Life's Hidden Keys

What other people are saying about

Life’s Hidden Keys

I have read many many books, but never once have I seen major meta-physical concepts presented in the form of a novel. The essence of the story is unique and riveting. I couldn’t put the story down.

- Deborah Evan, Idaho

A personalized walk for the reader through the eyes of Sarah, as she overcomes many evils gaining spiritual awareness. Sherry does a great job of walking you through what a spiritual perspective is all about.

- D.H., Avid Spiritual Reader

The friendships made me laugh. The villain made me angry. Parts made me cry. I have begun to analyze and maybe even understand why some friends, loved ones, and family struggle with situations. Some struggle to learn from an experience, while others seem to excel.

- Jacque, Boise

Reading Life’s Hidden Keys granted me the ability to look at life through different eyes. I’ll be impacted by what I learned for the rest of my life.

- Justin, Student

An exciting page turner introducing new age thinking.

- Saundra D., Idaho

A captivating novel offering some insights to my own life, as the main character gains a spiritual awakening.

- Verna, Business owner

A great book! I kept wanting to turn the page to see what would happen next.

- Bill P., Air Force Veteran

Life’s Hidden Keys

Sherry Ridley

Life’s Hidden Keys

Published by Sherry Ridley at Smashwords

Copyright 2010 by Sherry Cotton

http://www.ridleybooks.com/

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Please take the authors time and efforts in mind and if you would like a copy of this book, please pay for one. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Dedication

This novel is dedicated to my father, Leonard Ridley, who passed away during the writing of this book. He always believed in my writing abilities and encouraged me to get my work published.

Chapter 1

Fear raced in my mind as I ran, hardly looking where I was going. I could hear him close behind me.

Sarah, stop running! he yelled, irritated.

Branches whipped my face and cut my naked body as I raced through the trees. The forest was cold, but my body was sweating with fear. The raindrops felt like toothpick harpoons stabbing at my face as I ran. I grabbed a sappy, moss covered tree trunk and flung my body around the bend. The rocks cascading down the ledge behind me were the least of my fears. Scratching my knee as I stumbled to the ground, I crawled behind a large rock. Trying to slow my breathing, I placed my sappy hands on the ground causing them to become covered in dirt. The moonlight streaked through the darkness.

There were no sounds except for his footsteps getting closer. My knee burned with pain. The small amounts of light enabled me to see the wound. Drops of blood colored the moss I sat on.  I tried taking slow deep breaths, but my heart continued to race. As the sweat covered my body, I felt a chill overtake me. Twigs snapped under his footsteps. I was at a dead-end. There was no where for me to go. Trembling, I could hear his frustrated voice calling to me.

Hon, don’t be scared. If you come out I won’t hurt you.

I could tell he was really mad and trying to control his anger in hopes of luring me out. I crouched behind the rock, silent, listening.

Dam it girl, where are you? If I have to find you and I will, you will only have yourself to blame for my anger.

More twigs snapped and I could see the branches on nearby trees moving. I clasped my hand firmly over my mouth and tried not to cry or breathe.

Sarah McClutchen, you belong to me now. The sooner you accept it the easier things will be.

Tears rolled down my face. I tried desperately to control my sobbing cries. He was close now. The moist moss squished in front of the rock I hid behind. Grabbing tightly to the rock, I said a silent prayer.

Chapter 2

Sarah? Sarah, wake up, it’s just a dream, said Jeannie.

I was hardly able to open my eyes and my body ached with pains that came from somewhere unknown to me. My mind swirled, trying to put the pieces together. Where was I? I couldn’t remember him finding me. The last thing I remembered was grabbing tightly to the rock. I laid there in bed with my eyes shut tight, afraid to open them, feeling blankets covering me.

A hand shook me gently. Sarah, it’s okay you were just dreaming.

I was so sore and it was difficult to open my eyes. I knew I wasn’t in my own bed, but that didn’t explain where I was and why I was in what appeared to be a hospital bed. I glanced around the room, seeing my best friend Jeannie sitting in a chair next to me.

Are you okay? You must have had a really bad dream. Jeannie had her jet black hair pulled back and an old T-shirt and jeans on, which was unusual for her. She was always so put together.

Jeannie, what’s going on? I was glad she was here with me. The nightmare had really shaken me up. Jeannie was my best friend and was always there for me when I needed her.

I was disoriented and couldn’t understand what I would be doing in a hospital bed.

Sarah, remember the accident you and Andrew were in last night? You’re in the hospital.

The last thing I could remember was driving home with my husband Andrew, from his parent’s house the night before and drinking that bitter tea.

