Traci Edmonds Discovers Her Destiny: But Is It Too Late? Book One (Revised Edition)

By Patrice A. Everage

Traci and Gary meet on a cruise and start a whirlwind romance and killer adventure. Their initial attraction overwhelms them, and they separate. After they accept their attraction and love, they must survive a near death experience, betrayal, stalking, attempted murder, murder and kidnapping. After having had their lives nearly destroyed emotionally and physically, they must try and rebuild their trust, emotional bond and marriage. So much has happened, will they be able to recover? Or is their destiny together over?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669872399

Patrice A. Everage

I am a 50 plus African American female living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my son, Joshua, my niece Christie, and her son, Kiyon. I have a degree in Journalism and a passion for writing. I have been writing in some form or another (poetry, specialized greetings, stories, letters and journals) since I was 10 years old. It is my prayer that this book will be the first of many to help me accomplish my personal goals for my family and my passion to assist other women and their families. It is my faith and covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ that has sustained me through many of my own life trials. And it is my desire to share my testimony of faith and the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone and anyone who will receive it.

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Traci Edmonds

Discovers Her Destiny

But Is It Too Late?

Book One

(Revised Edition)

Patrice A. Everage

Copyright © 2023 by Patrice A. Everage.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/04/2023

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

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Contents

The Dedications

Introduction

Chapter 1: The Cruise

Chapter 2: Back To Our Real Lives

Chapter 3: The Courtship

Chapter 4: Traci Meets Gary’s Friends

Chapter 5: The Engagement And Wedding

Chapter 6: The Accident

Chapter 7: The Pregnancy

Chapter 8: The Stalking

Chapter 9: The Disappearance

The Dedications

To the three most influential women in my life

Mommy (Beatrice) – She taught me to love words (written, spoken and sung), and to go after my dreams fervently.

Grandmom (Annie) – My maternal grandmother, encouraged me to smile/laugh/enjoy life, and love God and people (even the seemingly unlovable ones) and to let God lead me through the good and the bad.

Mom-Mom (Bertha) – My paternal grandmother - gave me her emotional and spiritual strength. She had grit, determination and tenacity; she endured much in her adult life and taught me to do the same.

Special Dedication to my Father

The most important man in my life, outside of Jesus Christ.

Daddy (James) –My father was an amazing man. He endured the daily struggles of life with intelligence, strength, determination and dignity. Nothing and no one would he allow to intimidate him, and everyone who met or knew him soon learned that fact. He was hardworking, creative and inciteful. If he was confronted with an obstacle, he would find a way over, under, around or through it. He never gave up! And he taught his children to do the same, don’t make excuses find a way to overcome. I thank God for him too, he was a major force in my life.

Introduction

It’s been difficult the past few years (let’s be truthful, the past decade). I’ve been someone’s caretaker for so long that I can’t remember the time when I wasn’t. I recently lost my father, and my mother passed-away seven years earlier. I’m feeling somewhat lost right now. But life must go on right? As a middle-aged, African American single mother of three; a 19-, 13- and 3-year-old I still have my hands full.

My 19-year-old, Cassandra (Cassie) is a fireball, of energy and personality, as well as being the mother of our 3-year-old Kyle and my grandson. Kyle is absolutely brilliant, yes, I am biased. At 3-years-old he wants to know everything about everything. He inhales knowledge and embraces the attention of his Me-Mom. I see great thing in store for Kyle. I think Cassie sometimes gets jealous of my relationship with Kyle, after all she was my one and only baby girl for six years. She often reminds me of that too. Cassie was so young when she got pregnant and had Kyle, I basically raised them both.

Cassie recently finished high school and is trying to decide whether to go to college or technical school for fashion/décor design. She has a flare for fashion and an eye for décor selection and placement. She is all about making a statement with fashion and décor design. As an absolute connoisseur of fine design for this generation and beyond. I marvel at her talent and bow to her passion for beauty and compassion for people. Sometimes the people she shows compassion to is undeserved. And it can be hurtful to her.

