Coming Home Read online

  Coming Home

  Judith Keim

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  BOOKS BY JUDITH KEIM

  PRAISE FOR JUDITH KEIM’S NOVELS

  Coming Home | A Chandler Hill Inn Book - 2 | Judith Keim | Wild Quail Publishing

  Dedication

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER ONE

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  BOOKS BY JUDITH KEIM

  The Talking Tree (The Hartwell Women –1)

  Sweet Talk (The Hartwell Women – 2)

  Straight Talk (The Hartwell Women – 3)

  Baby Talk (The Hartwell Women – 4)

  The Hartwell Women Series – (Boxed Set)

  Breakfast at The Beach House Hotel – 1

  Lunch at The Beach House Hotel – 2

  Dinner at The Beach House Hotel – 3

  Christmas at The Beach House Hotel – 4

  Fat Fridays (Fat Fridays Group – 1)

  Sassy Saturdays (Fat Fridays Group – 2)

  Secret Sundays (Fat Fridays Group – 3)

  Finding Me – A Salty Key Inn Book – 1

  Finding My Way – A Salty Key Inn Book – 2

  Finding Love – A Salty Key Inn Book – 3

  Finding Family – A Salty Key Inn Book – 4

  A Christmas Star – A Seashell Cottage Book

  Change of Heart – A Seashell Cottage Book

  The Beach Babes – A Seashell Cottage Book (Coming soon)

  A Summer of Surprises – A Seashell Cottage Book (Coming soon)

  Going Home – A Chandler Hill Inn Book – 1

  Coming Home – A Chandler Hill Inn Book – 2

  Home at Last – A Chandler Hill Inn Book – 3 (Coming soon)

  Winning BIG – a little love story for all ages

  For more information: www.judithkeim.com

  PRAISE FOR JUDITH KEIM’S NOVELS

  THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL SERIES

  “Love the characters in this series. This series was my first introduction to Judith Keim. She is now one of my favorites. Looking forward to reading more of her books.”

  BREAKFAST AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL is an easy, delightful read that offers romance, family relationships, and strong women learning to be stronger. Real life situations filter through the pages. Enjoy!”

  LUNCH AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL – “This series is such a joy to read. You feel you are actually living with them. Can’t wait to read the latest one.”

  DINNER AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL – “A Terrific Read! As usual, Judith Keim did it again. Enjoyed immensely. Continue writing such pleasantly reading books for all of us readers.”

  CHRISTMAS AT THE BEACH HOUSE HOTEL – “Not Just Another Christmas Novel. This is book number four in the series and my introduction to Judith Keim’s writing. I wasn’t disappointed. The characters are dimensional and engaging. The plot is well crafted and advances at a pleasing pace. The Florida location is interesting and warming. It was a delight to read a romance novel with mature female protagonists. Ann and Rhoda have life experiences that enrich the story. It’s a clever book about friends and extended family. Buy copies for your book group pals and enjoy this seasonal read.”

  THE HARTWELL WOMEN SERIES – Books 1 – 4

  “This was an EXCELLENT series. When I discovered Judith Keim, I read all of her books back to back. I thoroughly enjoyed the women Keim has written about. They are believable and you want to just jump into their lives and be their friends! I can't wait for any upcoming books!”

  “I fell into Judith Keim's Hartwell Women series and have read & enjoyed all of her books in every series. Each centers around a strong & interesting woman character and their family interaction. Good reads that leave you wanting more.”

  THE FAT FRIDAYS GROUP – Books 1 – 3

  “Excellent story line for each character, and an insightful representation of situations which deal with some of the contemporary issues women are faced with today.”

  “I love this author's books. Her characters and their lives are realistic. The power of women's friendships is a common and beautiful theme that is threaded throughout this story.”

  THE SALTY KEY INN SERIES

  FINDING ME – “I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and cannot wait for the others! The characters are endearing with the same struggles we all encounter. The setting makes me feel like I am a guest at The Salty Key Inn...relaxed, happy & light-hearted! The men are yummy and the women strong. You can't get better than that! Happy Reading!”

  FINDING MY WAY- “Loved the family dynamics as well as uncertain emotions of dating and falling in love. Appreciated the morals and strength of parenting throughout. Just couldn't put this book down.”

  FINDING LOVE – “I waited for this book because the first two was such good reads. This one didn't disappoint.... Judith Keim always puts substance into her books. This book was no different, I learned about PTSD, accepting oneself, there is always going to be problems but stick it out and make it work. Just the way life is. In some ways a lot like my life. Judith is right, it needs another book and I will definitely be reading it. Hope you choose to read this series, you will get so much out of it.”

  FINDING FAMILY – "Completing this series is like eating the last chip. Love Judith's writing, and her female characters are always smart, strong, vulnerable to life and love experiences."

