Life's Retrospective Legacy: MOD Life Epic Saga, #49

By Amy Shannon

Life's Retrospective Legacy
Volume 49 of the MOD Life Epic Saga
2023 Version

Fear and anger spread through the town as the painful past becomes front and center in their minds. A tragic accident adds to Dr. Raina Markum's stress level as she had to care and raise another child. Dealing with her own disability, clues start to unravel as a new face settles down in Sars Springs and is here to stay ... but is he who he says he is?

Ely Haskell falls head over heels in love, finally, as his mother and her law partners become the targets of a madman. Will the anger from the past be put to rest as reconnections with family are drawn together? Life and death, as always, play a part in the lives of the residents, but will it be 
more life than death or the other way around?
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amy Shannon
• Release date: Mar 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224490394

Amy Shannon

Amy Shannon is an author, professional book reviewer and literary consultant. Amy is republishing and publishing some for the first time, her MOD Life Epic Saga, which has over 67 volumes, and 9 bonus books.

Book preview

Life’s Retrospective Legacy

Amy Shannon

A picture containing graphical user interface Description automatically generated

Essence Publishing

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

https://essenceenterpriseus.com/essence-publishing

2023 Edition

Copyright © 2023 by Amy C Shannon

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permissions of the author, except by a review who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Credits:

Cover Illustration Copyright © 2023

Cover design by Amy Shannon

The Entire MOD Life Epic Saga

1 Unwritten Life

2 Rewritten Life (Best Read after Unwritten Life)

3 Unwritten Life's Paths to Destiny (Best Read after Rewritten Life)

4 Written Life's Past Meets Present (Best Read after Rewritten Life)

5 Life's Written Past

6 Life's Unwritten Future

7 Another Written Life

8 Life … Rewritten

9 Unwritten Life & Death

10 Life's Healer

11 Life's Hindering Hope

12 Life's Binding Ties

13 Life's Resurrection

14 Life's Infiltration

15 Life's Revival

16 Life's Depths of Souls

17 Life's Explosion in Time

18 Life's Connections

19 Life's Collision

20 Life's Intersection

21 Life's Final Destination

22 Life's Generations

23 Return to Life

24 Life's Resolution

25 A New Unwritten Life

26 Life's Dissolution

27 Life's Linear Souls

28 Life's Choices

29 Life's Passions

30 Life's Awakening

31 Life's Vengeance

32 Life's Heartful Depths

33 Life's Quaking Souls

34 Fractured Life

35 Life's Drowning

36 Life's Exploration

37 Life's Curative

38 Thicker than Life's Blood

39 Life's Salvation

40 Capturing Life's Midnight

41 Life's ReEvolution

42 Life's Soulful Intentions

43 Life's Jagged Flames

44 Life's Rising Depths

45 Life's Doomed Immortality

46 Life's Raw Enforcement

47 Life's Deemed Corruption

48 Life's Inherent Immorality

49 Life's Retrospective Legacy

50 Life's Torturous Souls

51 Life's Passages

52 Life's Tribulations

53 Life's Spirituality

54 Life's Revitalizations

55 Life's Rapture

56 Life's Sacred Retaliation

57 Life's Fiery Resuscitation

58 Life's Experimentation

59 Life's Redemption

60 Life's Humanity

61 The District Life: Districtive

62 The District Life: Disarray

63 The District Life: Disassembled

64 The District Life: Disapparent

65 Life's Return: Home Sweet Sars Springs

66 Life's Return: The Practice

67 Sars Springs: The finale

Bonus Series:

B1 Life's Perspective: Matthew Garris (Best Read after Life's Binding Ties)

B2 Life's Perspective: Bill Wheeler (Best Read after Life's Binding Ties)

B3 Life's Perspective: Perspective: Mike Dix (Best Read after Life's Connections)

B4 Life's Alternate Path: Destiny ... Rewritten (Alternate Path Parallel to Unwritten Life & Death to Life's Binding Ties)

B5 Life's Alternate Path: Destiny ... Crossroads (Alternate Path Parallel to Life's Resurrection to Life's Depths of Souls)

B6 Life's Alternate Path: Destiny ... Intertwined (Alternate Path Parallel to Life's Explosion in Time to Life's Connections)

B7 Sars Springs Handbook (Best Read after Life's Torturous Souls)

B8 The Interview: Life's Revelations (Best Read after Life's Fiery Resuscitation)

B9 M.O.D Life Epic Saga Character Guide

Introduction

Fear and anger spread through the town as the painful pasts because front and center in their minds. A tragic accident adds to Dr. Raina Markum's stress level as she had to care for and raise another child. Dealing with her own disability, clues start to unravel as a new face settles down in Sars Springs and is here to stay ... but is he who he says he is?

