...always a crook. Stan had paid his debt to society and gone straight ever since. At least that's what Zoe thought...
As Stan stared at the policemen his face was a white mask, the small muscles in his jaw working furiously as he clenched his teeth together. Outside the panda car was waiting, another policeman leaning carelessly against it.
“Get your coat, Mr. Harris,” the policeman said wearily. “We’ll finish this off down the station. There’s a lot of enquiries to make and we’re still waiting to hear if the caretaker will recover.”
“Look, I was nowhere near that warehouse, and I didn’t beat up that old man!” Stan told him for the umpteenth time. “I was here - at home.”
“Maybe you were,” the policeman replied. “But your wife can’t verify that. If she was out till midnight and the robbery was just after eleven - that gives you time to do the job and get home. Which means you haven’t got an alibi.”
Stan glared at him, his eyes cold.
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Saturday 25 September 2010
Friday 10 September 2010
Demands Of Love
My sister had always been bossy, but this time she seemed determined to put my whole future in jeopardy...
The phone call from my sister, Jenny, came just as I was leaving work. Her voice sounded harsh and over loud,yet there was pain in it, too.
“Angela, I’ve got something awful to tell you,” she began. My heart started to beat furiously at the tone in her voice. “Mum died this afternoon, just after three...”
Her voice broke on a sob, and there was silence for a moment.
“Jenny, what happened?” I gasped into the phone.
Mum had been fine last time I went home to see my parents, just six weeks ago. Surely death couldn’t come so quickly - without me knowing, being aware of it.
“They said there was nothing they could do,” Jenny went on tearfully “She’d been ill a long time and didn’t know - then it was too late. Angie, you must come home...now. You must!”
“Of course I will, Jenny,” I told her quickly. “I’ll take time off... Catch the first train tomorrow...”
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The phone call from my sister, Jenny, came just as I was leaving work. Her voice sounded harsh and over loud,yet there was pain in it, too.
“Angela, I’ve got something awful to tell you,” she began. My heart started to beat furiously at the tone in her voice. “Mum died this afternoon, just after three...”
Her voice broke on a sob, and there was silence for a moment.
“Jenny, what happened?” I gasped into the phone.
Mum had been fine last time I went home to see my parents, just six weeks ago. Surely death couldn’t come so quickly - without me knowing, being aware of it.
“They said there was nothing they could do,” Jenny went on tearfully “She’d been ill a long time and didn’t know - then it was too late. Angie, you must come home...now. You must!”
“Of course I will, Jenny,” I told her quickly. “I’ll take time off... Catch the first train tomorrow...”
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For Export Only
My past was nothing to be proud of and I’d done everything I could to bury it good and deep. But it refused to stay buried and now it was threatening to ruin my new life...
I was about halfway along the alley when I heard soft footsteps behind me. I forced myself to keep walking, not to look back. It wasn’t much further to the main road, then I’d be safe. I could just make out the reflection of the street lights beyond the growing shadows.
Suddenly the lights weren’t there any longer. The black silhouette of a man was standing in the archway, blocking the light.
The footsteps behind me came closer, and then I heard a voice that made my blood run cold.
“Hello, Janine.”
I spun around, fear knotted like a hard ball inside me as I looked into Rod Brookman’s darkly handsome face.
“Rod...” I gasped. “I thought...”
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I was about halfway along the alley when I heard soft footsteps behind me. I forced myself to keep walking, not to look back. It wasn’t much further to the main road, then I’d be safe. I could just make out the reflection of the street lights beyond the growing shadows.
Suddenly the lights weren’t there any longer. The black silhouette of a man was standing in the archway, blocking the light.
The footsteps behind me came closer, and then I heard a voice that made my blood run cold.
“Hello, Janine.”
I spun around, fear knotted like a hard ball inside me as I looked into Rod Brookman’s darkly handsome face.
“Rod...” I gasped. “I thought...”
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Wednesday 25 August 2010
Star Struck
It began with a request for a record on the local radio station. Then it became much, much, more...
“Not again, Karen!” Mike stormed at me. “I can’t take much more of this.”
“Oh Mike, come on, it’s only once a week,” I implored. “Be reasonable.”
