All Ceri wants is to love and be loved, but can any man understand a life that spans two very different worlds?
The entire series collection – which also takes you BEYOND ‘The End’ – is a roller coaster of emotion that is both hopeful and uplifting. It’s Ceri’s journey – where life, love and the beyond come together.
Ceri thinks she sees angels … everywhere. She struggles to keep separate what feels like two very different sides to her life. As a manager in an advertising company she’s been working with the gorgeous Alex for two years. The have a friendship based upon the image she portrays whilst she’s at work and it helps to keep her sane. One mad, crazy night spent sharing their secrets and a lot of wine result in them ending up in bed together, and their relationship changes. When Alex explains that the reason he doesn’t date is because someone broke his heart, how can Ceri admit that she feels a deep connection to him?
Ceri knows she’s different. What she doesn’t fully appreciate, is that her task in life is to correct a series of incidents that affect some of the people’s lives with whom she comes into contact. She’s simply putting right little errors that could ripple outwards and change the course of their destiny. When she finds herself getting pulled into things that happen around her, how can she prove that she really has made a difference? Is it all in her head?She’s alone for a reason; she’s not meant to fall in love in her earthly life. Alex is supposed to cross paths with her and help Ceri, during a phase where she begins to question the signs she’s being given. It’s meant to be a turning point for them both—but in opposite directions. They are destined to travel very different paths … but Ceri doesn’t know that and neither does Alex …
Available in eformat and paperback, published by One More Chapter (Harper Collins).
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KOBO
Chapter 1 – Being me …
I have no idea exactly when I first began seeing angels, but I can’t seem to remember a time when I couldn’t. It feels like it’s always been a part of my life. It’s as natural as breathing and yes, there are times when I wish that wasn’t the case. I seriously doubt that anyone would choose to become drawn into something they don’t really understand. Why would they?
I’ve read books of course, and talked to many people who think they know how it all works. When I say ‘it’ I mean life after death, or whatever exists beyond the here and now. What I have found is a very diverse range of opinions, often given out as if they are factual and with a belief so strong that it seems unshakeable. And that’s true whether the person is an adamant sceptic, or a believer. The point is—how can anyone know for sure until it’s their turn to follow the light into what lies beyond?
As I stir my cappuccino, the heart-shaped chocolate powder begins to melt into a swathe of pale brown trails. It strikes me that it’s a good analogy—when something you ‘see’ is not what it seems. One moment it appears to be something of substance and in a flash it’s gone. It’s the same with my angels; almost real but not quite. I may be able to see them at times, but it’s always merely seconds before they disappear.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Seb’s voice breaks my reverie.
I look up at him, “I’m thinking about angels.”
“Oh, I’d hoped it was something more…normal.” He closes the conversation before it has even begun and I realise that my wonderful brother is simply out of his depth. It leaves me feeling guilty again; why do I keep doing this to myself and to other people? Haven’t I been slapped in the face often enough to know that people loathe the word ‘angels’. It reminds them of death; of loved ones lost and another world that only exists in fantasy. Except, of course, I know better.
“So,” I try to keep my voice upbeat and pretend I’m not disappointed he’s failed the test again. “Why an autumn wedding?”
“Anna has found her perfect dress for the day and it’s red. Her heart is set on it and she wants the guys to wear Scottish kilts,” he smirks.
“But there’s no Scottish blood in our family,” I point out.
“No, true, although Anna says her great-grandfather’s second cousin was a Laird,” we burst out laughing at exactly the same moment and say in unison, “mega!” Typical of the link we have as non-identical twins who are in tune on many levels, but so opposite in other ways. I’ve never felt that we struggle to assert our own identities though and I like to think Seb feels the same way.
“And based on that tenuous link you’ll be seeking someone to pipe you in I suppose?” I can’t resist teasing him, but I’m simply masking my concern. I hate myself for the sense of ‘knowing’ that I can’t shake off. She’s going to hurt him, more than anyone has ever done in the past and he’s going to crumble.
“How did you guess?” he quips, and I chuckle out aloud at the thought of someone piping my brother up the aisle. He has hairy legs, knobbly knees and thinks that all Scotland has to offer is some amazing mountains to climb.
“Well, at least tell me you’re going to Scotland for your honeymoon,” I reply. He shakes his head.
“No, California. Anna wants to do the Hollywood walk of fame.”
I study my brother’s face. He’s a happy man and that’s all that matters in the grand scheme of things. It’s just the ‘Anna wants’ phrase seems to keep cropping up in every conversation we have these days. Is that how she’s going to fail him? Or is it Seb who is going to fail, adoring her too much and making the relationship one-sided; all give and no take because he’s sadly, madly in love.
“Fabulous,” is all I can find to say, holding back the words in my head that have to remain unspoken. In my heart I know she’s a lovely lady, but my brother is an interesting guy and he’s never fitted the mould. A bit like me, I suppose. Only Seb doesn’t see angels and sometimes I wonder if he thinks I’m possessed, or mad. I know he won’t entertain any ideas about an afterlife, but aside from that he’s used to thinking outside the box. My greatest concern is that Anna is rather—well, predictable, trendy. Okay—what I want to say is shallow but that makes me feel mean and it’s not true. Then I realise that it’s the vibe again, ‘the knowing’. When exactly the hurt will come I have no idea, but it’s there, somewhere in the future. All I can do is sit back and wait, then help to pick up the pieces. That little part of me that is different, the side that no one can understand, is also the reason that I will probably never find someone to love and accept me. It distances me from Seb too, on another level. When nature split us into two beings I inherited the weird gene.
“I’m fine,” he says, placing his hand reassuringly on my arm. “I love Anna and if that’s what makes her happy then I’m happy too.”
In fairness to him he’s had the bachelor life most guys can only dream about. He’s back-packed around the world, surfed, climbed mountains and only ever answered to number one—himself. At the age of twenty-nine he wants to settle down and try normal, everyday life. Seb’s voice breaks my train of thought.
“The angels,” Seb shifts in his chair uncomfortably, “you do know it’s all a figment of your imagination? You’re an extremely sensitive person and you over-think things Ceri. I inherited the practical skills and you inherited the creative ones. Don’t get sucked in, and remember that you can’t believe everything you read.” He fingers a book lying on the table next to him, the title is ‘Never Alone’ and it’s about a woman who sees spirits.
I nod, inwardly shaking my head and a part of me is sad that he has no idea. It’s not that I know all the answers; if I did I would be banging his head against a wall until he listened to me. I can’t prove anything and I wonder if that’s the whole point. To believe you have to rise above needing to be shown; you simply need to see with your eyes wide open. What I do know, is that so far I have a journal that shows I’ve altered the course of events for over one hundred and thirty-one people. What that means, I have no idea.
QR codes for the complete series (with bonus ‘what happened after THE END’ chapters).
QR codes for Falling, Forbidden and Forever novellas (30,000 words each without bonus content):
