and his mother that Marie could not mend. As soon as Doug was old enough, he joined the army and, when married, chose to live in Milwaukee.

It wasn't always like this. As a child growing up and their dad, Owen, still home, it was more relaxing. For thirteen years, it was wonderful, then came the divorce, and Nora began working; nothing felt normal.

Chapter 3

Marie walked directly to her mother's room. As she entered in, she noticed a smudge on the mirror and, out of habit, took a tissue from the box and removed it. Nora hated seeing smudges or fingerprints on glass. She took the tissue and placed it in her pocket and would dispose of it when she got home or in her car.

Nora told her she would find a will with full instructions and documents recording everything she would need to know to do, down to the last iota. Marie removed the small safe from the top shelf closet and sat it down on the table by the window. As soon as she opened it, the letter addressed to her was lying on top. It had several pages perfectly typed.

Marie removed her glasses from the top of her head and began reading her mother's letter. It didn't take reading a few lines when she was intently questioning in her mind just what Nora was trying to tell her. Marie's hand began to shake as she read, then suddenly Marie heard herself yelling out loud to her mother, You wait until you're dead, and now you tell me your little hidden secrets!

Marie was dumbfounded at the information that lay in the letter and couldn't believe what she was reading had been hidden from her for sixty years.

I first met your father in December 1952. I was twenty-one. He would come into the restaurant for lunch. He always left me a big tip. If business was slow, we would sit at his table and just talk. Then he would ask me to bring him lunch at one of his construction sites because he couldn't get away. He would hand me money for services rendered.

At first it was one of those secret romance stories. I had no intentions of falling for his good looks or charming ways. I had a good marriage and a small baby. Having an affair was the furthest from my mind. However, it didn't work out like I planned.

Owen and I were having marital problems after you were born. He couldn't understand why you didn't resemble either one of us. However, I knew the truth; I had been pregnant by the other man.

I explained this away by borrowing some old photos, then convincing him that they were past relatives, and your resemblance must have come from them. It didn't help matters that your brother, Doug, looked just like Owen.

Six years later, he showed up at work. I finally was able to tell him that I had his daughter. He swore up and down I was lying. It was a medically proven fact he couldn't have children. I told him how much you resembled him with your blond curly hair and blue eyes. Your father insisted he see you in person, so I arranged to meet him in a different city.

Marie had vague memories of a tall blond-haired man with curly hair that she and her mother visited on a couple occasions. Things began coming together. Marie couldn't remember his name or if she was even given a name. She recalled her mother just saying, This is your uncle.

I told Owen I was visiting a relative. As soon as he looked at you, he said something that was really strange. He said his brother had a daughter the same age as you, and it was like looking in a mirror. Once he actually saw you, there was no doubt. He just couldn't believe he could father a child, then he said he loved me, and this was his opportunity to begin a new life, and he wanted his daughter and me to be with him.

He said to give him some time to get out of the marriage he was in, but he wanted me to leave Owen right away and set us up in our own living quarters so he could be with us. He said as soon as he was free, we would get married. I couldn't see divorcing Owen, and there was no way I could leave Doug behind. I had to keep it a secret.

Marie continued reading in hopes there would be something else in her mother's letter that might jog her memory.

For three years, we would meet secretly when Owen was out of town, but one day, he never came back. I have no idea what happened to him.

Five years later, I would receive phone calls. I could tell there was someone on the other end, but I could never understand what they were trying to tell me. Owen intercepted some of those phone calls, became suspicious that they were a secret lover because the caller wouldn't talk and hang up.

When you were thirteen, Owen decided to leave me. We had a quiet divorce with our having agreement without lawyers or the court. Owen gave me money, and I paid off the debt on the house. He agreed to support Doug but said it was up to me to take care of you because I had betrayed his trust. Attempts again were made to contact your father, but to no avail. I believed he decided to stay with his wife. I had to find a job that paid more than being a waitress.

That was all Marie could handle and felt she should contact Doug and her father and ask if they knew about this.

Marie immediately called Doug on his cell phone. As she heard his voice, she quickly asked, Are you still in town? I read a letter Mom left in her safe. It's important that I talk with you and Dad. Marie waited to hear his response. Silence was on the other end.

I'm almost at the airport now. I told you my family comes first. And he added, You know I don't want to go back to Mom's house.

I'll meet you at my home. Please, you have got to be with me, she pleaded. Just let me tell you what I found out, and you can leave, but this is something that can't be shared over the phone.

There was silence as Marie knew her brother was trying to give her some reason why it would have to wait. Just give me a few hours. Again Marie asked in a quieter voice, Then you can still leave. This is really important.

Finally she heard Doug's voice. Okay, and this better not be a trick to make me stay to help you follow Mom's last dying wish.

No, I promise it's nothing like that, Marie assured him. I told you I would do whatever was necessary.

Marie decided she would take the safe with her. She would have time to look for further evidence before Doug arrived at her home. There would be just enough time to explain to her husband, Randy, what she had found. He would just have to trust her at this time, and when she found out everything, she would tell him everything.

Marie carefully locked up her mother's home, but the thought of vacuuming the rug