Homecoming

Heather Inc. Justesen

Description

Alanna is surprised by the return of her step-brother and former lover, Kyle, when he shows up to work at the newspaper she writes for as the new head photographer. Unbeknownst to him, they have a daughter from the night before they last saw each other eight years previous. Can they forgive each other and rekindle the trust and love they once shared?

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 21 février 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780988629202
• Langue: English

Extrait

Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.
HOMECOMING
Copyright © 2012 - Heather Justesen
All rights reserved.
Managing editor - Amanda Meuwissen
Associate editor - Celeste Estes
Cover art - Mario Hernandez
A BigWorldNetwork.com Book
Published by BigWorldNetwork.com, LLC
202 North Rock Road | 1303
Wichita | KS | 67206
www.bigworldnetwork.com
ISBN-10: 0988629208
ISBN-13: 978-0-9886292-0-2
First U.S. Edition: April 2012
Printed in the United States of America
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Though writing is often a solitary profession, it’s a rare thing for an author to be able to take sole responsibility for a book’s success. I’d like to thank Jim and Amanda at BigWorldNetwork.com for giving me a chance to work with them—it’s truly been a pleasure. Their openness and flexibility, the great editing I’ve received from Amanda and Celeste, and every other aspect of working with them is unparalleled.
And always, always, a huge thanks to my sweetheart, Bill, who unfailingly supports and encourages me to reach for my dreams.
Other Stories
Other stories by
Heather Justesen
The Ball’s in Her Court
Rebound
Blank Slate
Family by Design
Shear Luck: a novella
He Doesn’t Belong: a short story
Alone No Longer: a short story
Holding On: a short story
POD Like a Pro: An Author’s Guide to Typesetting and Formatting a Book for Print
Title

by Heather Justesen

BigWorldNetwork.com
Kansas
A note from the author
A note from the author...
I first had the idea for Homecoming shortly after I started writing, more than a decade ago, and before I started working at a newspaper. I wrote several scenes, then abandoned it because I didn’t have enough plot figured out for a full novel. Or maybe I was just drawn to another story idea more. I actually pulled out my old story idea for a novella contest last fall even though I only had thirteen days until the deadline. I added Danyella, changed the location, twisted a few details around, and wrote my first draft in three days. Three drafts and a week later, I realized I didn’t qualify for the contest after all and shelved it, thinking I’d find another place to use the story.
About a month after that I heard about BigWorldNetwork.com and realized my story would be a perfect fit for their serial format.
Alanna and Kyle’s relationship was a joy to write and I loved showing their recovering relationship. Neither of them were blameless in their messy relationship, as is generally the case, and making it come together again took effort and acceptance from both of them. No relationship is perfect because none of us is perfect and we all bring our own baggage along with us. Life isn’t supposed to be a fairytale, but I’m a big believer that if we work at it, we can all have those little fairytale moments in our relationships—if we only look for them.
Even if we don’t have a ‘moat’ around our castle.
Episode 1
Episode 1

