by Casey Dawes
Praise for Casey Dawes
California Sunset
California Wine
California Homecoming
California Thyme
California Sunrise
“I always prefer romances in which the relationship grows organically and this is something the author does very well. California Sunrise is an engaging romance, with interesting and flawed characters, solid writing, and a beautiful ending.”—The Bibliophilic Book Blog
“This is a wonderful story. The characters are charming and witty and you can’t help but fall in love with them . . . And the inevitable chemistry between Sarah and Hunter is adorable; there are parts that melt your heart.”—Author Alliance
“This is a beautiful story that faces two common issues we face these days and the way that they were combined was amazing. It made for a great and interesting read that will keep you wondering what happens next. Don’t miss California Homecoming by Casey Dawes. I promise you won’t regret it.”—Harlequin Junkie
“While certainly a romance story, California Thyme is filled with introspection from both characters, each of whom starts falling in love before they’re willing to admit it and have personal obstacles to overcome before they can move forward. It’s a lighthearted read, despite what the characters have been through, and once they let go of their hang-ups, it turns into a sweet romance.”—FIC Central
“This is my second book I’ve read from Dawes, and I have to say I’m definitely keeping this author on my watch list. I love the emotions, the great writing, and the way she keeps me invested in the characters. I need to snatch up the other books in this series . . . ”—Storm Goddess Book Reviews
“Ms. Dawes has a soft approach to this touching romance. There is compassion and patience shown for wounded souls getting a chance at true love . . . the topic of mental disorders and counseling was deftly written and added an additional dynamic to the heroine.”—4 stars, InD’tale Magazine
Christmas in Montana series:
Sweet Montana Christmas
Montana Christmas Magic
“ . . . a simple, sweet romance of two people discovering that while falling in love, they will learn as much about themselves as they do about each other . . . this would make a perfect lazy afternoon read.”—InD’tale Magazine
“ . . . the classic tale of the city mouse meets the country mouse . . . the chemistry between the two was believable and endearing.”—Long and Short Reviews
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Contents
Cover
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Acknowledgments
‘California Sunset’ Excerpt
Copyright
Guide
Cover
Contents
Start of content
Second Chance Christmas
Christmas in Montana
Book 3
Casey Dawes
Avon, Massachusetts
To the real-life Reese and Findlay—may your days be filled with far less angst than those of my fictional characters. Also to the incredible teachers, staff, and students at TR School.
Chapter 1
Findlay Callahan’s bare fingers gripped the steering wheel as she pulled into her mother’s driveway in Missoula, Montana. The crunch of gravel drowned out the soft snore of her four-year-old daughter, sound asleep in the back seat. The little girl was safe for now.
She turned off the car and breathed a sigh of relief. The normal seven-plus hour drive from Seattle had stretched to ten with frequent stops. Long trips made Kelly Anne cranky. Only a potty stop would do.
The girl didn’t drink enough to have to go that much.
Fingering the locket at her throat, Findlay let go of the breath she felt she’d been holding since that last push from Spokane.
Six months. That’s what the judge had given her to prove her case. If she failed, it would be the worst Christmas in her daughter’s life.
She wasn’t going to let that happen.
Leaving a sleeping Kelly Anne in her car seat, she pulled a few suitcases from the trunk and headed up the sidewalk.
“Hi, Mom,” she said when her mother opened the door.
Instead of answering, her mother pulled her close, like she’d done when Findlay was a child who’d had a rotten day.
Now it was a rotten life.
“Kelly Anne sleeping?” her mom asked.
Findlay nodded.
“Poor little thing. I’ve got your rooms all ready. Let me take your things.”
Her mom’s shoulders strained under the weight of the bags, but she lugged them toward the back of the house anyway.
Findlay returned to the car to rouse her daughter.
“Okay, sweetie. We’re at Grandma’s. Remember I told you we were coming to stay with her for a while?”
The panic in Kelly Anne’s eyes dimmed at the word Grandma.
“Gramma,” she said.
