Total Freedom (Total Freedom Series Book 1)

by Ann M Pratley

  When he lay back on the bed, worn from exertion, I relaxed down on my tummy and looked at him. He had one arm up and resting over his face so I couldn't see his eyes. Still he had said nothing, and I waited.

  Finally he put his arm down and turned his head so he could look at me. He didn't move - didn't attempt to pull me into a hug or to move against or closer to me.

  "Are you okay?" he asked. "Did I hurt you?"

  "You didn't hurt me," I replied. "Are you okay?"

  He looked at me. He knew what I was asking, and there would be no point in trying to act as if he didn't.

  "Always when I see you and Craig together, it messes me up a bit." He was silent for a moment. "I had never seen the two of you sing together before," he added and I nodded.

  "I know."

  "I am glad we are here, but have to be honest and say that I will be happy to get home, with him on this side of the world, and you on mine."

  * * * *

  Two days later the time came for us to go to Craig's wedding. The ceremony was on the hotel grounds, but far out the back in a garden area that was accessed by a long, foliage covered pathway, away from the usual hotel guest areas.

  Steven and I got ready and he held my hand tight as we walked through to where the wedding guests were starting to be seated. We sat down on two seats right at the back, and waited. We didn't know anyone - and most of the people seemed to be native Italian and spoke their own language, so we sat alone, peacefully.

  It wasn't long before the groom and best man made their way down the aisle, to stand and wait at the front for the bride to arrive. When Craig was in position he turned to watch and wait, and I could see nervousness on his face. By now there were a lot of wedding guests there and sitting in front of us, but looking around his eyes found mine and he stopped still, looking at me. I winked at him and his trance was broken, with a small smile gracing his face before we could hear wedding music begin.

  Looking around, I saw the bride - Gabriella - start to walk past us, with an older man supporting her. I turned back to Craig, to see his face, and he was now extremely nervous. He gave me one last glimpse before his bride took her place beside him and the ceremony got underway.

  * * * *

  After it was all over, and everyone had relaxed into standing, moving around and talking to one another, Craig came up to us, with his obviously pregnant bride by his side. I braced myself in case any uneasiness was going to occur.

  "Debs, Steven - this is my wife, Gabriella," Craig said, slightly stuttering.

  Steven held out his hand to her and she took it, nodding. "I am very pleased to meet you Steven," she said in broken English before looking at me.

  "Debbie," she said as I held out my hand and she took it in a handshake. "It is very special that you are here today. Thank you for coming so far to come to our wedding."

  I don't know what I had expected from her, but she was nothing but gracious and warm in her welcome, and I smiled and returned the greeting.

  They moved on, working around all the guests that were there, and I didn't get to talk to Craig again for the moment.

  * * * *

  We stayed for some of the reception, but knowing no-one except the groom, it didn't seem right to be among all of these people who were close family and friends.

  I turned to Steven. "Let's go back to our room," I said and he looked relieved.

  "Are you sure?"

  I nodded. "Yes. I don't want to be here anymore."

  I looked for Craig, to go and say goodbye, but couldn't see him so started to leave.

  Partway down the now dark path to the hotel, Steven and I heard footsteps running toward us and both turned to see Craig coming up behind us. He approached and slowed down, with a determined look on his face.

  "Wait," he said, panting slightly.

  Steven turned to me. "I will go back to the hotel and see you there," he said and then turned to Craig. "Good luck, Craig," he said to him, holding out his hand in a handshake.

  Craig accepted the handshake but said nothing as Steven turned and started walking away.

  Now we stood in the middle of the long path, halfway between where my husband was in our room, and where Craig's wife was at the reception.

  Craig took my hand. "I wish I could spend more time with you," he said with a sad look on his face that progressed to him starting to cry. "I wish so many things, Debs…"

  I removed my hand from his, put my arms around him and pulled him to me, feeling his arms wrap around me.

  "We are where we are, and we can't regret anything," I said, loosening our hold and looking into his eyes. "You have a wonderful life, your bride is beautiful and you have a child on the way. Enjoy that. You will be a wonderful father - and husband."

  He looked at me, both of us knowing we couldn't stay away from our loved ones very long, but not wanting to say goodbye.

  "I will come back to New Zealand. When the children are grown, I will come back for you," he said with enthusiasm and I smiled and nodded at him in response even though I think we both knew that was never likely to happen.

  "I have to go, and so do you," I said before he leaned in and kissed me. Not passionately, not even friendly, but softly, slowly, as if wanting this to be the one that would be remembered.

  "I still love you so much, Debs," he said as I started to walk away.

  I looked back at him briefly.

  "I love you too."

  Chapter 37

  I never saw or heard from Craig again. But I didn't regret going to his wedding - it was sort of our way of really saying goodbye one last time.

  Isn't it ironic that people who shape our lives so much, can so easily disappear from them? Like nothing ever happened and they weren't ever really there, in our lives, at all.

  But where would I be if I had never seen Craig that day in the coffee shop? Perhaps still be extremely overweight, unhappy and hating the person I was letting myself become.