Now Jon (Jonathan) my 13-year-old is the complete opposite, he is my chill baby. He is quiet, introspective and wise beyond his years. He likes to read and play video games about sports and sometimes car chases. He’s and excellent student has a quirky sense of humor, mesmerizing smile and yet innocent. Everybody loves him, especially his mom. I know he’ll do great things with his life without too much coaxing from me.

I just need to figure out how to put my own life in order, because I no longer have the responsibility of caring for elderly and sick parents and several nieces and nephews who were temporarily under my guardianship.

At 53 years, focusing on my own dreams seems almost selfish. But my children and I deserve more. No more scrimping for everything we need. It’s hard to think of pursuing my dreams when for 41 or my 53 years of life have been devoted to family and their needs and wants. I was a surrogate parent to my siblings, then a caregiver to my aging parents and guardian to several nieces and nephews.

I only had a few years of freedom to myself, while in my late teens and college years. During this time a met a man (Tony) who later became the father of my two children. I was young and made an unwise choice thinking that it was love, when in my heart I suspected that it was not all that I wanted it to be. It was wrong, we were wrong and after 4 years I realized that we should not be together, and we parted. (Thank God!)

As the eldest of eight, my siblings and I weren’t close as children. Being a designated extension of my parents didn’t garnish me much friendship with my siblings. But after we became adults, they slowly began to realize the undistinguished honor and grave responsibility that was placed upon me. Yes, I still have some scars, but I am not bitter. I also have sweet memories of hugs and encouragement from my aunt Hanna who also was an eldest of her 10 siblings. She would come and liberate me on many weekends so that I could have a respite from familial duties.

On my 53rd birthday, I decided that some things in my life had to change. My life had been on hold for some time now and I couldn’t understand how to get it back on track. I’d done all that I thought I was supposed to have done with my life. I was obedient to my parents (for the most part) all of my life. I had been a good daughter, tried to be a good elder sibling, the best parent I knew how to be to my children, and made a sincere effort to be a child and follower of the living God. Even though I had some lapses in my obedience to God from time to time (I had two children out of wedlock). Despite all my best efforts my life seemed to continue to flounder.

I had to give up my job to stay at home and care for my ailing parent who was depressed due to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and other physical ailments that had yet to be diagnosed. I’d given up living on my own years ago to come back home and help care for my mother whose Multiple Sclerosis was worsening, until she passed away four years ago. Afterwards I stayed on to care for my father, whose health deteriorated quickly after my mother’s passing. Even though he received the best medical treatment available, his emotional and mental capacity spiraled downward after my mother’s passing. Watching his decline affected me deeply. My Dad was a major influencer in my life. He was the ideal man, husband and father. He was intelligent, strong, a provider, loving, patient, protective and calm in the face of adversity and chaos. He strived for excellence and taught his children to have the same ethics. Alzheimer’s stripped him of all that, like a thief in the night. And then he was gone, too soon, too soon.

Prior to my father’s death, I had decided after my birthday that I needed a change of environment if, I was going to put my life back on track. I was going to sell my parents’ home, and me, my children and grandson and father were going to pack up and move to Virginia where my sister Dana was now living. That way I’d have additional support in my father’s care. I prayed and prayed, and I believed that this is what God was leading me to do. So, I talked it over with the family, and we decided that this is what we were going to do. Dana was the most supportive of my siblings and volunteered to help me do the research for the move.

Unfortunately, my father passed-away suddenly without leaving a will, so it took a great deal of time and money to probate his estate before I could place the property up for sale. Once the estate was settled, I placed the property up for sale. But for whatever reasons, I couldn’t get anyone to purchase the property for value it was appraised. Dad’s insurance was minimal, so basically it paid for the funeral and little more.

I began looking for full-time employment again. My savings and income tax return were all that I had left, and we were living frugally on that. I submitted resumes to literally hundreds of job listings and didn’t receive even one positive response. I have an excellent work history and references and still no one made me an offer of employment. I was becoming more and more depressed and frustrated. I prayed and prayed, and seemingly got no answer from God. (I didn’t realize that all that I had gone through and would go through, God allowed because it would prepare me for what was to come.