Ely Haskell falls head over heels in love, finally, as his mother and her law partners become the targets of a mad man. Will the anger from the past be put to rest as reconnections with family are drawn together? Life and death, as always, plays a part in the lives of the residents, but will it be more life than death or the other way around?

1 Strain

TERRY MARKUM WALKED into his bedroom and watched as his wife, Dr. Raina Markum, sat in the chair and stared out into the darkness. Raina?

Raina slowly looked in his direction. Terry, what is it?

She’s sitting under the porch again, he said

Oh, all right. I’ll go talk to her, Raina slowly grabbed on to her cane and stood up.

Are you sure? Terry asked.

"Yes, I’m sure, she said. I can do it. I don’t need your help."

Terry shook his head and headed out of the bedroom. "You never need my help and that’s why you have that stupid cane!" he called to her as she limped down the hall behind him.

What are you talking about? Raina said. I fell down the stairs. It’s no big deal.

Terry turned around and glared at her. "It’s no big deal? You’re always going to use that cane. No one can fix you and it’s no big deal?"

Raina glared at him. You act like you pushed me down the stairs. You’ve been in this mood for months now. Oh, I get it, she said.

What? he crossed his arms. What do you get?

You don’t want to live with a cripple, do you? I was fine when I was walking normal, but now that I have half a foot, you don’t want me, do you?

What? That’s ridiculous! You fell down the stairs because you were packing your dead father’s crap. Let his wife do that!

Don’t you dare talk about my father! He’s – he’s dead! I’m sorry I was helping his wife, she cried.

"I know he’s dead, but I didn’t kill him," Terry yelled.

Raina furrowed her brow and stared down at her feet. Terry? she whispered. Do you blame me for not fixing Eric?

Terry loosened his arms and dropped them to his side. No, he said. I wish he could be fixed, but he can’t, can he?

Raina limped into the living room and slowly sat down on the sofa. What’s happening to us? We’ve been at each other’s throats since before I fell down the stairs, she said.

Terry sat on the love seat across from her and rested his elbows on his knees. Raina, we need to talk, but I think you first need to talk with your sister. She’s still sitting under the porch.

I don’t know why she likes it under there, Raina said, as her younger sister, Grace Masterson appeared in the doorway.

You done yellin’ yet? 10-year-old Grace asked, as she peered through the screen.

Terry stood up and opened the door. Come in, honey, he said. You heard us fighting?

I think the whole street heard you, she said. "Terry, it’s not Raina’s fault that she fell. It’s mine. I’m sorry."

Terry put his hand on her shoulder. It’s not your fault, he said. We’re not even mad about that anymore. Raina and I need to talk, but I think you two also need to talk. He led her to the sofa. I’ll leave you two alone. I have to check on Dad. He walked down the hall toward the guestroom.

Raina reached out her hand to her sister. Come sit by me, she said, as she propped her foot up on the coffee table.

Grace took a throw pillow off the sofa and placed it under Raina’s left foot. Does it still hurt?

Not much, she said. I’m just getting used to it.

Like Daddy did when he got his braces? she asked.

Yeah, Raina smiled.

I miss Daddy, Grace said. I know it’s been a year, but still, I miss him.

I know, so do I, Raina said.

But you have two other fathers, Grace said.

Yeah, but I love all my fathers. When anything bad happens, it hurts, she wiped her eyes. So, why were you sitting under the porch again?

It’s like my private fort. Only you and Terry know about it.

What about your mom? How is she doing?

She doesn’t talk to me anymore. She barely gets out of bed. I know that she loved daddy, but she needs to snap out of it. I’m a kid, Raina.

Raina put her arm around her sister. Do you want to sleep here again tonight?

Yes, please, she cried. I just don’t want to be in your way.

"You are never in my way, little sister. I love you. OK? I’ll always be here for you. I don’t want you to think that my fall was your fault."

If I didn’t ask you to save some of dad’s stuff for me, you would have your whole foot.

There was a nail sticking out of the stairs and I fell down the stairs that lead to the pavement. I fell just hard enough to hit my foot against the fence. It was painful, and I have to deal with it, but it was no one’s fault.

But you haven’t even been a doctor since you fell, she sobbed. I ruined your life.

Raina looked up as Terry stood in the doorway and then she focused on Grace. She wiped her tears with a tissue. Please, it wasn’t your fault. To be honest, I needed a break from work, she smiled lightly. I wanted to not only put that stuff away for you, but there are some boxes above the garage that I wanted to go through. I can’t go up there now.

