Echoes of the Past

By Ashley Packard

Anna Wilson is faced with the prospect of starting her first job out of university. She worked hard for this coveted position not for the prestige, but because it fit her life plan, would make her parents proud, and most importantly, the location was close to her grandmother, her only remaining family.

 

Accepting this job was a seal of fate according to Anna's grandmother, who grappled with the guilt that Anna planned her life around her.

 

After graduating from university, Anna's world gets turned upside down when she receives the devastating news her grandmother passed away, leaving behind an unexpected inheritance, a chest full of old postcards, and tickets for a trip her grandmother planned leaving in a few weeks.

 

Anna battles the difficult decision - to stay with the job she accepted, or embark on a journey to uncover the truths about herself and her grandmother's past.

 

PRAISE FOR ECHOES OF THE PAST:

"Oh my God, this was incredible! I was extremely gripped the entire time I was reading. You do such a wonderful job at describing and creating such realistic imagery and scenes. Wow, wow, wow!" - Ari R., Massachusetts, USA

 

"I'm honestly really blown away by it! You've created something really impressive. I felt so much while reading it, I love an emotional read! The suspense is so well thought out. I want to hear more and can't wait to see what happens next!" - Kerry P., Utah, USA

 

"My, oh my! I was definitely wanting more in the best way and hope there's a sequel. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked how detailed yet to the point the story was. I don't feel like I was missing out on anything. It made me hold my own breath." - Kelsey T., North Caroline, USA

 

"I loved that you made me cry. It has a very emotional scene, but in the best way! I love when good writing makes me feel the panic, fear, and sadness. This is a book about a new beginning, finding adventure, taking advice, and following your heart." - Marisa, 7 Arts Manuscript, Portugal

 

  

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ashley Packard
• Release date: Sep 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223998600

Ashley Packard

Ashley Packard was born and raised in the suburbs outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She currently resides in Berlin, Germany with her husband Zac and their two cats Emmy and Zelda. They moved to Germany in 2022 as newlyweds after getting married in Iceland. "Echoes of the Past" is her debut novel. She has a passion for traveling, telling stories, writing and taking photographs. You can view her latest work and follow her on social media at www.ashleypackard.com.

Book preview

Prologue

I didn’t have a choice then, but I do now, I said, with a mixture of nostalgia and sorrow filling my chest as I sat on the bench across from an old bouquet of crinkled, dried flowers. The soft breeze rustled the autumn leaves, leaving a crisp scent lingering in the wind. The sun dipped over the horizon, casting a warm glow against my face as I sat in this place of quietude.

Mom, Dad, I whispered, taking a deep breath, I miss you so much. I need your help now more than ever before. I knew that coming here today was necessary – I needed their guidance, I was so confused.

I sat there and looked around the well-tended lawn and the sun’s reflection against the pond nearby. I kneeled down to replace the old bouquet with the new, trying to avert my eyes, but they were anchored on rereading the etched inscription for the millionth time:

Emily & Liam Wilson, Beloved Parents, May they always rest in peace, Forever in our hearts.

I could almost hear my father’s voice saying, "There’s no ‘cannot’ in our dictionary at home. I crossed it out, it doesn’t exist!"

Is that really true, Dad? Right then, it felt impossible. I already had a plan in place, a prestigious job lined up, and now this. A completely unexpected option. I felt a tear run down my cheek and brushed it away with my sleeve.

Life hasn’t been the same since you dropped me off at Grandma’s. None of us could have predicted what happened next.

"I think I know what I want to do, but I’m so scared."

Memories came flooding back, each one flipping through my mind like snippets of a film.

Anna, my dear, Charlotte said gently, but heavy with melancholy as she opened the screen door from the back side of her house. Anna was hula-hooping and stopped, sensing that something was off by the sound of her grandmother’s tone, and came over to her.

There’s something I need to tell you.

What is it, Grandma? What’s wrong?

Anna watched as Charlotte fell to her knees, took her hands in her own, tears streaming down her cheeks, and said, I just got a phone call. There’s been an accident and your parents...I’m so sorry, they’ve passed away.

Anna froze. Shock washed over her, as