Then one day while I was online checking my email for possible responses to job inquiries, I received an advertisement for an online home-based business. I really didn’t want to go back to work continuing to make someone else rich, so, I inquired about more information.

Early in the morning I received a call from a nice gentleman who was responding to my inquiry about the home-based business. The business was an online travel agency. He went into depth about what the business entailed and how I could make as much money as I wanted depending on the time I invest in the business. The plan was to purchase a franchise from a parent company, they would train on the business, provide me with a list of potential clients, marketing strategies and other industry techniques. So, I took $1,000 out of our living expenses and prayerfully invested in the business. And after some intense training and practice my travel business went online.

I was so excited; I would be my own boss and still be at home to monitor and care for my family. After much prayer and hard work, I finally started to see some revenue coming in from my efforts. My website was setup and within a month I was receiving inquiries and travel requests. And slowly the business began to gain more momentum. By the third month I had received enough revenue to offset the initial cost of the program. I was ecstatic; finally, my circumstances were finally turning around. And my job not only allowed me to work from home but gave me the opportunity to do something that I enjoyed and dreamed about doing all my life, travel. Over time my children and I were able to take trips that we hadn’t been able to do before.

My first true travel experience as an adult (and on my own), took place after college. Before having children and having to care for two aging and sick parents I did some minimal traveling. My best friend Samantha (Sam) and I decided we would take at least one major trip per year to see the world. We met in college, and we both loved to travel. It was at that time in my life I had hoped to become a writer, and the traveling was my way of getting life experience on credible and tangible things to write about. Sam and I agreed that we would alternate years in choosing the trip we would take each year. Our first trip fresh out of college was to Freeport, Bahamas, the next Disney World, etc. The trip that had the greatest impact on both of our lives was (my choice) a cruise. We were so thrilled with the outcome of that trip that we took four or five more before trying something different. Even to this day, a cruise is my favorite kind of vacation.

Then nearly a year into my business, I received an inquiry from a company about providing travel suggestions and possible travel arrangements for their company’s annual retreat. I needed to expand my business, so I submitted a bid to the company. It was a mid-sized electronics and technology firm, they were looking for someone to help coordinate and provide travel arrangements for an upcoming retreat and training they were planning. They had a travel agent that provided the day-to-day business travel, but they wanted another perspective for this important event of the year. Ms. Amanda Chappelle, the Human Resources Coordinator for the company had seen an advertisement for my business, Extraordinaire Travel) and contacted me by way of my website requesting suggestions for this retreat. I suggested a cruise, and I would assist with the coordination and provide the travel arrangements through my agency for the event. I was blessed to be a finalist in the bidding and eventually awarded the contract with the contingency that I provide them with the opportunity to have an advance look at the facility and its resources, as well as a dry run of the event. They requested a Pre-Retreat Cruise so that they could be assured that the cruise ship being considered would be right for them. (If they were amenable to what they experienced during this Pre-Retreat, the next outing would be for 1,000 people, which would include 500 employees and their spouses and/or significant others for seven days.) I made the necessary arrangements for the Pre-Retreat cruise, which would include the president of the company and five of his executives.

The most difficult arrangements though were the ones I had to make for my family; that entailed me finding a responsible adult to keep an eye on my household for the seven days I would be away. I usually took my family with me when I traveled in the past. That would not be possible for this trip. So, I got a sibling to come and stay with them while I was away. Once I was satisfied that my family would be taken care of, I could concentrate on making this possibly lucrative offer a successful endeavor. I made all the travel arrangements, contacted Ms. Chappelle with the details of the arrangements and proceeded to prepare my presentation for the company’s representatives. During our conversations, she was quite emphatic in pointing out that the president, Mr. Crosse was a Type-A personality and was a stickler about the tiniest detail. She also mentioned in passing, that he was just as attractive and charming as he was demanding. But to be careful of the charm and charisma, it was often fatal for those of the female persuasion. I thanked her for the inside information and assured her I wasn’t looking for a hook-up, but to grow my business, and I assured her that all would go well, for both our sakes. I prayed that all would go well, because this contract could mean a hundred thousand dollar or more worth of income to my little business. And maybe even referrals to other companies. My financial future was riding on this cruise and hopefully the one after this.