Grace looked at her sister. I make you and Terry fight. Maybe I shouldn’t come around. I just don’t know where to go.

Terry walked into the room and sat on the sofa. He put his arm around Grace. You didn’t make us fight. It was our own frustrations about everything. Last year a lot of stuff happened, and we are still trying to get through it. To top all that off, your father died and mine is still sick, and dying and living in our guestroom. It’s not you, Grace. We are both here for you. He looked at Raina. I love Doc.

Raina looked into his eyes. You haven’t called me Doc in months, she wept.

I thought it would depress you, he said. I have been angry. I blame myself for you losing your foot, Doc. If I were home, I would’ve helped you. I should’ve cleared that piece of broken fence a long time ago.

Raina looked into Grace’s eyes. Call your mother and tell her you’re staying here, she said.

I already told her. She doesn’t care, Grace said.

Go set up your room and we’ll have dinner in an hour, Raina said.

Grace hugged her sister and then hugged Terry. I just have to grab my bag. It’s under the porch, she hurried out of the house and then quickly came back in. She skipped lightly down the hall to the room that they had designated for her.

Raina shook her head. I hate what Lily is doing to her, she said.

Terry took Raina’s hands. I hate fighting with you, he said. We’ve both been angry and keeping our grief inside and then, you fall down the stairs and slice your foot in half.

I’m sorry that I’ve been pushing you away, she said. It wasn’t about my foot. I mean, yeah, it’s depressing that I have half a foot, but that’s not why I was such a … bitch.

Raina, what is it?

I was jealous. My dad died last year of a heart attack. Your father should’ve died but he’s still hanging on. I didn’t mean should’ve, but we all expected him to die and he didn’t. He’s still hanging on. Yes, he’s still sick. I was jealous that you still have him, and I don’t have my dad. I know that I still have my other two dads, but they have their own lives.

You barely see them. Why?

I don’t want to talk about them tonight, she said. I just can’t right now. She wiped her eyes. I got so used to holding in things that I feel it’s eating me away. It’s not just us, but our children. I think Logan takes too much after me. He’s holding in his grief, too. He was very close to dad.

Terry lightly touched his wife’s cheek. I know I haven’t said it in a long time, but I love you, Doc, he said. I am so sorry about how we have been.

Me, too, she said. Don’t think that my foot doesn’t frustrate me, but I know I have to deal with it. It’s not like I can get a half of a prosthetic. I can deal with half a foot. Right now, I need to focus on Grace. She’s only 10. Baby, I know she’s my little sister and has a mother but her mother…

What is going on with Lily? Terry said. She needs to take care of her child.

I don’t know, Raina said. I think she’s drinking. Unfortunately, Grace has been trying to feed herself and take care of her mother. I can’t allow it anymore. It has been going on for too long. Tomorrow, I am going to talk to Lily. Either she straightens out or…

Or? Terry said.

I’ll take custody of my little sister.

No, Terry said.

"What do you mean no?" she said.

"We will take custody of your sister, he said. We’re in this together. Remember, you and me, together forever?"

She held his face and kissed him softly. I do love you, Terry. I am so sorry about everything.

Me, too. I’ll get dinner ready, he said. Oh, did you really want to go through some old boxes?

Yes, she said. There are a few boxes up there that were our children’s. I thought I’d go through them. They have been up there for so long. Maybe someone can use some of that stuff.

Well, this weekend I can bring them down for you and we can go through them together.

I’d like that, she smiled. She looked up quickly when she heard a large roar. Terry, what is that?

He hurried over to the door and watched as a car barreled down their road, swerving back and forth. Oh, god, he said, as the car sped past their home and toward their backyard. I think it crashed. Call 9-1-1.

Where, Terry? Where did it crash? she said, as she hurriedly tried to stand.

He ran out of the house, as his son, Logan, who lived across the street, also ran out of his own home. Oh, god, Logan yelled. I’ve called it in.

Lily! Terry yelled, as he ran toward the house that was behind their own.

The car’s brake lights were still illuminated as the car was now resting in the living room of Lily and Grace’s home.

Sirens sounded in the distance as the fire engine, ambulance, and three police cars raced down the road.

2 Crash

RAINA SLOWLY WALKED down the stairs and Grace ran up behind her. Oh, god, Mom, Grace cried, as Raina held her. She’s OK, right?

I don’t know, Raina said. They’re still searching for her and the driver. She held her arm around her sister.

Logan, who was the Sars Springs Fire Chief, walked over to his Deputy Chief, Leo Scoffield. Leo?