How are you feeling? You’re so lucky to be walking away from the accident with only a few cuts and bruises.

Good morning Sarah, said the nurse on duty. You sure sound much better than you did last night. It’s almost noon, would you like some lunch?

Yes, actually I am hungry.

Let me just take your temperature and check your blood pressure, and then I’ll send for something for you to eat. I think the doctor is going to let you go home today.

Jeannie, where’s Andrew? It wasn’t like Andrew to not be with me if something this serious happen.

The nurse and Jeannie both looked at each other, then back at me.

I’ll go get the doctor, said the nurse.

Jeannie, what’s going on? Where’s Andrew?

Sarah, last night when you and Andrew were on your way home from his parent’s house, Andrew was driving and swerved to miss a deer in the road.

It was coming back to me. Andrew and I were laughing about something I said causing us to bust up laughing.

Jeannie continued slowly, The car crashed into an oak tree and….

Hello Sarah, I’m Dr. Schnippen. How are you feeling?

I’m okay. I’m trying to find out where my husband is. He was in the accident with me.

Sarah, I’m so sorry. Andrew didn’t make it, said Dr. Schnippen.

My eyes darted to Jeannie and panic ripped through my heart.

What, that’s not possible! I sat up in bed too quickly and the room went spinning. Immediately I laid back down.

Are you saying Andrew is dead?

I’m so sorry, Dr Schnippen said. I think you will be able to go home today. We will need to get some information about Andrew though before you go. Sarah, if it will help you, I will send some sleeping pills home with you.

I sat in shock when the faucet of tears turned on.

Jeannie leaned over and hugged me, both of us crying.

Sarah, I’m so sorry about Andrew.

Jeannie this can’t be true! I just lost my dad and brother two months ago in a car accident. Besides you, I feel like I have lost everyone.

Sarah, I’ll stay with you for however long you need me to.

I just sat there numb. I couldn’t absorb that Andrew, the love of my life, had died. This couldn’t be happening. The nurse came in with a tray of soup and crackers.

Sarah if you can keep the soup down, we can let you go home in the next hour or two. We want to make sure you aren’t still dizzy as well.

The last thing I wanted to do was eat, but I wanted out of this hospital. I wanted to go home and see if it was a big mistake and Andrew was home waiting for me. I knew though that I was kidding myself. If Andrew were alive, he would be here at my side. I forced myself to eat the soup and was signing papers to leave a short time after.

Jeannie drove me home and was going to come in with me, but I insisted I just wanted to be alone. She walked me inside and gave me another hug. I told her goodbye and assured her I would be fine.

I’ll call you tomorrow and check on you. If you need anything, even if it’s the middle of the night, call me. I hugged her again and said goodbye.

I looked at my reflection in the foyer to see how bad the toll of the accident had taken on me. My blue eyes were surrounded by bags and puffy eyelids. My skin was always pale, but now I looked almost white. Even the freckles across my nose seemed pale. I pulled my short dirty blond hair back to examine my face, being thankful the bruises were on my legs and upper arms. Not really knowing what I should be doing, I dragged myself up to our room and I closed the blinds, blocking out the afternoon sun. I decided to climb into bed and took a sleeping pill from the doctor. I was falling asleep quickly, hoping the nightmare would be over when I woke up.

Chapter 3

Upon waking I felt something strange between my fingers. The soft music from my alarm clock played in the background.

Slowly I opened my burning eyes to see what was there. It was a gold key. I held it up to the light and noticed gems mounted on many sides. This was more than a key. It was a mystery. Where did it come from? How did it end up in my hand? I had never seen anything like it.

I rolled over in our king size bed to ask Andrew about the key. Tears rolled down my face as it all came rushing back to me, the accident. How could Andrew have been so careless? Although his mom, Tammy, always seemed to cause arguments between us after we visited them - she never did want him to marry me - we actually didn’t talk about his mom at all and were just enjoying each other and laughing. The accident was my fault. I was the one that got us both laughing so hard. If he would have been paying attention to the road, rather than looking over at me, he would have seen the deer in the road sooner and wouldn’t have had to swerve to miss it. The strange key in my hand no longer mattered. Loss suddenly filled every part of my soul. Setting the key on the wooden pecan nightstand, I swung my feet onto the floor and headed to the bathroom. The wood floors in the bedroom were cold, and the squeaking floor seemed to echo through in the silent house. The wind was howling outside, and rain tapped on the roof. One of our overgrown trees scratched at the bedroom window as if asking to be let in from the blustery weather.

I slowly sat down on the edge of the tub, put my head in my hands, and began to sob.

