Homecoming. Heather Inc. Justesen

      

      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