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