Mike stared at me in absolute amazement, and when he spoke his voice was slightly mocking.
“Be reasonable - me?” he began. “For the last two months you’ve cut short every date we’ve had on a Friday, just so you can listen to that pathetic DJ. Karen...”
He stopped, lost for words, then sighed heavily and leaned back in the driving seat.
“I don’t know what to say,” he shook his head. “The whole thing’s crazy. It’s not even as though you know the bloke, and yet you moon over him... Oh, forget it. There’s just no reasoning with you any more.”
Mike slammed his fist against the steering wheel.
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“Not again, Karen!” Mike stormed at me. “I can’t take much more of this.”
“Oh Mike, come on, it’s only once a week,” I implored. “Be reasonable.”
Mike stared at me in absolute amazement, and when he spoke his voice was slightly mocking.
“Be reasonable - me?” he began. “For the last two months you’ve cut short every date we’ve had on a Friday, just so you can listen to that pathetic DJ. Karen...”
He stopped, lost for words, then sighed heavily and leaned back in the driving seat.
“I don’t know what to say,” he shook his head. “The whole thing’s crazy. It’s not even as though you know the bloke, and yet you moon over him... Oh, forget it. There’s just no reasoning with you any more.”
Mike slammed his fist against the steering wheel.
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Sunday 15 August 2010
Chequebook Wife
Mark and I were so broke, and all because of the money we had to pay to his ex-wife...
“Please, Anna, we’ve gone over this so many times,” Mark sighed wearily. “There’s no point even thinking about it.”
“I can’t help thinking about it, Mark,” I cried desperately. “I want a baby!”
Mark’s eyes closed as though he was trying to shut out my words, and his shoulders slumped with despair.
“Darling, we can’t afford a baby,” he went on quietly. “I only wish we could, but...”
“...but we have to keep your first wife in the lap of luxury!” I interrupted crossly. “Mark, because of her we’re not living - we’re just existing, and sometimes we aren’t even doing that. There’s no way we’re ever going to have a normal marriage with her living off our backs the whole time!”
“Oh, Anna...”
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“Please, Anna, we’ve gone over this so many times,” Mark sighed wearily. “There’s no point even thinking about it.”
“I can’t help thinking about it, Mark,” I cried desperately. “I want a baby!”
Mark’s eyes closed as though he was trying to shut out my words, and his shoulders slumped with despair.
“Darling, we can’t afford a baby,” he went on quietly. “I only wish we could, but...”
“...but we have to keep your first wife in the lap of luxury!” I interrupted crossly. “Mark, because of her we’re not living - we’re just existing, and sometimes we aren’t even doing that. There’s no way we’re ever going to have a normal marriage with her living off our backs the whole time!”
“Oh, Anna...”
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Wednesday 4 August 2010
Symbol Of Our Love
I'd Planned our engagement party down to the last detail, but I hadn't bargained on Nigel getting it wrong...
“Nigel’s here, love,” Mum called up the stairs. “Are you nearly ready?”
“Two minutes,” I called back.
I was standing in front of the wardrobe mirror carefully studying my reflection. Tonight I wanted to look my best for Nigel - I wanted him to be proud of me. After all, this was a very important day for us. The day we officially announced we were going to be married. The day when Nigel would put the engagement ring on my finger in front of our friends and family.
Mum and I had taken weeks planning the party, and I was determined everything should go well. My heart was beating furiously as I checked my make-up for the hundredth time, and added a touch of perfume - the one Nigel had given me. Then I was ready.
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“Nigel’s here, love,” Mum called up the stairs. “Are you nearly ready?”
“Two minutes,” I called back.
I was standing in front of the wardrobe mirror carefully studying my reflection. Tonight I wanted to look my best for Nigel - I wanted him to be proud of me. After all, this was a very important day for us. The day we officially announced we were going to be married. The day when Nigel would put the engagement ring on my finger in front of our friends and family.
Mum and I had taken weeks planning the party, and I was determined everything should go well. My heart was beating furiously as I checked my make-up for the hundredth time, and added a touch of perfume - the one Nigel had given me. Then I was ready.
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Sunday 1 August 2010
Love Cheat
Loving Carl was wrong. I was deceiving my husband and I didn't even feel guilty. So why couldn't I leave him and go to Carl...