  So I thank you, Craig, wherever you are. I hope you see my name on the cover of this book, pick it up and even just read this paragraph. I thank you and I will never forget you - and if you think about the offer you made when we last saw each other … know that my daughters are almost grown and out in the world, and I am indeed still here … waiting.

  ~~~ The End ~~~

  Thank you!

  Thank you so much for reading my book, 'Total Freedom'. I greatly enjoyed writing this story and I appreciate your enthusiasm for reading it.

  If you enjoyed 'Total Freedom', I hope you will consider taking a moment to place a review in Amazon.

  If interested in receiving up to date details of freebies, price drops and new releases, please contact me via my website to leave your name and email address, and I shall be glad to send you news.

  Thank you,

  Ann M Pratley

  Upcoming Release: Total New Beginnings

  (TOTAL FREEDOM SERIES - BOOK #2)

  By Ann M Pratley

  She made a choice when she was young - a choice that she went on to question throughout her adult life to date. Twenty years on, the opportunity to revisit that decision appears before her and she is left to consider what is right.

  But in and around this opportunity for decision review, she learns things about her husband that push her to question the soundness of his mind, and wonder why he had ever married her.

  A chance to start over, choosing this time to go down the path previously unselected … if we could go back and do it over, would we really make the different choice after all?

  Introducing: Painful Deliverance

  (PAINFUL DELIVERANCE SERIES - BOOK #1)

  By Ann M Pratley

  She just wasn't made to inflict pain.

  She knows it is nothing abnormal. She knows others enjoy it. But with every new level of pain he directs her to deliver to him, Alexis feels another piece of her soul die. He has wealth and he has power, and she knows he won't easily let her go.

  But she has
to leave. Escape. Move on. Forget. She has reached her limit of what she can do. The plans are in place to get away. She just has to hope that wherever she goes - whoever she meets - she won't find herself in exactly the same situation again.

  Introducing: Darkness of Heart

  (PAINFUL DELIVERANCE SERIES - BOOK #2)

  By Ann M Pratley

  She thought he'd stopped looking. He hadn't.

  She got away from him to start a new life. She moved on. But in his mind, he still loves her and needs her. He still believes that she loves him. That she is meant to be his. That he is meant to be hers.

  He will not give up searching for her. He will not give up fighting for her. He will pursue her and stop at nothing to get her back. But it will come at a cost … a sacrifice much greater than he will see coming. A sacrifice that will finally wake him up and bring him back to stark reality.

  Introducing: Friendship of Desire

  (PAINFUL DELIVERANCE SERIES - BOOK #3)

  By Ann M Pratley

  Tom and Samantha. Feisty friends from childhood who feel like they know each other inside out, until the day comes when one of them suggests they go to a BDSM club together, and become formal play partners. Pushing the limits of what each of them can individually stand in their lifelong friendship, they attract and repel like magnets, until the time comes when they must choose how they will relate to one another - and what kind of relationship they will go on to have in the future.

  Whilst on this journey of discovery, the two of them meet and make a new friend - Alexis. A young woman with a hidden and secretive past, and a mystery surrounding the relationship she has - or has had - with a renowned business entrepreneur who begins to integrate himself into Samantha's life, unknown to any of them whether he has done it for him, or for her … or for Alexis, being the mysterious link from his past.

  Introducing: Alessandra

  By Ann M Pratley

  After receiving news from her parents of a possible betrothal, Alessandra, an 18 year old with an ingrained belief that no-one would ever wish to marry her, finds herself in a love so great that at times she cannot breathe.

  To marry someone like herself - someone she can go on a sexual journey of learning and exploration with, who also has no previous experience in such pleasures - contributes to her finding a degree of emotional and physical love that she has never before realised could exist.

  But that love will be tested by someone from her past with sinister intentions, jealous of the physical love she shares with her husband. Someone set on doing whatever he can do - whatever he must do - to have the woman he desires, no matter the cost.

  Introducing: Cruising Through to Fulfilment

  By Ann M Pratley

  When a young woman from a small town in New Zealand travels to Vancouver to see the sights and go on a luxury cruise through the waters of Alaska, all she wishes for is that - a holiday.

  On board the Glacial Sun, Tanya meets new friends, one of whom will become more, using his charm and good looks to win her heart. But once on land the discovery of a dead body close to her hotel will make her question the goodness of the person she has let herself trust, and wonder if there is a darker side to him.

  All she wants is to find is long term love and life fulfilment. How hard can that be?

  New Release: The Golden Desires

  By Ann M Pratley

  He wanted to escape. They needed to survive.

  When Isabella starts to dream of a stranger, she is awakened inside with feelings she has never felt before. She knows he is not someone she has ever seen before, and he is not of her village. He is a stranger, and she is desperate to determine if he is real or he is a part of her imagination.

  Far away a businessman desperate to escape the noise and stress of the city, embarks on a journey to find peace and the solitude he increasingly needs and desires. But at his destination he will find much, much more.

  About The Author

  Ann M Pratley has a great passion for writing and words, and enjoys writing fiction where the characters take on a life of their own through the writing process.

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  If you enjoyed this book, please do consider leaving a review in Amazon.

  www.amazon.com/Ann-M-Pratley/e/B01GAO60PS