“Yep, that’s right.” She lifted the child from the car seat. “Can you walk, sweetie?”
“Yes.”
Her daughter gripped her hand tightly as they plodded toward the house. If they were lucky, nothing would distract her from the straight shot.
When they got close, her mother opened the door.
Kelly Anne yanked her hand away and ran to her grandmother. Mom scooped her up and swirled her around, the girl’s fine blond hair flying about her head with the movement.
Joy filled Findlay like water pouring into a dry well after a soaking rainstorm.
“Hungry?” her mother asked Kelly Anne. “I’ve got chicken nuggets.”
“Nuggets!” Kelly Anne dashed down the hallway before stopping abruptly. She turned around, forehead furrowed, and stared at Findlay.
“Kitchen is that way.” She pointed to the archway.
“Not any better?” her mother asked.
“She never will be, Mom. It’s not a disease; it’s the way her brain is wired. There are some things she’s going to have to relearn again and again for the rest of her life. Once she’s been here for a while, she’ll remember where things are.”
Their third therapist had finally diagnosed the problem: a learning disability that caused her daughter to be overwhelmed by changes. The knowledge had increased her ex’s subtle derision of Findlay’s ability as a mom.
He didn’t think she did anything right.
Findlay blew air out in a big puff. Her daughter was safe from Chris’s sharp tongue for now.
She trundled toward her room in the back.
“I got you 2 percent milk for your coffee in the morning,” her mom said as she entered the kitchen. “Just like you use. And there’s a bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge. Figured you’d enjoy i
t after the long drive from Seattle.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Findlay kissed her mother’s cheek. “You’re the best.” She pulled a wineglass from the cupboard where they’d been stored for the last fifteen years of her life, poured a glass of wine, and leaned against the counter while her mother nuked a plate of nuggets. Everything in the kitchen was spotless, outdated, and familiar—the old stove with the tilted electric burners, the side-by-side Sears fridge with the cracking gaskets, and the dish rack on the yellowing countertop.
It hadn’t always been that way. Brian Moore had stolen everything they had, including her father. Someday, somehow, she was going to get her revenge.
“You should rest tomorrow,” her mother said, “Get Kelly Anne settled in.”
“I can’t. I need to find a job.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“Not if I want to keep custody,” she said quietly, glancing at her daughter, who was happily gnawing on nuggets.
“When’s Daddy gonna get here?” Kelly Anne paused with a nugget in the air.
Knife to the heart.
“I told you, sweetheart, Daddy needs to stay at home for now.”
“But w-h-y-y-y?”
The drawn-out word meant bedtime. She exchanged glances with her mother.
“Do you want to see your new room?” Mom asked. “There’s someone there waiting to meet you.”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
“Well, let’s go then. We’ll stop at the bathroom first and get you cleaned up. Mr. H and his banana aren’t going to want to meet a messy girl covered with ketchup.”
“Why does he have a banana?” The nugget dropped to the plate, and Kelly Anne slipped her red-stained hand into her grandmother’s as they left the room.
The late afternoon summer sun streamed through the window. Findlay picked up her daughter’s plate, dumped the food from it, and washed it, staring out the window as she did. Summer in Montana was precious for its brevity. Kind of like her daughter’s life. Kelly Anne grew up more every second, it seemed.
She needed to snatch every moment she had.
But even that would have to wait. Finding a job was her top priority.
• • •
“I’ll take my shower then get Kelly Anne up,” she said to her mother when she walked into the kitchen the next morning. “I’m meeting Li for coffee at the Book Exchange this morning. She says she might have a lead for a job.”
“That’ll be nice, but I’d hoped you’d have a little time before you needed to go to work.” Her mother’s concerned hazel eyes were the same color as Findlay’s.
“Can’t be helped,” she said. “If I don’t have the ability to be on my own by the end of the year, Chris will be able to go back to court for full custody. I told you that when we talked about my moving in, remember?”
“I remember. I’m not senile, you know,” her mother said with a smile. “I guess I was hoping things had changed. I liked Chris. I thought he was a good match for your stubbornness.”