I packed somewhat conservatively and made sure I had itineraries and detailed descriptions of all the activities that would be included in their company’s requested package. I also brought along my laptop so that I could have access to anything that they had discussed with me during previous negotiations. I am usually an introverted personality type (I usually like to remain behind the scenes) but this is business, and I made it my mantra that I would be professional and outgoing when in the company of these clients for the next seven days.

Chapter 1

The Cruise

I met Ms. Chappelle, the organizer and lead person for this event and the rest of the Crosse Electronic Technology Company’s attendees at a designated VIP Lounge. I was introduced by Ms. Chappelle to Mr. Gary Crosse and the rest of his entourage. She hadn’t exaggerated, he was drop dead gorgeous (and he knew it)! He was approximately 6’5", thick black, curly hair, tapered on the sides, long on the top and back (with just a hint of gray at the temples). His complexion was dark (olive tone) as if he was of Italian or Greek decent. He had a smile that could light up a room (but I suspected he used it sparingly) and piercing black eyes that seemed as if they could penetrate your most intimate thoughts. His body was well built; even through his Armani suit you could see the biceps and six-pack abs, and muscular arms, every curve of his body was sculpted.

I am normally not attracted to Caucasian men, but he was attractive. His physique was like the models pictured in all the upscale men’s magazines. I could barely take my eyes off him during our introduction but, I could also tell that he was very used to women fawning over him, so I regained control and returned to professional mode. I greeted all the execs and distributed to everyone their boarding passes, and necessary information about passports, luggage, and rooms. Then I escorted everyone to the departure point, and we boarded the ship. Once on board, the ship’s crew took the luggage and escorted everyone to their cabins. I reiterated that everyone should review their itineraries, and we would reconvene again at the Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party at 6:00 p.m. an hour before dinner. The first night on board, dress is casual for dinner; all other nights’ jackets are required. We all had two hours to settle in before cocktails.

Every member of the group had a cabin on the same deck but not all of them were in the same corridor. Each person was given my cabin number and my cell phone number so they could easily reach me in case they had questions or concerns.

We all reassembled at the Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party; and everyone was satisfied with their accommodations. We were (as requested), second seating for dinner, that means we dined nightly at 7:00 p.m. At dinner we talked about the upcoming event; after dining we discussed after hours activities on board and later off the ship activities when the ship was docked at the various ports of call. I accompanied everyone to several onboard after hour’s activities, asked if there were questions or needs that had to be met? Everyone was satisfied with the events of the day so far. Then at about 11:00 p.m. I excused myself and left them to continue on their own. I would meet with everyone each morning for an after-breakfast meeting at 9:00 a.m. and would review our activities for the day except Saturday, which would be a free day. We would be at sea for a day before our first port of call; and a half day between the next two ports of call. The ship would be in port for eight hours. Then we would be at sea again for another day before we reached the final port where we would spend one full day; and then the ship would head back to our departure point Miami, Florida.

On day one, I arose early, showered and put on what I thought was a power attire, a navy and white sun dress with a bolero jacket with three-quarter length sleeves, the dress was sinched at the waist and flared at the hip and pair with navy and white wedged 1-inch sandals. I was dressed for success. After giving myself a final scrutinizing once-over, I was ready, and went to the dining room for breakfast. It was 7:30 a.m. and my meeting with the others was not until 9:00, I wanted to have a little time to myself before the meeting to collect my thoughts and dine leisurely. As I sat at a table for two, the waiter came and took my order and I thought about all that I would say and do with the group this morning.

As I sat musing, Mr. Crosse, President/CEO of Crosse Electronics came into the dining room and sat not far from me. He didn’t notice me sitting there initially. After he settled in; he looked around and noticed me sitting almost on the other side of the room. He thought to himself,

Hmmm, seems she’s an early riser too.

