I dedicate this book to all of my children, for whom I have nothing but unconditional love. It is my sincere hope that one day you will all come together as the family I tried and failed to create and which was torn apart by secrets and lies.
Copyright Information
E. M. May (2020)
The right of E. M. May to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author 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 9781528925723 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528964418 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
What any child most needs from its parents is understanding, love and care.
- Tara Brach
I cannot tell you the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.
- Ed Sheeran
A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place, no-one else can take.
- Cardinal Mermillod
We are never so defenceless against suffering as when we love.
- Sigmund Freud
Much suffering, much unhappiness arises when you take each thought that comes into your head for the truth.
- Eckhart Tolle
We are addicted to our thoughts.
We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking.
- Santosh Kalwar
The trust of the innocent is the liars most useful tool.
- Stephen King
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
- Albert Einstein
A mothers love for her child is like nothing else in the world.
It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things, and crushes down remorselessly all that stand in its path.
- Agatha Christie
Fear grows out of the things we think; it lives in our minds.
Compassion grows out of the things we are, and lives in our hearts.
- Barbara Garrison
Families are messy.
Immortal families are eternally messy.
Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that were related for better or for worse and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum.
- Rick Riordan
A house divided cannot stand.
-Matthew 12:25
Children without families are the most vulnerable people in the world.
- Brooke Randolph
When truth is buried it grows, it chokes, it gathers such an explosive force that on the day it bursts out it blows up everything with it.
-Mia Zola
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting its shoes on.
- Charles Spurgeon
Let no one enter your inner kingdom unless they come with love.
-Ajame.
Nothing hurts more than being disappointed by the person you thought would never hurt you.
- Zane Barker
Having children makes you no more a parent,
than having a piano makes you a pianist.
- Charles Levine
You cannot bring Light to the Darkness;
You can only bring the Darkness to Light.
- Marianne Williamson
We are never so defenceless against suffering as when we love.
- Sigmund Freud
Dont be apologetic for moving away from something that was unhealthy for you.
Its a beautiful thing when you recognise you deserve better and an even more beautiful thing when you steer towards better.
- Lloyd Barker
The trust of the innocent is the liars most useful tool.
- Stephen King
A house divided cannot stand.
-Matthew 12:25
Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible. The kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.
- Virginia Satir
Your value does not decrease based on someones inability to see your worth.
- Unknown
When someone in your life is a narcissist or sociopath, it takes people around you a long time to realise the true culprit in the relationship. Deception is at the core of a toxic persons game.
- Shannon Thomas
Eyes are useless when the mind is blind.
- Unknown
May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without a light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.
- 14th Dalai Lama
Chapter 28
The Path to Enlightenment
The house build was not without its hiccups, it was a cause of much frustration for Isabelle at times. But truthfully, as we would be breaking the contract on our house rental, the longer the new build took, the better. Finally, it was stated that the build completion date would be 15 November 2017 and settlement date would be 6 December 2017. Then Isabelle could book movers, bond cleaners and fence builders for the one side that had a neighbour and required negotiation between the two parties. The other sides and the return were already completed. Isabelle had advised Ben and I that we would be moving on 16 December as she had to attend work on 15 December for a particular governmental meeting that required her expertise and she could not avoid after which she would be taking some of her long service leave to get everything sorted with the new house. It was all hands on deck then to ensure we were fully prepared for the off.
On Friday, 8 December 2017, after the settlement date had come and gone without settlement having occurred, Isabelle, through no fault of her own, had to be the one to drive to the Gold Coast to the builders solicitors with the final paperwork from solicitors and financial institutions to ensure settlement would occur that afternoon at 14:15. Having completed all that she needed to do there, as she was leaving, Isabelle fell down a stair she had not seen. She called me stating she had good news and bad news. Firstly, all the paperwork was finalised and settlement would go ahead. Secondly, she had fallen and had broken her arm again in the same place as almost six years earlier. An ambulance had been called and she would be unable to drive the car back to Brisbane.