“Darling, I must go soon,” I said softly.
Carl was lying in bed beside me, his eyes closed. Gently I ran my hand along his suntanned arm. He turned his head, then opened his eyes to look at me.
“I wish you didn’t have to, Sandy,” he said. Again I saw the fleeting expression of regret cloud his eyes. “Come away with me, love. Comewhere new, just the two of us. I could make you happy, I promise.”
“Oh, Carl...” I sighed as a shiver ran through me and pulled the sheet up over my naked body. “I don’t know what to do. It’s not an easy decision to make. Barry’s given me so much and he really loves me. Everything he does, he does for me – it would hurt him a lot.”
Carl put his arm around me and as he pulled me to him I felt the warmth of his muscular body on mine. A shiver of pleasure ran through me, and as our lips touched I strained towards him.
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“Darling, I must go soon,” I said softly.
Carl was lying in bed beside me, his eyes closed. Gently I ran my hand along his suntanned arm. He turned his head, then opened his eyes to look at me.
“I wish you didn’t have to, Sandy,” he said. Again I saw the fleeting expression of regret cloud his eyes. “Come away with me, love. Comewhere new, just the two of us. I could make you happy, I promise.”
“Oh, Carl...” I sighed as a shiver ran through me and pulled the sheet up over my naked body. “I don’t know what to do. It’s not an easy decision to make. Barry’s given me so much and he really loves me. Everything he does, he does for me – it would hurt him a lot.”
Carl put his arm around me and as he pulled me to him I felt the warmth of his muscular body on mine. A shiver of pleasure ran through me, and as our lips touched I strained towards him.
Read more...
Thursday 22 July 2010
The Way We Are
Ellen and Jack had such a glamourous lifestyle I couldn't help compare our lives with theirs...
I clutched Paul’s hand tight as the plane banked and turned to land.
“You’re not scared, are you?” Paul asked with a cheeky grin.
“No,” I told him. “Just excited.”
It was our first visit to Austria and I could hardly take in the quiet beauty of it all. Paul and I had been married for two years, and this was our first holiday. We’d sacrificed last year’s holiday to decorate our house and buy new furniture.
“Oh, darling, this was really worth waiting for,” I said, squeezing Paul’s hand.
He turned and kissed me lightly.
“Good,” he said. “I think so, too.”
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I clutched Paul’s hand tight as the plane banked and turned to land.
“You’re not scared, are you?” Paul asked with a cheeky grin.
“No,” I told him. “Just excited.”
It was our first visit to Austria and I could hardly take in the quiet beauty of it all. Paul and I had been married for two years, and this was our first holiday. We’d sacrificed last year’s holiday to decorate our house and buy new furniture.
“Oh, darling, this was really worth waiting for,” I said, squeezing Paul’s hand.
He turned and kissed me lightly.
“Good,” he said. “I think so, too.”
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Thursday 1 July 2010
The Missing Body
“You must have heard it!” I whispered as I shook Sandra awake. She yawned. “Go back to sleep - you were dreaming.” How I wish I had been...
A sharp noise, like a door slamming, had jolted me awake. In the other single bed in the chalet Sandra slept on, but I lay listening to the muffled noises from the chalet next door.
“Shut up and let me sleep,” I muttered into the darkness. “Some of us have to work tomorrow.”
I turned over in the narrow bed and closed my eyes again. Sandra and I had been determined to do something different this summer, and impulsively we’d applied for jobs in the gift shop of a self-catering holiday village in the South of France.
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A sharp noise, like a door slamming, had jolted me awake. In the other single bed in the chalet Sandra slept on, but I lay listening to the muffled noises from the chalet next door.
“Shut up and let me sleep,” I muttered into the darkness. “Some of us have to work tomorrow.”
I turned over in the narrow bed and closed my eyes again. Sandra and I had been determined to do something different this summer, and impulsively we’d applied for jobs in the gift shop of a self-catering holiday village in the South of France.
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Who Needs Love
I wasn't looking for a holiday romance. Sun, sea and relaxation, that's all I wanted. But life's full of suprises...