The fires are all out. We’re still looking. Go be with your mother right now, Chief.

Did they find the driver?

No, Leo said. It looks like he got out. They’ll be pulling the car out soon.

All right, Logan said. Drunk?

Bottles are all over the car, he said.

We got something, an officer called.

I better get over there. Sir, you’re off duty, Leo said.

I know, he said. I’ll be with my mother. Logan walked over to Raina and Grace as Leo headed toward the dilapidated house.

Grace covered her eyes as the EMTs slowly lifted the body bag out of the rubble. Mom? she cried.

Raina held her sister tightly. Come on. Let’s go back in the house, she said.

Grace shook her head. I have to say good-bye.

Not this way, Raina said. Honey, not this way.

I didn’t get to say good-bye to dad and now, mom is gone. What’s gonna happen to me? she cried.

Terry slowly walked over to the two of them. I’m sorry, Grace.

I need to be alone, she ran toward the house and hid under the porch.

Raina looked up at Terry. Did you mean what you said before?

That we’d take care of her? Yes, this is not how I thought we’d do it, but, yes, Terry touched her cheek. She needs both of us.

Even though she’s just my sister?

She’s your sister but I love her, too, Terry said. Now, she’s one of our children.

Raina hugged her husband tightly. I need to help her through this, she cried.

Go in the house. I talked with Leo. He said the house is a crime scene right now. The person who was driving the car was probably drunk but he’s not in the house. They think he took off. They’ve got a search party looking for him.

Who’s in charge on the police side? Raina asked.

I talked to Officer Phelps, Terry said. He and Chase were first on the scene but they’re going to probably assign it to homicide.

Oh, she said. I have to get Grace.

You go in. I’ll talk to her. Don’t worry, Terry kissed her cheek. I saw Logan with you. Where did he go?

Alessa had come out of her house. He went to tell her what was going on. I guess the crash woke up Peyton. He said he’d come back in a little while.

Go on in and rest that foot.

Yeah, it’s going to be a long night, she said, as she headed into the house.

Terry looked over at Logan, who was down the road talking with Alessa Wheeler, who was both Raina and Terry’s sister. He waved slightly and then turned toward his house. He walked over to the porch and knocked on the lattice that surrounded the bottom part of the porch. Grace?

I’m not here, she cried.

Terry pulled the lattice back and slowly crawled under the porch. Wow, a lot more room than I thought. You have all this stuff under here? he looked around at the blanket, pillow, and cardboard box, which acted as a table for her radio and lantern.

I didn’t want to sit in the dirt, she said. Here, sit here on the blanket. I have a light, so I can read and my radio, too.

A pillow, too? You sleep under here?

Sometimes, she said. Terry, I’m sorry that I hang out here too much. I’ll clean my mess.

What do you like about this so much?

It’s private, she said. It’s like having a fort. I wasn’t allowed to have a fort at my house. Now, my house and mom are gone. Terry, I may get mad at my mom, but I love her and now she’s dead.

I know, he said. I lost my mom when I was your age. I know how it feels, especially when you love your mom so much.

I wish she loved me, Grace buried her face in her hands.

She did. She did. She just didn’t know how to handle her grief. People grieve in different ways. Sometimes, people do it wrong.

Wrong? she looked up at him as he put his arm around her.

Yeah, they drink a lot to try to forget their pain.

Oh, mom drank a lot, she said.

So, did Elena, Terry said. But she’s getting the help she needs.

Why was Elena so sad?

Because of being hurt last year, Terry said. Your mom loves you.

What’s going to happen to me?

Raina and I will take care of you until you grow up, he said.

You want another kid?

We want you, Terry said. We love you. You’re Raina’s sister. I think it will be good for you and good for Raina. We’ll take care of you. You can make the room you sleep in here your very own.

Is all my stuff crashed up?

I don’t know, he said. Once the police get done there, we’ll have to clear up the mess. We’ll see if any of your stuff is still good. Whatever you need, we’ll get for you.

Thanks, Terry. I just don’t wanna get in your way. Your dad is still sick and lives with you. Raina is having a hard time, she said. I don’t want to make it worse.

"You could never make anything worse, Terry said. Come on. I’m starved."

I’m glad I took my bear, so he didn’t get hurt, she said, as they crawled out from under the porch.

Terry put his arm around her. You’re safe and we’re going to help you through this.

I want it to be private, just like when my dad died, she said.

It will be, Terry said, as he led her into the house.

3 Closeness

CHARLES WHEELER HURRIED into his home. Les? Les? he called as he set his briefcase down on