Coming Home

  ­­­

  Acclaim for Coming Home

  “There are times when a story just comes together. When there is that special combination of characters, story, and feel that creates that entertaining read.

  Coming Home is one of one of those times. It is an engaging read with a storyline that not only will keep you entertained but the ending has so many twists and turns, which will keep you guessing until the final page.

  As good as the story is, the true test of a book is the characters and how believable they are, and Coming Home does not disappoint. I still find myself wanting to go back and read more.

  If you are looking for a motivating story of love, life, and all it has to offer, then I very highly recommend this book.”

  - T. Michael Testi, writer and photographer

  Other books

  by

  Kimberly McKay

  Finding Kylie

  Facing Redemption

  COMING HOME

  by

  Kimberly McKay

  ­­­­­

  Coming Home

  Copyright 2014 Kimberly McKay

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, with by information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher or author, except for the inclusion of a brief quotation in review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product or the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to places, events, or persons living or deceased is purely coincidental.

  ISBN: 9781499163308

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition

  First Printing, August 2014

  Printed in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To all who have loved and lost … only to find their one true love was waiting for them around the next turn in life.

  To my amazing husband, who is my one and only.

  Chapter 1

  From above, Anne could see fields of gold, brown, and green piercing through the sporadic clouds. She gently leaned her forehead on the oval window, watching what she thought looked like a patchwork quilt drift by.

  As they ascended further into the sky, sparse cotton clouds quickly enveloped the airplane, giving her neither sight of land or sky. For an instant, she felt like she was in a dream until the plane began bouncing through the air, bringing her back to the reality of her situation. She loosened her death grip from her armrest only long enough to pull down her window shade and cover the view outside.

  If only this were a dream, Anne thought wistfully.

  Yet, the frigid air, which blasted her from above, quickly reminded her that this was as real as it gets. Anne tugged the airline blanket snugly around her, second-guessing herself and her choice in fashion - knowing it was a little too late for either now.

  On her way out the door this morning, she debated on what to wear. In deliberating between comfort versus style, her inner fashionista finally won out. She knew her bright red, open toed shoes were a little too tight for comfort, but they were sexy – so she wore them anyway. After all, his was the trip of a lifetime. Even as vulnerable as she was, she still wanted to dress to impress.

  What do you have to be nervous about? You’re going home. She reminded herself, as she fiddled with her ring.

  However, as much as she tried to convince herself, she knew the reality of this trip was bigger than going home, to California. So, instead of being in comfy travel clothes, she was dressed in a pair of nice black capris, a sophisticated sweater set, and uncomfortable yet sexy pair of heels.

  And for what? Anne groaned. What am I doing? This is not me.

  It was hard to believe that just one short month ago she’d been nominated for a reality T.V. dating show, by one of her so-called friends. Anne had just served as maid of honor in her best friend, Chastity’s wedding in Oklahoma, in which she was continually putting off advances from the best man, Guy Masters. She felt obligated to play nice, until it became clear that he either couldn’t take the hint or just didn’t want to. After his departure back home, she couldn’t have been happier, as she was finally free from his over-inflated ego … or so she thought.

  That very same week, she received a packet from the casting agency of Broadcast Affair. Unbeknownst to her, Guy had submitted her for the show – promising that she would be the challenge they needed. Since the executive producer, Ned, was a friend of his, all it took was one simple text and the rest was history.

  Initially, she was insulted that Guy was still trying to mess with her from afar, but soon her irritation turned to embarrassment. Just because she wasn’t interested in him, he figured she was inept at love?

  So the packet sat on Anne’s countertop for days, until Chastity and her husband, Timothy, came back from their honeymoon. As soon as Chastity spotted it, she pushed her to take a chance.

  “What have you got to lose?” Chastity encouraged her friend.

  “What? And let Guy think he won? Just because I wasn’t into him … he thinks there’s something so wrong with me that I need a dating show to get a man?”

  Anne frowned, boring a hole in the packet in front of her. She shook her head, and pushed it away, saying, “No, I’m not going to give him satisfaction.”

  Chastity laid her hand on her friend’s arm. “It would be fun. You and I both know there’s nothing wrong with you. Besides, the producer is a friend to both Guy and Timothy. From what I’ve heard … he’s a good person. We’d make sure he takes care of you.”

  Chastity grabbed Anne’s hands and forced her to look her in the eyes. “I think it would be great for you to go! You’ll end up having a blast and show Guy up by winning the whole thing. You’re a risk taker … so take a chance.”

  Anne raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Those shows are all fakes. I should go on just to prove that.”

  That night Chastity gave her the motivation she needed to start a new adventure in her life. Anne was the first to admit that she was stuck in a rut, not knowing what was next for her in life, so taking this risk had some merit.