The first time I saw Angela she was walking through Las Palmas Airport. The second time she was lying on a sun lounger in a very brief bikini, her soft slender body turning golden brown. She was one gorgeous lady.
A suitably bribed waiter told me her name and that she was on holiday with her sister. Which was all I needed to know. From that it wasn’t difficult to engineer a meeting and dazzle her with my charm.
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The first time I saw Angela she was walking through Las Palmas Airport. The second time she was lying on a sun lounger in a very brief bikini, her soft slender body turning golden brown. She was one gorgeous lady.
A suitably bribed waiter told me her name and that she was on holiday with her sister. Which was all I needed to know. From that it wasn’t difficult to engineer a meeting and dazzle her with my charm.
Read more
Tuesday 1 June 2010
Dare To Love Again
It had taken a long time to mend my broken heart, now it looked as though I’d have to mend it all over again...
“Steve? No, love, he’s not here,” the barman told me. “He left this afternoon. His job’s finished – surely he told you?”
I thanked him, picked up my drink and walked over to a quiet table. My heart was breaking, but I didn’t dare let it show. I’d had a broken heart before, and I didn’t want anyone to see it was happening again. It was more than I could bear.
How could Steve do this to me, I cried silently. Only last night as I’d lain in the warm circle of his arms he’d told me how much he loved me, that he’d never leave me. So why, when everything was going so well for us...
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“Steve? No, love, he’s not here,” the barman told me. “He left this afternoon. His job’s finished – surely he told you?”
I thanked him, picked up my drink and walked over to a quiet table. My heart was breaking, but I didn’t dare let it show. I’d had a broken heart before, and I didn’t want anyone to see it was happening again. It was more than I could bear.
How could Steve do this to me, I cried silently. Only last night as I’d lain in the warm circle of his arms he’d told me how much he loved me, that he’d never leave me. So why, when everything was going so well for us...
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Saturday 15 May 2010
A Wedding To Remember
I wanted to postpone the wedding but Gavin wouldn't hear of it. "Mum'll come round. Wendy" he'd said. But would she...
“Wendy, wake up, love.” Mum’s voice brought me out of a deep sleep. “Your breakfast’s nearly ready.”
I opened my eyes and looked straight over to the window and breathed a sigh of relief. The sun was shining, and it was going to be a beautiful day. Or was it? There was a huge cloud hovering over me but it had nothing to do with the weather.
“Are you still worried about Mrs. Simpson?” Mum asked, sitting down on the edge of my bed.
“I just can’t help it,” I said with a sigh. Then I glanced over to the cot where my baby daughter should have been asleep.
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“Wendy, wake up, love.” Mum’s voice brought me out of a deep sleep. “Your breakfast’s nearly ready.”
I opened my eyes and looked straight over to the window and breathed a sigh of relief. The sun was shining, and it was going to be a beautiful day. Or was it? There was a huge cloud hovering over me but it had nothing to do with the weather.
“Are you still worried about Mrs. Simpson?” Mum asked, sitting down on the edge of my bed.
“I just can’t help it,” I said with a sigh. Then I glanced over to the cot where my baby daughter should have been asleep.
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Saturday 1 May 2010
Someone To Love
When we found the puppy I didn’t suspect Carly and I would find so much more...
“But, Mummy, he’s looking for a home!” Carly’s huge blue eyes were pleading with me as she hugged the puppy in her arms. “Can’t we keep him? Oh, please...”
“I wish we could, sweetheart,” I said with a sigh. “But we can’t afford a puppy and anyway, this one’s got a collar, which means he already belongs to someone.”
“Well he can’t like them much else he wouldn’t have run away,” Carly pouted. “Anyway now he’s here, and he wants to stay!”
Carly was almost five, and with a very determined mind.
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“But, Mummy, he’s looking for a home!” Carly’s huge blue eyes were pleading with me as she hugged the puppy in her arms. “Can’t we keep him? Oh, please...”
“I wish we could, sweetheart,” I said with a sigh. “But we can’t afford a puppy and anyway, this one’s got a collar, which means he already belongs to someone.”
“Well he can’t like them much else he wouldn’t have run away,” Carly pouted. “Anyway now he’s here, and he wants to stay!”
Carly was almost five, and with a very determined mind.