  "This was a refreshing book. Bringing the heart and soul of the family to us."

  CHANDLER HILL INN SERIES

  GOING HOME – "I absolutely could not put this book down. Started at night and read late into the middle of the night. As a child of the ’60s, the Vietnam war was front and center so this resonated with me. All the characters in the book were so well developed that the reader felt like they were friends of the family."

  "I was completely immersed in this book, with the beautiful descriptive writing, and the authors' way of bringing her characters to life. I felt like I was right inside her story."

  SEASHELL COTTAGE BOOKS

  A CHRISTMAS STAR – "Love, laughter, sadness, great food, and hope for the future, all in one book. It doesn’t get any better than this stunning read."

  "A Christmas Star is a heartwarming Christmas story featuring endearing characters. So many Christmas books are set in snowbound places...it was a nice change to read a Christmas story that takes place on a warm sandy beach!" Susan Peterson

  CHANGE OF HEART – “CHANGE OF HEART is the summer read we’ve all been waiting for. Judith Keim is a master at creating fascinating characters that are simply irresistible. Her stories leave you with a big smile on your face and a heart bursting with love.”

  ~Kellie Coates Gilbert, author of the popular Sun Valley Series

  Coming Home


  A Chandler Hill Inn Book - 2

  Judith Keim

  Wild Quail Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, public or private institutions, corporations, towns, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. This book may not be resold or uploaded for distribution to others.

  Wild Quail Publishing

  PO Box 171332

  Boise, ID 83717-1332

  ISBN# 978-0-9992448-7-6

  Copyright ©2019 Judith Keim

  All rights reserved

  Dedication

  For Ron and JoAnn Holec

  How could I write so much about wine and not think of you

  and our fun times together?

  CHAPTER ONE

  Camilla Chandler walked through the vineyards toward the grove of trees that meant so much to her at Chandler Hill in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The ashes of her grandmother, Violet “Lettie” Chandler, now resided there along with the ashes of her mother, Autumn, Lettie’s husband, Kenton, and Rex Chandler, Lettie’s father-in-law and the original owner of the inn and winery Cami had just inherited.

  The gray skies of this cool fall morning held a promise of rain, which suited her mood. The raindrops slated to fall would match the tears she’d somehow managed to hold onto after weeping for days at the loss of her grandmother, whom she called “Nonnee,” a woman beloved not only by Cami, but by all who knew her. For eighteen months of Cami’s first two years, Nonnee had raised her, forming an early, loving bond between them. And then, when Cami was only six, Lettie had stepped in to take the place of Cami’s mother after Autumn had been struck and killed by a car while jogging one day near her home in South Africa.

  Cami lifted her face to the sky and watched as a red-tailed hawk circled in the air above her and then glided down to perch on the limbs of a tall white oak, part of the collection of trees that was her destination. As her grandmother had done, Cami sought refuge and answers among the pine and hardwood trees that rose from the earth in a sturdy cluster—sentinels keeping watch over the grape vines that lined the hillsides with promises of good things to come.

  Cami entered the inner circle of the trees and sat on the stone bench that had been placed there long before her birth.

  “What a mess,” Cami blurted before she could stop herself. Wrapping her arms around herself, she wished she had worn her sweater. The crisp fall cold seeped into her bones as she began to cry. If Nonnee were here, she would hug her and tell her everything would be all right. But at the moment, nothing seemed all right. Especially after receiving the email from Bernard.

  Cami rocked in her seat, wishing there was an easy way to get rid of the pain. “Bernard Arnaud is a ... a ... b ... jerk!” Her angry cry filled the air and bounced off the branches and boughs of the trees, making it seem as if their echoes confirmed her opinion of him.

  She could hear her grandmother’s words in her head. “Take a deep breath, darling, and begin at the beginning.”

  Following those silent instructions, Cami drew in air, straightened, and spoke aloud. “Nonnee, I thought he loved me. I thought he understood I had to come home to Chandler Hill, that I owed it to my family to be here. After our many months of being together, he called those days ... and nights ... a fun romance. And now, he doesn’t want to see me anymore! After I helped to bury you, he told me this in an email ... an email for God’s sake!”

  Cami fisted her hands as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “I feel so ... so ... stupid!”

  A sparrow landed on the ground not far from her and peered up at her with dark eyes, like a messenger sent by her grandmother. How she missed Nonnee!

  Cami bowed her head. As strange as others might think of it, sitting in the grove, giving up her secrets brought answers. Though all of her Chandler relatives were deceased, they still spoke to her in memories and in stories others shared about them. They were fine people—her mother, grandmother, and the two Chandler men who’d given Nonnee the challenge of making the Chandler Hill Inn and Winery what they were today. Now, it was up to Cami to keep the enterprise healthy and strong. She knew it was an inheritance some people would love to have, but with the breakup with Bernard, it had already cost her dearly. And at twenty-three, Cami wondered how she could ever meet the challenge Nonnee had passed on to her.