  A quick jolt shook Anne from her thoughts, and back to the present.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen,­­­­­­ please note the fasten your seatbelts sign is on. We’re experiencing some slight turbulence but nothing out of the ordinary. It will let up as soon as we clear the clouds.” The pilot’s smooth voice did nothing to calm Anne’s nerves.

  From a few rows back, came the soft cries of a baby. She was thankful it wasn’t any closer. She looked to the passengers around her, wondering if any of them suffered from the same anxieties from flying. She tightened her seatbelt, and prayed the plane would stop getting knocked around.

  “Not a fan of turbulence?”

  Anne looked to an older woman seated next to her, and shrugged her shoulders. She felt at any moment, like the baby behind her, she might start bawling her eyes out.

  “It’s just a few bumps. You’ll be okay,” the woman urged.

  Breathing in through her nose and out her mouth, Anne lifted the shade from the window. Bold rays of sunlight peeked through the clouds, as the plane broke through the sky finally reaching its cruising altitude.

  From there, the plane finally settled and gently rode through the sky. She sighed a silent prayer of thanks and turned back to woman next to her and smiled.

  “It’s about time,” she said softly.

  She loosened her seatbelt and slowly let go of her nerves … at least the ones from flying.

  “See?” The woman grinned. “That didn’t last long.”

  Anne noticed the warmth in the woman’s brown eyes, which reminded her of her mom’s. Sh
e felt a small twinge in the center of her heart, as she would have given anything to know her own mother at this age. She looked to the small wrinkles surrounding her eyes, and guessed her to be in her early fifties.

  “Thank you.” Anne said softly. “You from Oklahoma? You don’t have an accent, like most do from there.”

  Her traveling companion chuckled. “No, but I live there now. I’m just going on a business trip.” She extended her hand. “My name is Carol.”

  “Anne.” She shook Carol’s hand, thinking how tiny it felt in hers.

  “You don’t have an accent either. Were you catching a connecting flight from OKC or departing?”

  “I’m leaving to go back home.” Anne squinted her eyes, wondering how to explain her trip. “Well, sort of. I was living in Oklahoma City to be near friends, but now I’m leaving to go back home to California – but not to live.” She nervously laughed. “It’s sounds confusing, huh?”

  Carol held up her hand. “Hey... to each her own. I’ve lived long enough to know we all have our own story.” Her warm eyes twinkled.

  “What do you do?” Anne thought finding out about someone else might take her mind off the next chapter in her life.

  “I’m a retired teacher, but I volunteer with Special Olympics. I’m traveling to research a camp, run by a group from California. I’d like to see if it’s something I can model and bring back to Oklahoma.” She cocked her head. “We’ll need investors, but if the model makes sense … I can get the funding.”

  “Wow.” Anne was impressed.

  “So why are you leaving where you were staying - to go home, only not to live there?” Carol laughed, and then quickly put her hand back up. Her girls always told her she was too nosy. “You know what … that’s none of my business. Forget it.”

  “No, it’s okay. I may need someone to tell … to help me sort it out.” Anne’s eyes grew wide. “You sure you’re ready?”

  “Honey, I was born ready. And it sounds like you need an ear. So hit me.” Carol leaned back as much her upright position would let her. As Anne told her story, it was her eyes, which grew wide next.

  “So let me get this straight.” Carol giggled. “You got dumped.”

  “No, I did the dumping.” Anne pursed her lips, and pointed her finger.

  “Right … sorry, there’s so much to keep up with. You broke up with a professor, who was dating his students … moved to be near friends, and then didn’t want to make out with the best man…”

  Anne quickly filled in, “Who also was a doctor, and had plenty of nurses who fell for his lines.”

  “So you didn’t want to play doctor with the best man?” Carol laughed.

  “So far so good …” Anne grinned.

  “Then when you didn’t fall for this young man’s moves, he decides to nominate you for a T.V. dating show? And you don’t have to even try out because his other best friend is the producer? So now you’re flying, in protest, to California to be on the show in hopes to prove it’s a fake?”

  Anne laughed out loud. “That about sums it up.”

  “Wow. Which show is it?” Carol asked incredulously.

  “Broadcast Affair? Heard of it?” Anne frowned and looked to her lap. “I have, but I’ve never watched it. Maybe I should have.” She nervously bit her bottom lip, and looked back to Carol with questioning eyes.

  “Heard of it? My daughters love that show. That’s the show Anne! Oh my goodness, I can’t wait to watch it with them now.” Carol joyously clapped her hands together. “Do you know who the bachelor is going to be this season?”

  “No!” Anne threw up her hands, in protest. “I know the packet had some bio info on him, but since I think it’s a ruse I didn’t care to read it. I was careful to only pull out the application, which my friends practically forced me to mail back. I threw the rest of the information away.”

  “What?! Don’t you want to know?” She turned sideways in her seat.

  Anne shook her head slowly, unsure. “I don’t think so. Why invest in the hopes of finding someone that isn’t yours to begin with? Besides, I’m done with men.”