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Thursday 1 April 2010
Guilty Secret
Marrying Mike was all I wanted. But there was something I hadn’t told him. Something very important...
Today was Easter Saturday, my wedding day.
At two o’clock this afternoon I was going to marry the man I loved. I should have been happy, excited, nervous, instead I was desperately miserable. Every time I thought of Mike and the plans we’d made for our future I’d hate myself for the way I’d deceived him.
I’d been sitting staring out of my bedroom window for ages. I’d watched the dawn and felt the first warm rays of the sun, but nothing could drive away my overwhelming feelings of guilt. Since I’d said goodnight to Mike just a few hours before I’d tortured myself about not having told him all the truth about my past...
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Today was Easter Saturday, my wedding day.
At two o’clock this afternoon I was going to marry the man I loved. I should have been happy, excited, nervous, instead I was desperately miserable. Every time I thought of Mike and the plans we’d made for our future I’d hate myself for the way I’d deceived him.
I’d been sitting staring out of my bedroom window for ages. I’d watched the dawn and felt the first warm rays of the sun, but nothing could drive away my overwhelming feelings of guilt. Since I’d said goodnight to Mike just a few hours before I’d tortured myself about not having told him all the truth about my past...
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Monday 15 March 2010
Man Hunter
I was going to make it to the top and the only way to do that was find a guy who was already there and marry him...
The cream silk sheets felt cool and sensuous against my naked body. I moved my legs slightly as I watched Alec undress. His tanned skin looked even darker in the soft lamplight and I couldn’t wait for him to get into bed beside me... It was the perfect ending to a fairy-tale romance, and the perfect beginning to the rest of my life.
“Darling...” I murmured as he came towards the bed. He was everything I’d ever wanted, and now he was going to be mine.
I was a very lucky lady. The future I’d dreamed of was very close to becoming reality, and, ironically, it was all thanks to Simon.
You see, at the beginning it had been Simon I’d singled out as the guy who could give me everything I wanted...
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The cream silk sheets felt cool and sensuous against my naked body. I moved my legs slightly as I watched Alec undress. His tanned skin looked even darker in the soft lamplight and I couldn’t wait for him to get into bed beside me... It was the perfect ending to a fairy-tale romance, and the perfect beginning to the rest of my life.
“Darling...” I murmured as he came towards the bed. He was everything I’d ever wanted, and now he was going to be mine.
I was a very lucky lady. The future I’d dreamed of was very close to becoming reality, and, ironically, it was all thanks to Simon.
You see, at the beginning it had been Simon I’d singled out as the guy who could give me everything I wanted...
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Monday 1 March 2010
Will You Marry Me
But it’s traditional!” our families had insisted. We’d wanted a quiet wedding. No stag night. No hen night. No chance! Our special day had been ruined, and I began to wonder if it would happen at all...
When I woke up a thin ray of sunlight was pushing its way through the curtains. I smiled and stretched lazily. This time tomorrow Id be waking up to the bright warm sunshine of Lanzarote, and I’d be Mrs. Gareth Stevenson.
I could hear Mum bustling around in the kitchen nagging Dad about something or other, then his footsteps clumped up the stairs and there was a light tap on my door.
“Sally, you awake, love?” he asked, pushing the door ajar. “I’ve got a cup of tea for the bride.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said. I sat up in bed and took the cup from him. “All ready for the big day?”
“More to the point, are you?” he grinned.
“After being engaged nearly three years I think I’ve waited long enough,” I laughed.
“I think you and Gareth were very wise to wait,” Dad went on with a wink. “Let’s face it, nobody could accuse you of rushing into anything!”
That was true, I thought idly as Dad went. Although this time last week it was touch and go that there’d be a wedding at all...
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When I woke up a thin ray of sunlight was pushing its way through the curtains. I smiled and stretched lazily. This time tomorrow Id be waking up to the bright warm sunshine of Lanzarote, and I’d be Mrs. Gareth Stevenson.
I could hear Mum bustling around in the kitchen nagging Dad about something or other, then his footsteps clumped up the stairs and there was a light tap on my door.
“Sally, you awake, love?” he asked, pushing the door ajar. “I’ve got a cup of tea for the bride.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said. I sat up in bed and took the cup from him. “All ready for the big day?”