He’d brought some paperwork with him to review before the meeting, but for some reason he couldn’t concentrate on his work. He kept glancing across the room at the stunning woman who was the organizer of this Pre-Retreat tour. She was full-figured and buxom, well-proportioned for her size, but not what he usually was attracted to in a woman. Still there was something about her he couldn’t put his finger on. His instincts told him he would need to find out as much about this woman as he could. The waiter delivered his breakfast, and he continued to watch Ms. Edmonds as she dined and reviewed her own paperwork.

She was smiling now and holding an amusing conversation with the waiter. When she smiled, it seemed as though her whole face lit up. It was so infectious, that he found himself smiling with her. Then he caught himself, why was he smiling? He shook himself, and forced himself back to his own paperwork, but periodically he couldn’t resist a glance in her direction. Even after he’d finished his small breakfast, he remained at his table observing Ms. Edmonds. He made no attempt to leave the table until he saw her gather up her belongings and head towards the door. After she walked across the dining room and was nearing the door, then, he leisurely collected his things, to leave as well.

Because of his height and long stride, he reached the door of the dining room in a lot less time than it took her. As he reached the exit, she was only a short distance ahead of him. In a couple of minutes, he was within arm’s length of her person (so close he could nearly reach out and touch her).

Good morning Ms. Edmonds, he says. Startled by someone calling her name directly behind her, Traci jumps, and turned to see Mr. Crosse.

Good morning Mr. Crosse, she says pleasantly but hesitantly.

They enter the elevator in front of them together, and ride to the floor where they would be having their meeting with the other members of the Crosse company assessment team. He had allowed her to enter the elevator first but stood behind her once they entered. She could feel his eyes upon her as she stood waiting to reach the appropriate floor. Finally, the doors open to their designated floor. She walked through the doors and starts walking to their destination. They didn’t converse, just walk silently towards where they were both going.

As we entered the room together, I prayed that no one thought that this man and I had been doing anything other than getting to the meeting at the same time. I don’t know why that thought popped into my head, other than Ms. Chappelle’s warning that this man was a womanizer. To my pleasure and chagrin, the room was still empty. I had planned on getting here ahead of the others and true to my plan I was, the only thing I hadn’t planned on was Mr. Crosse’s being there with me. I immediately walked to the opposite end of the table (away from Mr. Crosse) and place my things on the table. He stood until I put my belongings in place and took my seat, and then he sat. I was impressed, a gentleman. Then he said, I suppose we both had the same idea, about getting here early. My head had been bowed pretending to look over my paperwork until he spoke.

I smiled timidly, Yes, I suppose so. I like to get where I’m going early, just in case of the unexpected, I say, trying to be congenial.

That’s a logical course of action, was his response.

Shortly after his comment, one by one the others start to arrive, and we go on with our meeting. Each morning after that I triy to get where I was going before time without running into Mr. Crosse; but it seemed we were destined to meet at some point in the process and be alone together, either at breakfast, after breakfast or in the meeting room. I was so frustrated by day four because this man for some reason made me very uncomfortable, especially being alone with him. This particular morning, I was dining at my usual table for two and had just completed a casual conversation with my usual waiter (with whom I had begun to have a friendship), when out of nowhere Mr. Crosse appears, standing directly across from me (at my table) and then he sits down. (Uninvited, I must add).

Ms. Edmonds, you don’t mind if I join you for breakfast, he says as he sits without my having answered.

Shocked by his appearing without forewarning, and then his impertinence, I stare at him. Then I gained my composure and say trying to keep my annoyance at a minimum, Certainly Mr. Crosse.

He keeps staring at me with a smirk on his face. I stare back at him and him at me; we sit there for a few minutes just staring at one another until our waiter, Claudio, came over and asks if I needed anything else. Out of courtesy to Claudio, I glance up and say,

No thank you, I’m fine.