Andrew, why did you have to leave me? I need you.

I heard a coin fall to the floor. No not a coin, the key. But how was that possible? I could have sworn I put it on the nightstand. Perhaps I was more grief stricken than I had thought. I picked up the key and turned it back and forth. It sparkled in the bathroom light. The key once again had my attention. In small writing an inscription on one side of the key said, ‘You hold the key to my heart.’ Drawn on the other sides were symbols, which I didn’t understand the meaning of. Something mystical about this key gave me a weird feeling as shivers ran down my spine.

With a heavy sigh, I wondered how a key could elicit a feeling in me. This was nuts! Setting the key down I thought, Sarah, get a grip. Shaking my head, I realized I was letting my imagination get carried away.

There was a strange ringing in my head. It dawned on me it wasn’t in my head, it was my cell phone ringing. You had to love those new ring tones. Andrew had changed mine so often I usually didn’t recognize it was my phone, until it was too late. He used to watch me, as I scrambled to find it. I never did find it funny, but I guess he was getting the last laugh from beyond.

Foolishly not looking at my caller ID, I picked up the phone and said, Hello.

Sarah, hi, it’s Mom.  How are you holding up? Dad and I are so sick about Andrew not making it. When will the funeral be? my mother-in-law asked.

My head swam, funeral? How could I even think about a funeral? The accident just happened. My mother-in-law should just plan the funeral. She always wanted to take control of our lives when Andrew was alive, so why not in his death? Besides, this was all a dream anyway. Andrew would come walking through the doors any minute.

Sarah dear, you really should call the insurance company. You know, the sooner you get Andrew’s life insurance taken care of…

Tammy! My mother-in-law had always wanted me to call her Mom, but I couldn’t. Nothing about her reminded me of my mom.

Sarah, I would hope you kids had a will…

Tammy! Tammy. I’m sorry, I just can’t, not right now! I insisted.

Oh, of course Sarah, don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. You just don’t worry that pretty little head of yours. I know just what Andrew would have wanted anyway. I’ll be here if you need me.

My pretty little head, like I had no brain’s in that pretty little head of mine. Well my pretty little head had enough brains to know she was a manipulative…

You know Sarah, Andrew always said that you were the key that opened his heart. Sarah, are you listening to me? she asked in her usual demanding voice.

I have to go Tammy, I hung up, without even saying goodbye. Didn’t the key say something about keys opening hearts?

Having left the key in the bathroom, I raced back to see the inscription again. Rubbing my eyes, I searched the wood floor and even under the ugly, lime green, frog faced, bathmat, which Andrew loved too much to replace. It was just here. I know I set it here! I said out loud. No one would ever believe there had been a key, especially the way I would describe it. Did I just imagine there was a key? Maybe I hit my head harder than I realized in the accident. The questions were flying through my mind faster than I could comprehend. The key looked so valuable. I didn’t understand. How could I just lose it? At a snail's pace I worked my way back into the bedroom, glancing around in bewilderment. Unable to focus on anything but my state of confusion, I froze, trying to figure out what happened to it.  I know I saw it twice! It had to have been here, and I hadn’t gone anywhere but the bedroom and the bathroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, my mind bounced from one thought to another. Maybe there had been no key, maybe I was dreaming.

No, this wasn’t a dream. I know what I saw. Where could it have gone? How was I going to explain this disappearing key to anyone without them thinking I was losing my mind? The questions raced through my head again, still without any answers.

The ringing phone once again brought me back to the real world.

Sarah. Where are you? Todd is really in a rage. You were supposed to be here hours ago, said Mary.

This was all I needed. "Mary, I won’t be into work today.

Oh great, Sarah! I’m not telling your grizzly bear boss that, Mary said in an uneasy voice. Sarah, you know what he’s like.

Mary, Andrew and I were in a car accident last night, I tried to say in a calm voice. The tears were brimming. I just wanted to hang up. Frankly, I really didn’t care about my job at that moment, but I had enough brain cells to know even if I didn’t care about my job at the moment, in a couple weeks I would.

Sarah, are you okay? Mary asked.

Tears started rolling down my face. I could hardly keep my composure. Nothing ruffled Sarah McClutchen, and I wasn't about to show any weakness now.

Yes, I’m okay, but Andrew didn’t make it.

No! Are you serious? Sarah I’m so sorry.

Mary, I’m sorry to put this burden on you but I need a couple weeks off.

Mary was Todd’s secretary, and he treated her very badly. He didn’t seem to think women belonged in the working world.