  The cool breeze blowing through the pines filled the air with whispers. Cami cocked her head to listen. No answers seemed clear but one. Somehow, she’d have to find the courage and strength within her to keep things going. If Nonnee, all five-feet-three inches of her, could do that, then so would she.

  Cami stood to leave. Hearing a noise behind her, she turned to see Rafe Lopez walking toward her. Her lips curved, and she lifted a hand in greeting. Her grandfather was a striking man in his early seventies who was also struggling with Lettie’s recent death. Cami and her grandfather, Rafe, had always had a close bond, and now that it was just the two of them living in Nonnee’s house, they’d grown even closer.

  She’d always called him Rafe, even as a child. When it was suggested she call him Grandpa, she’d stamped her toddler foot and said, “No! My Rafe!” He’d loved it then, and he loved it now.

  “Thought I’d find you here,” said Rafe. “Get a few things settled in your mind?”

  She smiled sadly. “There are no simple answers, are there?”

  He shook his head. “Life is anything but simple. May I sit with you?”

  “Sure.” She sat and indicated a place for him next to her. “What’s up?”

  “I just talked to Paloma. She’s decided to leave Chandler Hill to live in Arizona with her daughter and her family.”

  Cami’s eyes widened. “But Paloma has been almost as big a part of Chandler Hill as Nonnee.”

  “Yes, but now that her best friend is gone, and with her new inheritance, Paloma is free to leave.” The sadness in his eyes reflected her own. “A lot of things will never be the same.”

  “I heard Abby wants to retire by the end of the year.” Cami let out a worried sigh. “Sometimes I feel so alone.”

  Rafe put an arm around her. “You’ve always got me. But I think it’s time for me to move. I’d like to take over the cabin after Paloma is gone. What do you say?”

  “You don’t want to stay in the house with me?” Cami asked, genuinely surprised.

  “Too many memories there. And the cabin is a special place for me. It’s where I first spent time with Lettie. Of course, after all the renovations we’ve done, it’s not a simple cabin anymore, but a very nice place for an old man like me.”

  Cami hugged him. “A very special old man. I’ll miss you, but I agree. It’s right for you to be on your own without worrying about me.” She studied him with tenderness. “But I’ll always be there for you, Rafe. A woman couldn’t have a better grandfather than you.”

  He cupped her face in his broad, strong hands. “You’ll never know what a gift you are to me, my granddaughter. I never suspected your mother was my child. When I found out, I cried with joy. And now I have you.”

  Cami had heard this story many times. It was a sweet one. She couldn’t help wondering who her own father was. It was something her mother had refused to divulge. But someday, maybe when things were in better shape at the inn, Cami intended to find out. She needed to know.

  Some families were complicated, she thought as she got to her feet once more. She held out a hand to her grandfather.

  He took it and rose. “Ready to come home?”

  “I guess so.” Home was as complex as her family.

  ###

  Cami sat in the office within the inn an
d stared out the window. The room and its history weighed heavily on her shoulders. She’d already met with Nonnee’s lawyers regarding her inheritance of the inn and vineyards , but when she’d asked to see information from her grandmother’s financial advisor, he’d sent her a summary accounting of Nonnee’s investments and requested that the meeting she wanted with him be postponed for two weeks while he dealt with some other issues. Overwhelmed by all the new information thrown at her, Cami had readily agreed.

  Now, it was time to decide which of her available funds she’d use for the upgrades to the guest rooms the inn manager, Jonathan Knight, was insisting be done. Jonathan, the young manager Nonnee had hired just before she was diagnosed with cancer, was not one of Cami’s friends. He’d all but sniffed his disapproval when Cami told him he would now report to her.

  “But you have no experience in the hotel business,” he’d protested. “I understand you studied Fine Arts in college. That certainly doesn’t qualify you to run an operation like this.”

  “Nevertheless, I own the entire business,” said Cami sweetly, though inwardly she was seething at the insulting tone of his voice.

  “Cami? Mr. Evans is here to see you,” announced Becca Withers, her assistant, startling her out of her memory of that encounter.

  Cami smiled. “Thanks, Becca. Please ask him to come on back.” Cami had had a couple of telephone conversations with him. Dirk Evans had sounded very smart, very polished, very cocky.

  Becca showed Dirk into the office and, standing behind him, waved a discreet hand in front of her face to indicate she thought he was a hottie.

  Tall, with sun-streaked brown hair and fine features, he swept into the room and beamed at Cami. Through lenses in black eyeglass frames, his blues eyes surveyed her.

  From behind the desk, she rose to shake his hand. “Hello, Dirk. We meet at last.”

  “My pleasure. Photographs Lettie had of you on her desk don’t do you justice.”