From the very first sentence, I connected to Blossom Turner’s book, Anna’s Secret. When the single tear snaked its way down Anna’s cheek, a tear ran down mine as well. I knew how she felt. I’ve been there. But whether readers personally identify, or they just fall into the story, they are sure to find Anna’s Secret riveting, heart-wrenching, and too compelling to set aside.
—Kay Marshall Strom, author of the Blessings in India and Grace in Africa series as well as Forgotten Girls.
Blossom Turner takes us on a journey of true-to-life choices, the consequences of sin, and the redemption God offers. Anna’s Secret is packed with raw emotion as we travel the twists and turns that ripple from one poor choice. Best of all, we see God’s grace and feel compelled to respond to people in our lives with that same grace.
—Shelley Pierce, author of the Crumberry Chronicles and Sweet Moments: Insight and Encouragement for the Pastor’s Wife.
Blossom Turner’s book, Anna’s Secret, is all about unconditional love, reconciliation and forgiveness. The characters are forced to deal with hurts from their past and failures marring the present, before realizing God’s truth about themselves and their future. The author addresses tough questions prevalent in today’s society without skirting the real issues. The book is a winner.
—Claudette Renalds, author of By the Sea
Copyright Notice
Anna’s Secret
First edition. Copyright © 2019 by Blossom Turner. The information contained in this book is the intellectual property of Blossom Turner and is governed by United States and International copyright laws. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, either text or image, may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system, or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, for reasons other than personal use, except for brief quotations for reviews or articles and promotions, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission by the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover and Interior Design: Derinda Babcock
Editor(s): Cristel Phelps
Author Represented by WordServe Media Services
PUBLISHED BY: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc., 35 Dogwood Dr., Plymouth, MA 02360, 2019
_______________________________________________
Library Cataloging Data
Names: Turner, Blossom (Blossom Turner
Anna’s Secret / Blossom Turner
310 p. 23cm × 15cm (9in × 6 in.)
Description: Anna’s husband has been ill a long time. When he dies, she is devastated, yet relieved. Matt, the doctor who cared for Steven, comes to call because he also cares for Anna, and a consoling hug turns into something more.
Identifiers: ISBN-13: 978-1-950051-33-5 (trade) | 978-1-950051-34-2 (POD)
| 978-1-950051-35-9 (e-book.)
Key Words: Romance, forgiveness, grief, human failure, love, inspirational, grace
LCCN: 2019936898 Fiction
For my dear husband, David, who has lovingly supported and encouraged my writing. God has blessed our love story through crushing storms and brought inspiration for this book out of the crucible of suffering and the power of forgiveness. Love and forgiveness—no friendship or relationship is possible unless these two principles walk hand in hand. I walk into forever with you—my best friend.
I’m thankful God brought my good friend and critique partner, Jennifer Sienes, into my life. Her willingness to help, to tighten, to give honest feedback of my writing has been invaluable. Thank you, Jennifer.
And to my beta readers whose input I could not have done without— Jan Hooper, Karen Moderow, Tisha Martin, Holly Varni, Kathryn Hughes, my sister Melody Thomson, mother-in-law Stephanie Turner, and mentor Ginny Yttrup. Thank you from my heart.
And last, but not least, to my forever friend, Suzie Zanewich, who prayed, pestered, and pushed me into a writing career. You know how much I love and appreciate you dear friend. Thank you.
Anna gazed down at her sleeping husband—the man she had once called lover, friend, soul mate. Somewhere along the way they had become no more than nurse and patient. Steven’s sickness and remission had beaten a well-worn path to her door. Despite prayers for healing, this final diagnosis crushed all hope.
A single tear snaked its way down Anna’s cheek. She brushed it off with a violent sweep of her hand, so tired of the pain.
Wake up, Steven. A deep desire to set things right before time ran out sent a shudder up her spine.
“Steven.” She nudged him gently.
His eyes flickered open. He stared up at her with a drug-induced blankness.
“I need to talk to you.”
He turned his head away and closed his eyes.
Anna understood. His response was nothing new.
She straightened his blanket and gently touched his upper forehead where dark thick hair used to spring beneath her fingertips. The smoothness brought back his words after he realized his hair would only grow back in scraggily patches.
“I got the nurse to shave it off.”
“It looks good, Steven.”
“Yeah, as good as a bowling ball after it hits the gutter. Worthless.”
“Come on, Steven, we need to remain—”
“Don’t give me your ‘let’s stay positive’ speech. You’re not the one lying in this bed completely useless. I wish you’d go, Anna.”
“Steven—”
“No seriously. Find someone worthy. I’m nothing but a shell of the man you married, and this blasted disease doesn’t let me live or die. I just hang here in limbo.”
“Code yellow to unit ten. Code yellow.”
Anna was grateful the intercom interrupted her thought patterns and brought her back to the present. She released one white-knuckled hand from her clutch on his blanket and smoothed out the twisted knot. She shook her head as if to dislodge that painful conversation from her mind.
Some memories are better left buried.
Dr. Matthew Carmichael had been notified by hospital staff that his morning run should include a look into Steven’s room. They felt he was failing fast. One look at Steven confirmed their assessment.
He motioned the nurse over.
“This family needs our full attention until—”
She nodded. “I just started my shift and I’ll stay