As an advice columnist for the town newspaper, my job was helping people during heartbreaking events, a relationship breakup or a death of a loved one. I did my best to help them to move on with their lives. I was known as the one to turn to when life was too out of hand. But to advise myself was not going to be easy.  I didn’t believe in what I couldn’t see and had no time for silliness. Perhaps that’s why Andrew and I never got around to having a family. I would have had to learn to be silly and have fun with children.

Please tell Todd I’ll check in soon.

I’ll tell Todd, but I might not have a job afterward. Should I start by saying, Todd, don’t kill the messenger?

You know, you’re right Mary, I should just tell him myself, I knew though as upset as I was, I would probably say something I’d be sorry for later.

I’m so sorry to hear about Andrew. I’ll give the message to Todd, knowing him he’d say something chauvinistic to upset you and you’d quit.  Well, we both know I need you here to help keep me sane. Take care. If you need anything at all… she said in the most optimist voice she could muster.

Thank you, goodbye. I hung up the phone and let the tears flood my eyes that I had been trying to hold back.

I sat back on the edge of the bed numb, still unable to focus on anything except that key. I must have imagined it. Feeling so very tired and just wanting to sleep, I took one of the sleeping pills the ER doctor had given me. I pushed the covers to the side on the unmade bed, slid in, and hugged Andrew’s pillow.

Andrew, I know you can hear me. Please give me a sign, let me know you’re okay, I slowly closed my eyes.

Chapter 4

The hours passed as I slept. A soft knocking at the door woke me rather gently. I could see it was dark outside and my fingers ached with the same feeling I had felt before. I began massaging my aching hand, again finding the key. With a gasp, I dropped it, staring at it with leeriness. The gentle tapping knocked again at the door, this time scaring me into a squeal, almost as if I hadn’t heard the knocking the first time. The soft tapping at the door continued.

Yes, yes I’m coming, I yelled to the persistent knocker.

Approaching the front door, I caught myself in the mirror as I ran through the foyer. All the sleep, the lack of makeup, and my short hair hanging like a rag doll’s, made me appear worn and tired. The bruises from the accident were starting to show. Still in a daze from the past 24 hours, I turned the handle, peeking around the door, but saw no one. When I started to close the door a small soft voice from around the door said, My daddy told me you would take care of me.

Looking down, there was a small girl. She was six, maybe seven years old.

Sweetie, where is your daddy? I asked glancing up and down the empty street, Do you have the right house?

The rain had stopped but the howling wind was still blowing rather hard. Tears filled the little girl’s eyes.

Daddy said you would take care of me. The tears rolled down her cheeks.

Where is your mom?

I don’t know where my mommy is.

I can’t watch you. Where are your parents? I said with a heavier sigh than I had intended.

But I’m scared.

Was I a cold heartless soul? Of course she must have been scared. I hadn’t even asked her to come in.

Come here. It will be okay, I assured her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and guiding her into the living room. The truth was I wasn’t sure of anything, let alone if it would be okay. I had no desire or patience to have to deal with a small child right now or anytime for that matter, but I wasn’t cruel either.

Swarming thoughts flooded my mind again.  Why wasn’t I allowed to mourn the loss of my husband? What kind of parent would leave such a small child with someone she didn’t even know? Terrific, just what my overloaded head needed was more questions.

My name is Sarah McClutchen. Do I know you? Who’s your dad? I asked, hoping to get some answers about this strange situation.

My name is Leah. Daddy says Mommy can’t be here right now. He thinks maybe I can find her.

Leah shivered in my arms. Leah, are you cold?

She lowered her eyes and slowly shook her head no. She must have misunderstood what her father had said. Yet here she was with no mother or father.

Here, Leah, you can sit here. I motioned to the sofa. We will figure out what to do.

Let’s curl up on the sofa and I’ll make us some yummy hot chocolate... I started to say when a high pitch squeal came from her.

With marshmallows! she squealed, her eyes now bright.

Yes, if you would like, with marshmallows.

Turning on the radio, the same oldies song came on I had heard that morning on the clock radio. How appropriate for all that had been going on. It was a song about calling the angels, and letting me know it’s going to be okay. I sure could have used an angel about now. Going from the kitchen into the living room with our hot chocolate, I could hear Leah singing with the song.

Leah, how do you know this song? It was long before her time.

My daddy has been singing it to me for the past couple days when he comes to visit.

Leah, where is your daddy tonight?

I don’t know. She was now twirling in circles as she sang.

Well, here’s our hot chocolate. Why don’t you sit next to me and drink yours.

Leah plopped down on the sofa with her little legs stretched out.

I miss my mommy, she said with a big yawn, her happy disposition changing again to