Never Too Old to Dream

By Theresa Lockwood

Theresa was a normal happy little girl till one day her whole world came crashing down. The first turning point for her was when her father left the family home, she adored her father she couldnt understand why he had walked out of her life.
She grew up being bitter to-wards life especially men, but when she was 17yrs she met a young man, and the following year they married .

Some years later, Theresa now aged 37yrs and after divorcing her 1st and later her 2nd husband - life began to improve for her. Then one day returning home from work she realised she was being followed, as she neared a row of shops she was suddenly attacked from behind, it was her ex-husband Richard.
He pushed her hard to the wall and held her with his body restraining her from running, one hand around her throat the other raised into a fist. She wanted to scream, but his grip was too tight, expecting his fist she closed her eyes and prayed.
In desperation she kicked out, catching him on the leg with the heel of her shoe, he cried out loosing his grip on her.
She tried to run, he lunged at her once again, catching her by her hair pulling her violently backwards, she lost her footing and fell through the glass shop window.

Richard then turned and fled as the shopkeeper, upon hearing the crash, came running shouting -- he would call the police, she was saved. She managed to reach home and once inside, doors firmly locked and bolted, she sank into her big arm chair and sobbed uncontrollably , she was lucky, no major injurys.
Life she realised was slowly once again turning against her, everything she had fought so hard for was slowly slipping away, she could not and would not go through her past life style again it was too painful and horrific, she had to fight against the cruel hand of fate anyway she could, her strength yet again would be put to the test. Her only solace was her beloved Adam.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 22, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467887533

Theresa Lockwood

My story starts when I was just 11yrs old, born into a loving, but poor family in the year of 1947 - in a North Yorkshire farming community, where I spent the first years of my childhood. My family lived in a small farmers cottage, my father worked for the local farmer, as did most of the men in our little village. For my parents times were hard, money short and hours worked were long. I have had various professions e.g. Factory worker in my younger days - enrolled in college when my youngest daughter turned 5yrs, with a view to improving myself, gaining several qualifications which helped me in later life - Personal Assistant to a Managing Director - also owned my own company for a short time. Now a pensioner I feel by putting pen to paper, I may be able to help other women living in a trapped frightened life, so they will be able to find the courage and strength to change to a happier life, as I eventually did -- it was not easy, it never is when you are frightened, you keep telling yourself you love him - every time he says -- He’s sorry -- you tell yourself -- He loves you. Reading my story will show you there’s a better life out there, you just have to be strong and reach for it.

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© 2011 by Theresa Lockwood. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 11/12/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4678-8752-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4678-8753-3 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

Chapter One

The Beginning

Chapter Two

The City

Chapter Three

The Wedding

Chapter Four

The Change

Chapter Five

A New Start

Chapter Six

A New Spring

Chapter Seven

Hard Times

Chapter Eight

The Big Move

Chapter Nine

Second Time Round

Chapter Ten

Seperation

Chapter Eleven

Broken Dreams

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my mother and my family, without whose love and understanding I would never have had the strength to carry on.

Their support will stay within me all my life and their encouragement gave me the determination to put pen to paper, with the hope for other women who have and are living the life I had to gain strength to change.

INTRODUCTION

Penny was a happy contented little country girl, whose life was about to be turned upside down. She had to grow up quicker than age and experience of life dictated that she should.

Peter was Penny’s first love, how quickly she realized he was not in love with her, as time passed she became terrified of him when his evil side began to show. Life took a similar path when Richard came into her world, this time it would be different she told herself, but not in the way she thought, Richard told her you are mine you belong to me if I can-not have you no man will, he became her jailor her tormentor. She had to escape his cruel clutch on her, even when she felt there was no spark of hope left, to where at one point it nearly cost her—her life, but for her children’s sake she had to be strong and take her life back.

It is said some lives are linked across time connected by an ancient unseen calling that echoes through the air. How much of this legendary saying comes true when in later life she meets Adam, is he my sole mate she said to herself, my true love.

The story of what kept her going, of hope, strength and most of all never giving up in believing, unfolds in this, my story. Will Penny be successful in defeating the evil that fate had planed or does she simply just give in.

I no what this young girl went through to find happiness as I am this girl.

This is a true story, names have been changed also some experiences omitted to protect my family.

Chapter One

The Beginning

Penny was in the fullness of her childhood, she had beautiful long blond hair the colour of sunshine and the prettiest blue eyes, she had just celebrated her 11th birthday in the summer of ‘58 which was the happiest time of her little life. She lived in an old farmhouse in the picturesque countryside, each summer Penny loved to play and run through the corn fields mimicking the noises of the farm animals that were in the field. Even when winter crept along and the snow lay thick on the ground, she with her little scruffy dog scamp, who was her constant companion, would walk along the fields following all the different wildlife footprints she could find.

Lost in the peace of the day with only the sound of the crackle and crunch of the snow beneath her feet, which made her smile, she knew that the fields were full of life with all kinds of animals scurrying here and there looking for food, playing, squabbling and the birds whistling above her Penny loved all the wild life especially the birds, if she came upon an injured creature she would take it home and help her mother to make the animal well again then releasing the healthy animal back into the wild, this was her life, her mother and especially her father (who she adored) and her little dog were her whole world one she never thought she would have to leave, little did Penny realise her happy contented life was about to take devastating change.

One evening Penny’s father David was sat in his chair by the big black cast iron open fire as he did each evening after his hard days work, but this day something was wrong. Penny who had come running in laughing with scamp by her side suddenly stopped, with a puzzled look on her face she turned to her mother Annabel who was stood holding onto the big sturdy farmhouse table which stood in the centre of the old kitchen, she asked what is wrong mother, her mother trying hard to hold back the tears that were rolling down her beautiful face, (she was a gentle loving woman who always had a happy smile.

Penny who had never seen her mother cry was herself now near to tears, but did not know why) just put her arm around her daughters shoulder and said I think your father needs a hug, please ask him not to leave hearing her mothers words Penny was stunned ‘leave’ she replied Annabel just held her head down and said yes dear.

Penny went slowly over to her father who was sitting with his head held low his big rough, but gentle hands covering his face, she placed her shaking little hands on his, with tears in her eyes she cried daddy please-please don’t leave, where are you going, her father—David—head still held low and