Nobody's Perfect

Penny Black

Description

An intriguing story of a young woman who found love with two men, both very different and both gave her everything they could. When Nancy finds out she is pregnant, she is unsure whether Thomas or Jason is the father. The lies begin and the guilt she has to live with, eating away at her, is heart wrenching, especially when she falls pregnant again, which, along with more lies, sparks a series of tragic events.

Informations

• Publié par: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Date de parution: 06 février 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528948036
• Langue: English

Extrait

Nobody’s Perfect
Penny J Black
Austin Macauley Publishers
2019-02-28
Nobody’s Perfect About the Author Dedication Copyright Information Acknowledgements Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two Chapter Thirty-Three Chapter Thirty-Four Chapter Thirty-Five
About the Author
30 May 1989 was the point in time when Penny J Black first knew depression. This has haunted her on and off ever since. No one even mentioned mental health in those days; they palmed you off with antidepressants, or in extreme circumstances, you were put in an institution and forgotten about.
Her self-treatment was drink, vodka, to be precise. She always held down a job, though, and tried to see herself out of the dark hole she kept slipping back into. Just when she thought she was okay, she’d slip back down.
Her children were supportive, but, in reality, she put them through hell. Her youngest son suffers mental-health issues because of her. In fact, they all suffered, and she is so grateful they are still supporting her.
Mental health is a serious illness, we are now told, and Penny J Black is thankful it is now starting to be recognised. If you’ve never had it, you don’t understand – simple. People tell you to “snap out of it” but that is impossible to do. Writing has helped her a lot; it’s good to get those feelings down on paper. Not everyone can write a novel, and it has taken her a long time between starting this and it being on the shelves.
If you think you are suffering, please don’t suffer in silence like she had to. #itsoktonotbeok
Dedication
For my first love, who tragically committed suicide due to mental health.

Jason Charles E Hampshire (Hammy)