Then I defiantly glance back at Mr. Crosse. Then Claudio asks,

May I get you something sir?

Still glaring at me, Crosse said, I’ll have some fresh fruit, a whole grain muffin and water, thank you.

I didn’t understand what was going on between me and this man, so I just closed my eyes briefly and look off in another direction of the dining room. I was trying extremely hard to keep my composure. After his having seemed to have overcome me in his attempt at intimidating me, Mr. Crosse becomes very talkative and inquisitive.

Tell me something about yourself, Ms. Edmonds, he commands. I looked at him pointedly,

There’s not much to tell Mr. Crosse, I said, curtly.

He smiles to himself, she’s crafty, and I like that. I’d still like to know what not much is, he insists.

I am a small business owner, in its first two years of existence. And I am attempting to expand my business.

No personal information, he thinks. Okay, I will have to dig deeper. Are you married, he asks matter-of-factly?

I looked at him curiously. And before I knew that I was saying it, I ask, Why?

He smiles broadly at this, Just trying to be congenial while dining with you.

Then I thought, I’m being rude, I must be professional with this man, after all; I am trying to get him to sign a very lucrative contract with me. So, I switched back to professional mode. I look him directly in the eye and say with a brilliant smile,

No, Mr. Crosse, I’m not.

Good he thought I’m starting to get to her. And he continues with his little interrogation.

Do you have any children?

With calm determination and a pleasant demeanor, I respond,

Yes, Mr. Crosse I do have children. I have three, two boys and one girl.

Excellent he thought I’m getting her to loosen up. Are you in a relationship, he countered?

"I think that this is getting too personal Mr. Crosse, I respond pointedly with a smile.

Point made, he replies. What are your hobbies, he continues?"

Am I having an interview that I wasn’t aware of Mr. Crosse, I ask?

I like to get to know a little bit about the people I do business with Ms. Edmonds. I thought this time was as good as any, especially because there are no distractions and we’re sitting here alone in a casual environment.

I looked at him suspiciously, it sounded logical but, I still didn’t believe him. I enjoy watching movies, going to the theater, and for relaxation I read, knit and crochet, I say. Not knowing why I’m even having this conversation with him. Then it dawns on me, this information is the same kind of thing one asks their counterpart on a first date. I immediately shake that thought off, this is business, and business only!

As we were finishing up our breakfast, Claudio, the waiter comes over to me again.

Can I get you anything else Ms. Edmonds, he inquires?

I guess he could see or feel my discomfort having Mr. Crosse at my table.

No, no thanks, Claudio. He turns to Mr. Crosse, Sir?

Still not looking at the man, but at me, he says, No thank you, and he glances at him briefly. Having basically dismissed the waiter, and our having finished our breakfast, Mr. Crosse rises from his seat and waits for me to rise also.

Then I remembered something important before Claudio left. Claudio, I said hurriedly, I would like to ask a favor?"

Sure, Ms. Traci, anything for you, he said smiling. I was still seated, and he leans over, and I whispered my request. He smiles and nods, no problem, I’ll take care of everything for you for tonight, he says conspiratorially. I smile secretively to him.

Thank you. I start to rise, and Claudio helps me with my chair. As I slid away from the table, I looked up, and Mr. Crosse was staring at me quizzically. I smile, Shall we head to our meeting, I ask?

Getting no response from me to his look, he gestures for me to proceed before him out of the dining room. And we leave the room silently and go to our staff meeting.

The meeting was pretty much uneventful, there were some questions about having the necessary audio and visual equipment necessary for the different seminars, but I assured them that all they needed to do was provide me with the necessary information and I would make the necessary requests for those materials. And the meeting concluded.

We were at one of the ports of call on the cruise. We would be docked for the day; everyone was free to explore on their own or I could set up a tour of the island with the ship’s concierge. They all agreed that they would like to explore on their own. The concierge was available to them to set up individual outings for those who were interested in the specialized tours. I reminded everyone that we would only be docked for eight hours, so they would need to be back on board before the eight hours had expired. One hour before the ship was to leave, it would blow its