“More to the point, are you?” he grinned.
“After being engaged nearly three years I think I’ve waited long enough,” I laughed.
“I think you and Gareth were very wise to wait,” Dad went on with a wink. “Let’s face it, nobody could accuse you of rushing into anything!”
That was true, I thought idly as Dad went. Although this time last week it was touch and go that there’d be a wedding at all...
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Too Many Lies
What started out as a casual affair soon became a web of lies which threatened my whole future...
I was holding my breath as I waited for the line to appear on the pregnancy testing stick.
“Please let it be all right,” I whispered to myself. My hand was shaking as the blue line appeared in the small window. It was positive...
My heart almost stopped beating as I threw the stick onto the kitchen table. I was pregnant. I was going to have a baby. The only problem was, whose baby was it?
Tears filled my eyes but I forced them back. There was no point crying, I wasn’t an innocent teenager, I’d known all the pitfalls right from the start.
“Mummy...me tired...” Sarah, my two-year-old daughter, came into the kitchen, trying to cuddle her doll and suck her thumb at the same time.
I picked her up and held her close.
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I was holding my breath as I waited for the line to appear on the pregnancy testing stick.
“Please let it be all right,” I whispered to myself. My hand was shaking as the blue line appeared in the small window. It was positive...
My heart almost stopped beating as I threw the stick onto the kitchen table. I was pregnant. I was going to have a baby. The only problem was, whose baby was it?
Tears filled my eyes but I forced them back. There was no point crying, I wasn’t an innocent teenager, I’d known all the pitfalls right from the start.
“Mummy...me tired...” Sarah, my two-year-old daughter, came into the kitchen, trying to cuddle her doll and suck her thumb at the same time.
I picked her up and held her close.
Read more...
Monday 1 February 2010
Stars In My Eyes
Music, Fame, Glamour. It all sounded so wonderful, but it’s never quite what it seems...
The future looked sweet for the group. All the hard work was finally paying off and it wouldn’t be long before they hit the big time. Then Frank dropped his bombshell...
“There’s no point looking at me like that, Sarah. I’m not going to change my mind.”
Frank turned to the mirror and started brushing his hair.
“But you can’t give up the group now!” I protested.
My heart had almost stopped with shock when Frank told me. He’d been acting quiet and withdrawn for a few weeks, but I’d never suspected anything like this.
“Frank, please listen to me,” I went on when he didn’t take any notice. “You’ve worked really hard to get the group where it is. Rehearsals, sacrificing just about everything you’ve got to buy your guitar and stuff - now you’re on the verge of really making it big! It’s stupid to throw it away!”
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The future looked sweet for the group. All the hard work was finally paying off and it wouldn’t be long before they hit the big time. Then Frank dropped his bombshell...
“There’s no point looking at me like that, Sarah. I’m not going to change my mind.”
Frank turned to the mirror and started brushing his hair.
“But you can’t give up the group now!” I protested.
My heart had almost stopped with shock when Frank told me. He’d been acting quiet and withdrawn for a few weeks, but I’d never suspected anything like this.
“Frank, please listen to me,” I went on when he didn’t take any notice. “You’ve worked really hard to get the group where it is. Rehearsals, sacrificing just about everything you’ve got to buy your guitar and stuff - now you’re on the verge of really making it big! It’s stupid to throw it away!”
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Friday 1 January 2010
My Christmas Baby
When you bring a longed for child into the world your hopes and dreams soar. The future is filled with joy and happiness. But for Alex and I our dreams were to fade all too soon...
As Christmas draws closer I try hard to stop myself looking back to the same time four years ago. Yet remembering brings me a joy that helps to ease the dreadful pain in my heart. It seems so long ago, and yet those four years have passed all too quickly.
My story begins on Christmas Eve, the day which marked the beginning of the sweetest, saddest time of my whole life...
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As Christmas draws closer I try hard to stop myself looking back to the same time four years ago. Yet remembering brings me a joy that helps to ease the dreadful pain in my heart. It seems so long ago, and yet those four years have passed all too quickly.
My story begins on Christmas Eve, the day which marked the beginning of the sweetest, saddest time of my whole life...
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