  “Then why go on the show at all? It can’t be to just prove that it’s fake.” Carol couldn’t believe her ears.

  “No. I am not going to intentionally prove anything. If I’m to be honest, I just want to have fun. I’ve had a lot of let downs lately – well in general in my life – and I just want to take a break. Those are few and far between.”

  As Anne settled back in her chair, it dawned on her that she really did need something fun in her life. Maybe this show was going to give that to her. She smiled genuinely for the first time in weeks.

  “Well, I hope you do then. Should I tell you who the bachelor is?” Carol clasped her hands together, wanting to share the news.

  “You know?” Anne looked stupefied.

  “My daughters wait for it each season. They are so excited about who he is this year.”

  Carol knew that Chad Chambers being cast on Broadcast Affair was big news. She thought Anne would be excited to be a part of the show if she knew who it was. What she didn’t know was that Anne had a secret crush on Chad Chambers, the actor who played Dr. Hank on Hope’s Miracle.

  Anne shook her head. “Nope. Don’t tell me.”

  “Okay…” Carol’s eyes lit up. “You’re going to be excited though.”

  Anne held up her hand. “I’m sure. I’ve come this far without knowing.”

  Anne softly smiled and leaned her head back to nap for the duration of the flight. Carol patted Anne’s arm softly for reassurance, like she would have for her daughter, and watched her drift off to sleep, and decided to do the same.

  Chapter 2

  Ned Strong, executive producer for Broadcast Affair, sat opposite of the baggage claim’s exit, watching his ace in the hole tightly embrace an older woman.

  He narrowed his eyes. She doesn’t seem so tough to me.

  Ned pursed his lips, hoping his friend, Guy, didn’t lead him astray, because he needed someone special for his show.

  Dragging his eyes away from the endearing scene, he slowly nodded to his driver up, signaling him to gather Anne’s belongings.

  Anne pulled back from her embrace, and squeezed Carol’s hands.

  “I hope you have a great trip. California has a lot of fun things to do, so while you’re here make sure you get some sightseeing in.”

  “I will. It was nice meeting you.”

  Anne watched Carol’s warm eyes dart behind her with curiosity.

  “Excuse me? Miss La Sal?” Anne heard a deep voice behind her.

  She spun around expecting to see Ned, but saw a tall young Indian man wearing a black suit and tie. He looked nothing like Ned Strong’s picture. She looked to Carol and shrugged.

  “Who wants to know?” Carol squinted up at the tall stranger.

  The young man’s stance relaxed and he smiled with ease down to Carol.

  “My name is James, ma’am.” He stuck his hand out to shake Carol’s, then looked to Anne and continued, “Mr. Strong has asked me to gather your luggage. He’s waiting for you over there.” James nodded toward the limo.

  “I didn’t even see that when we came out,” Carol said, in awe. “You didn’t say you were being picked up in a limousine.”

  “That’s because I didn’t know.” Anne’s eyes sparkled. She looked down to her shoes; thankful she’d stuck to her gut and dressed the part, high heels and all.

  “Nice to meet you, James.” Anne handed over three bags.

  “And, this one too.” Carol set down the small suitcase she’d been carrying, to help lighten Anne’s load.

  James eyed the four bags and smiled. What is it with women and their luggage?

  Both women could see the wheels spinning inside his brain, and gave each other a knowing look. James picked up a couple and promised to be right back.

  Carol squeezed Anne’s hand. “Okay then. I’m off to get my rental. But listen to me … when I tell you that it’
s okay to let go and have fun. Have your adventure. Take a chance on love. It may find you whether you’re looking or not.”

  Anne looked to Carol, with a lazy smile. “Thanks. That sounds like something my mom would have said.”

  Carol noticed her new friend used past tense when referring to her mom, but didn’t pry. “Take care. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  James quietly waited for the two women to exchange their good-byes before clearing his throat. He picked up the last two bags and nodded down to Anne.

  “This way, Miss La Sal.” He ushered her toward the limo.

  Anne glanced over her shoulder to Carol, and waved goodbye, as she followed James from the curb. She then took her first step toward her new adventure, hoping for the best.

  As Ned opened his door to exit his limousine, he watched Anne confidently stride across the walkway. He was glad to see that she was everything that Guy had promised on the outside. Now he hoped she was as tough of a cookie as Guy professed she was on the inside, because he needed a challenge for his show and was taking a chance on Anne.

  Once news broke that the love interest on his show was Chad Chambers, he had applications coming in from all over the world. Since he was one of the hottest leading men on television, women were dying for their chance to date him. It was the biggest response they’d had in Broadcast Affair history.

  Chad’s draw wasn’t just for his good looks but also because he was genuinely a nice guy. He was well known for being approachable and humble, and because of his boy next door appeal – he had a huge fan base. What girl wouldn’t want her shot?