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    Legacy Letters
    Legacy Letters
    Legacy Letters
    Ebook106 pages2 hours

    Legacy Letters

    By Darlene Franklin, Jessica Ferguson, Ruth Collins and

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Seven pink envelopes, addressed in Wanda Taylor's spiky handwriting, represented her legacy to seven people she held dear. Legacy letters—that's what they were. A last gift, though some might call it interference. People often sought her advice and her God-given gift of discernment. But not these seven, and her heart ached for them. They were good people who loved God and their families, but she saw patterns in their lives that could harm them in the future if left unchecked. Monica was the lynch pin to the entire project. The mantle of the matriarch fit her, and everyone in the family recognized it. But she needed to learn how to let go before she could take charge. Monica would receive the first letter, one month after Wanda's death. The others—to friends, siblings, children and grandchildren—would receive their letters in the six months following. Wanda sealed the last letter and whispered a prayer. "Lord, use my words a final time to do Your work in the lives of those I leave behind."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOCFW Writers
    Release dateOct 7, 2019
    ISBN9781393849513
    Legacy Letters
    Author

    Darlene Franklin

    Bestselling author Darlene Franklin’s greatest claim to fame is that she writes full-time from a nursing home. She lives in Oklahoma, near her son and his family, and continues her interests in playing the piano and singing, books, good fellowship, and reality TV in addition to writing. She is an active member of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Network. She has written over fifty books and more than 250 devotionals. Her historical fiction ranges from the Revolutionary War to World War II, from Texas to Vermont. You can find Darlene online at www.darlenefranklinwrites.com  

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      Book preview

      Legacy Letters - Darlene Franklin

      Prologue by Darlene Franklin

      May: Monica Taylor by Darlene Franklin

      Monica has her life altogether—now if only she can learn how to live/enjoy it.

      June: Lindsey Adams by Jessica Ferguson

      Lindsey learned that putting off important things could cost her—reputation, respect, and family.

      July: Sherri Duncan by Ruth Collins

      Sherri, a would-be writer all her adult life, is dared through a letter from her late sister to write a romance and enter it into a contest and not let life events get in her way.

      August: Natalie Franklin by Martha Fouts

      The always-in-control Natalie receives an eerie letter from her precious great aunt with one challenge – Sing your song. Will Natalie be able to fulfill Wanda’s challenge and open herself up to the love and friendships awaiting her, or will she retreat to the security of her perfectly plotted to-do list life and ignore her aunt’s challenge from the grave?

      September: Jackson Taylor by J.J. Johnson

      Sometimes the only way to step down a road to recovery, is to step down a road of forgiveness...

      October: Arianna Graham by Alanna Radle Rodriguez

      Arianna Graham couldn’t believe her grandmother’s challenge to the family’s oldest spinster. The challenge to pray for a husband she doesn’t want.

      November: Adam Taylor by Chris Tarpley

      Adam is a good kid, Zack is not. It’s that simple, isn’t it? Then why can’t Adam stand up to Zack’s bullying?

      December Epilogue: Monica Taylor by Darlene Franklin

      PROLOGUE

      WANDA TAYLOR

      By Darlene Franklin

      Wanda Taylor set down her pen with a sigh. Her doctor wouldn’t approve of the effort she’d expended to write such detailed letters. She was supposed to conserve her strength to battle the cancer rampaging through her body. But their heroic efforts in fighting the beast only delayed the day she went home to heaven. Maybe not today or this month or even this year, but her time would come.

      A cup of coffee sounded good right now. Her doctor might not approve of that either, but since cancer had robbed her of enjoying food so often, she took advantage of the good days to eat her favorites, in case it was her last time. With her body stiff from sitting in one position for too long, she had to hold on to the desk top while pushing herself to a standing position.

      Her daughter Monica had given her a fancy machine that brewed one cup of coffee at a time, along with a dozen flavors. Wanda hadn’t expected to enjoy it so much. Today she chose a robust blend that matched her satisfaction of finishing the letters.

      The letters she’d written represented her legacy to seven people she held dear. Legacy—that’s what it was, although some might call what she’d done interfering in somebody else’s business. Sometimes people came to her for advice, recognizing her God-given gift of discernment. But not these seven, and her heart ached for them. They were good people who loved God and their families, but she saw patterns in their lives that could harm them in the future if left unchecked.

      Of all the people she knew, God had laid these seven on her heart. Writing each letter was like choosing the right Christmas present. Everyone might receive a book, but the authors and genres and lengths depended on the recipient.

      With her cup of coffee in hand, Wanda sat in her breakfast nook. After she reviewed her instructions to her lawyer, she picked up her first letter—written to her daughter. Monica was the lynch pin to the entire project. She didn’t know it yet, but she would become the person the family depended on. The mantle of the family matriarch fit her, and everyone in the family recognized it.

      But Monica needed to learn how to let go before she could take charge.

      MAY

      MONICA TAYLOR

      By Darlene Franklin

      I want to dedicate this book to the members of Oklahoma City Christian Fiction Writers, who welcomed me to Oklahoma seven years ago and now have honored me by asking me to lead this novella. I also want to thanks Jeremy Johnson and Sharon Srock for helping me; and I hold out my hands to Ruth Collins, Jessica Ferguson, Martha Fouts, Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Chris Tarpley for working with me on Wanda’s legacy.

      MAY

      MONICA TAYLOR

      By Darlene Franklin

      The alarm clock woke Monica Taylor at 5:30. That allowed her to have her quiet time, dress, eat, and drive to the hospital for her twelve hour shift in the surgical ward. Today her well-oiled routine had broken down. An extra two minutes in the shower snowballed throughout her morning routine, and she left late.

      Her iPad beeped at her as she headed out the door. She ignored it. She was already five minute late, which could make the difference between arriving early or being twenty minutes late, thanks to the morning traffic. She grabbed her mail to read over lunch.

      The iPad beeped again as she slid behind the wheel of her sedan, and Monica knew she wouldn’t rest until she checked the message. What a waste of time—a reminder to change her calendar because today was the first day of May.

      The significance of the date didn’t hit her until she was waiting for the green light at the on-ramp, where she could merge onto I-35.

      Mom had died a month ago today, a few days after Easter Sunday. The family had gathered for a party that afternoon, knowing it would probably be her last.

      The light changed to green and the driver behind her beeped his horn, angry that she hadn’t moved fast enough.

      Monica merged into the rapidly moving lanes of traffic, but her mind couldn’t stay on the road. Thirty-five minutes later, she pulled her usual spot in staff parking and rested her head on the steering wheel. Perhaps she should call in sick. Everyone said she should have taken more time off after Mom’s death, but she’d decided her regular routine would keep her from dwelling on her loss.

      She’d thought her plan had worked. But now, although she was already ten minutes late, she couldn’t muster the will to move. Unbidden and definitely unwanted tears fell from her eyes. In the past, when she’d needed to vent her feelings, she’d call Mom. But now her mother was gone, and Monica’s efforts to fill the emptiness with activity had failed. With no family of her own, and not that close to her three sisters and her brother, she felt more alone than ever before.

      Five long minutes passed before the tears stopped. God, You have to help me get through this day. My patients need me.

      Like Mom needed me. Tears started again.

      A knock on her side window startled Monica. Kendra, a CNA from her floor who arrived habitually late, motioned for Monica to roll down her window.

      Are you all right?

      Seriously? Do I look all right, and shouldn’t you be on your way upstairs?

      Monica shook her head.

      Kendra patted her shoulder. "I’ll let them know upstairs

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