“Whoever made up the rhyme about April showers didn’t live in the Rockies.” As she emerged from her car, Alanna Jenkins yanked up the hood of her coat to protect her hair from the swirling white flakes. A cold breeze blew down her neck and made her shiver.
Others were returning from lunch breaks and Alanna grimaced at her tardiness. Her editor, Doug Casell, would want to know where she’d been all morning. If she hadn’t left her cell phone charger at work the previous evening, she would have been able to check in with him.
She greeted the editorial department’s office manager, waved to the ladies in classifieds, and avoided making eye-contact with Bob in advertising.
Alanna slid into her desk and plugged in her cell. With any luck, Doug would remember her morning’s appointment. That was probably too much to hope though.
The phone on her desk rang. “Chronicle, this is Alanna, how can I help you?”
“So you decided to come in?” It was Doug’s voice on the line.
“I’ve been in interviews. I told you where I’d be.”
“Yes, but you didn’t mention you were going to be incommunicado.”
“Sorry. My cell died. It’s charging and I’m writing the story now.” She made clicking noises with her keyboard to solidify the excuse.
“Good, I’ll expect it by day’s end. I have the new head photographer in here. He’s going to shoot your appointment this afternoon. Would you join us?”
Alana was relieved. The newspaper’s head photographer had quit without notice several weeks earlier and the other two had been spread pretty thin. Alanna had learned a thing or two about taking pictures when she was in college, but she was no expert. “Terrific, I’ll be right there.” Alanna adjusted the lapels on her lavender suit jacket, finger-combed her hair to make sure it wasn’t sticking out in odd directions, and tried to look confident as she walked around the cubicles to Doug’s office.
“Alanna, how are you doing today?” Bob greeted her as she rushed around a corner and nearly knocked into him. He wore an expectant smile.
She rushed past before he could try to ask her out. “Great, busy, busy. Doug’s waiting on me.” Alanna waved over her shoulder at the advertising manager and shot toward the glass doors enclosing Doug’s office. Two steps into the room her expression froze and her last step faltered.
Kyle.
What is he doing here? She couldn’t breathe when she looked into his dark eyes, saw the rough angles of his face, and the shock of red hair she’d loved against all sense—red hair had no right to be so sexy on a man. It was probably good she stopped breathing since the words running through her mind were definitely not office appropriate. She had the urge to step back and protect herself, to drive him off now while there was still time.
Kyle was completely at ease, however, and smiled. “Hey, Ahnna. Long time, no see.”
The jerk. His British accent and smooth baritone still did funny things to her stomach.
Doug stepped into the breach and clapped a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “I understand you know Kyle.” A massive understatement, though he couldn’t possibly know the whole truth. “We’re very lucky he wanted to settle down for a while and was willing to come here. He said he can start this afternoon. Do me a favor and show him around.”
Alanna’s tongue started working again. “What do you mean?” Her gaze shifted from Kyle, where it had been glued, to her boss. “You can’t honestly be saying he’s the new head photog?” Panic rushed through her. He couldn’t be staying; how was she supposed to keep her secret if he stayed?
“Surprise.” Kyle’s voice was dry, but he looked amused.
It didn’t make sense. Kyle had been out snapping photos in Tanzania or something last time she’d heard—which had been a while, admittedly, as she didn’t make a habit of asking about him. His pictures were sought after by the biggest magazines and he’d even been a major contributor to a couple coffee table books. Why would he choose to move to middle-of-nowhere Juniper Ridge, Colorado ? “Why?”
Doug answered for him, “He says he wants to spend more time with family—but you probably know all about that.”
Alanna thought Doug was an amazingly unobservant man for a newspaper editor if he’d missed the tension in the air. “Right. Of course.” She stared Kyle down. He hadn’t said a word about relocating—not one word—and if his father had known he was coming to town, surely he would have told her.
“Great, now, skedaddle. I have some calls to make.” Doug circled behind his desk, “Oh, and Alanna, try to keep your phone charged.”
“I’ll do better.” Alanna’s mind swam as she turned into the hallway. Her head was bursting with images of the last time she’d seen Kyle, of the sadness on his father’s face when Kyle’s name came up—an event which happened with less frequency as time passed. This despite the fruit of his labors always being in prominent display on the coffee table. She blinked and mentally wiped at the memories, pushing them away for now. Focus. “We’ll do a brief tour and I’ll let you get to work. Things have been a bit out of sorts since Lance quit.” She kept in the half laugh that wanted to escape when she realized Lance quit this job to freelance while Kyle gave up a successful freelancing career to take the position at the newspaper.
“I’d appreciate it.” Kyle followed without pushing her for conversation as she pointed out the different departments. His easy grace and British accent charmed everyone he met.
Alanna didn’t meet his eye, didn’t even look his way if she could help it as she made introductions to Carla, editor of the sports department, and Vaughn in composing. She ended at his desk. “Here’s your computer. If you’ve already had your papers processed for the job, you can probably pop over to George’s office to have him set up your account.” She gestured to the IT office two doors down.
“Thanks. I will.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and studied her with a familiar warmth in his eyes.
“Good.” She picked up a paperclip from his desk and fiddled with it so she’d have something to look at besides him. “My appointment with the city councilwoman and the hotelier is at three. Meet me at a quarter till.” She turned and strode to her desk.
“Ahnna.” Kyle’s voice was a soft protest.
She ignored him and continued on, swinging by the bathroom first so she could have a private moment. Alanna barricaded herself in the closest stall and squeezed her eyes shut, releasing the hot tears which had been burning to get out for the past twenty minutes. How could Kyle do this—now of all times? How could he show up as if nothing had changed? Did he