16 September 1962 – 30 May 1989

R.I.P.
Copyright Information
Copyright © Penny J Black (2019)
The right of Penny J Black to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781786933041 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781786933058 (Hardback)
ISBN 9781528948036 (E-Book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2008)
Second Edition (2019)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgements
I want to thank my kids most of all: Damon, James and Danielle, because as I was writing the book, they hardly saw me. I came home from work and straight upstairs until late. Then I was made redundant, and we went to Corfu for four weeks, where the last few chapters were written. It was then left to collect dust!
It was very painful to write, as although the book is fictional, a lot of it is based on truth. It was upsetting at times to write, re-read and then edit. It delves deeply into my life and the pain I have suffered over the years with love, heartache and tragedy, especially the death of Jason. Even though it was nearly thirty years ago, he still has a special place in my heart.
I recently married a wonderful man, my best friend and my soulmate. It is something I never thought would happen after Jason, especially the continuing heartaches I’ve had, but that’s in the next novel!
Thanks to everyone else who has helped me, and I really hope you enjoy reading it. I would love your comments, whether good or bad.
Twitter - @PennyJaneBlack
Facebook - Penny J Black – Author
Email me - [e-mail]
[e-mail]
Website - pennyjblack.co.uk
Chapter One
Mrs Bannister was watching Nancy as she waltzed up the path, swinging her rag doll as she skipped along. She had been visiting every day since the family moved in across the road a couple of years ago. Mrs Bannister had been walking past the ice cream van when she saw three-year-old Nancy crying, she’d dropped her pennies down the grate, and Mrs Bannister had very kindly bought her an ice cream.
It was a quiet area, with younger couples and families steadily moving into the houses left empty by the ever-decreasing older generation. Mrs Bannister was a sprightly eighty-two-year-old widow who regularly took her West Highland terrier, Scottie, for a walk around the quiet streets and onto the fields behind, and always made an effort to talk to the neighbours, especially the newcomers. She had an aura about her that made everyone feel welcome and relaxed.
Scottie barked and jumped up at the door to welcome Nancy in. She was a beautiful girl, with long, dark wavy hair and big brown eyes. She looked absolutely adorable in her new navy and white school uniform.
‘Have you had a nice day at school?’ asked Mrs Bannister.
‘Lovely, we painted some pictures and the teacher read us a story. What have you done today, Mrs Bannister?’ replied Nancy.
‘I’ve been into town and done some shopping. What do you think I have bought?’
‘Cakes and sweets!’ shouted Nancy excitedly and followed Mrs Bannister and Scottie into the kitchen.
The next few years passed quickly, and Mrs Bannister thoroughly enjoyed watching Nancy growing up. She had no grandchildren, as her only son had tragically died in a motorbike accident when he was only seventeen. She thought her own life had ended that day when the police came knocking on her door but Bill, her late husband, had been a great help to her and time had been a great healer. Bill died shortly before Nancy and her family moved in, and even though she didn’t know it, Nancy had been her life since. She had been invited to their house for Christmas every year and this year was no exception.
As Mrs Bannister was getting ready in the early hours of Christmas morning, so she could arrive before Nancy woke up, she heard a strange noise outside. As she looked out of the window, the pavement covered with the glow of fresh, crisp white snow, she saw a small brown pony tethered to Nancy’s fence. ‘ How wonderful ,’ she thought to herself, ‘ Nancy hasn’t got a clue about this one .’ She waited until she saw lights come on across the road, grabbed her coat and walked over. She tapped on the door and Nancy’s mum, Maggie, answered with a big smile and a finger to her lips. Obviously, Nancy wasn’t awake yet. It was only 7:30 a.m. and Maggie had the gorgeous smell of turkey spreading through the house, a great welcome for Christmas morning. As Mrs Bannister and Maggie drank their tea, they heard footsteps creeping down the stairs.
‘Good morning, Nancy,’ shouted Maggie and Mrs Bannister in unison.
Nancy burst into the kitchen with such a sparkle in her beautiful eyes. ‘Please can I go and see what Father Christmas has brought me?’
‘Of course,’ replied Maggie, and she and Mrs Bannister followed her into the lounge. Maggie had laid all the presents out so that Nancy could read the writing on them and hand them out as she came to them. Maggie got a gorgeous diamond and sapphire eternity ring from her husband Eric and a bottle of her favourite perfume from Nancy and Mrs Bannister, along with other bits. Eric received a gold watch from Maggie and a car cleaning kit from Nancy and Mrs Bannister. Nancy and Maggie bought Mrs Bannister a beautiful china West Highland Terrier ornament. The list of Nancy’s presents was endless: a Sindy doll and horse, a toy guitar, and a hat and glove set but when she came to open the last of her presents, she sort of looked disappointed.
‘I didn’t need any new clothes and I don’t wear trousers, and what would I want with this horrible jacket?’ frowned Nancy.
Maggie went over to her daughter and took her to the window, where she proceeded to open the heavy green velvet curtains.
‘Wow, it’s snowed!’ gasped Nancy with excitement and then let out a scream. ‘Mum, is that my pony?’ and hugged her mother so tightly, then ran to her father and hugged and kissed him. ‘Thank you, thank you, I love you both so much. What’s he called? Is it a boy? Can I go and see him? Where does he sleep?’ The questions were so continuous, no one had chance to answer. In her nightie and slippers Nancy ran to the front door and out into the bitter cold of winter and hugged the pony so tightly around its neck, they thought she would have strangled it.
‘Where are you going to keep it?’ asked Mrs Bannister.
‘It’s all sorted,’ replied Eric. ‘I spoke to Farmer Pearson, who owns the land surrounding us, and I’ve bought two acres off him at the back of our house. I couldn’t fence it off or build a stable before today or Nancy might have been suspicious, but I’ve bought all the wood and a friend of mine is building the fence and two stables next week. In the meantime, he’ll stay at Farmer Pearson’s.’
Nancy had spent practically all day with her pony, brushing him, riding him up and down the lane, and when it was time for him to be taken to Farmer Pearson’s, Nancy was almost shedding a tear, not wanting to part with her new friend.
‘What will you call him?’ asked Mrs Bannister.
‘I don’t know yet; have you any ideas, Mrs Bannister?’
‘Well, I used to have a dog called Fred. I haven’t a clue what you would call a pony,’ laughed Mrs Bannister.
Nancy was up bright and early next morning to go and see her pony, whom she had decid