“So did I. We were both wrong.”
“Seeing Li will be good for you. You didn’t seem to have many friends in Washington.”
She hadn’t. Doing her job, running a home, having a social life with her ambitious husband and his likewise earnest parents had kept her busy before Kelly Anne was born. After, Chris had insisted she quit her job. She’d protested, but her daughter quickly took up huge amounts of time so she acquiesced.
An hour later, Findlay drove down Brooks Street toward the bookstore. Sunlight dappled the leaves near Rose Park, the gateway to the strip malls, motels, and restaurants that lined the rest of the road southwest.
She’d sent out several résumés before leaving Redmond, printing them off and tucking them in envelopes to employers and friends while Chris was at his early morning squash game. Li worked as a programmer at a relatively new company in Missoula, Gravitz Technologies, and said there might be openings there.
Her friend looked up from her phone as Findlay came through the door, and a smile brightened her fine features and dark eyes.
“It’s so good to see you!” she exclaimed, giving Findlay a heartfelt hug. “Do you want coffee? My treat.”
“Thanks. That would be great.”
“You get settled.” Li started toward the counter of the small, in-store coffee shop surrounded by shelves of used books, but turned back. “I’m so glad you’re home safe.”
“Me, too.”
Once they’d caught up on Findlay’s escape from Redmond, Findlay said, “You said you had a lead.”
“I do!”
The sun got a little brighter.
”I sent one of your résumés to human resources, and they said they’d look it over. They haven’t said anything so far, but . . . yesterday one of our top Java programmers gave notice. He works in the financial department. All the employee interfaces. You know that kind of thing. You’d be perfect.”
Findlay’s heart beat a little faster. To have success this fast would phenomenal.
“Do you think they’d see me soon?”
“Wayne Johnson—he’s the head of the department,” Li said. “I told him about you, and he’s interested. He just needs to jump through the HR hoops. I’m sure he’ll give you an interview.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“It’d be so much fun to work together, like when we were back in high school.”
Oh, no. Not high school. Not the worst years of her life.
“Too much water under that bridge,” Findlay said.
“Just remember the good parts.” Li’s voice was too perky. “Not the icky ones.”
Like being dumped. The family’s slide from upscale to barely making it. Capped off by her father’s suicide.
Right. The good parts.
Still, a job was a job.
“Can you let Wayne know I’m available any time?”
Li nodded.
“Is there anything else I should know about the job? Something to help me ace the interview?”
“Nope. You’ll do great.” Gaze down, Li fidgeted with her phone for a few minutes before setting it aside. “How’s Kelly Anne adjusting?”
“We just got here, so I don’t know. But it’ll be a ton better than living in the same house I’d shared with Chris. I wanted to move out, but there wasn’t anything I could realistically afford once the alimony stopped. And he was pressuring me to either buy him out or sell him my half.”
She’d signed the papers giving the heavily mortgaged condo to him for a few thousand dollars two days before leaving.
Another loss. She sighed.
“You’re here now.” Li patted her hand.
“Yes.” Findlay lifted her head. “And my daughter’s going to feel better. Once we put some time between here and Washington, things will ease up. She adores her grandma, and Mom is patient with her.”
“Do you have to let Chris see her?”
“At least once a month. Twice if he wants to make the trip. Unlimited phone calls.” She swallowed the bitter taste. The first visit was only a few weeks away. “I have six months to prove I can provide a stable home. That will count in my favor. Unfortunately, Chris has the same amount of time to prove he’d be the better parent. He’s already got the job covered.”
“Crap.”
“Yep.”
“Can he get the judge to agree with him?”
“I don’t know.” She leaned forward. “But I’m going to do everything in my power to win.”
• • •
“Your credentials are good,” Anita Little Bird, the HR director, said to Findlay two days later. “If Wayne approves, you can start on Monday. He is insisting we need that position filled as quickly as possible. Something about restructuring employee access to benefits and payroll, and if we don’t get it done, we won’t be in compliance with some agency or other.”
Yes!
Anita stuffed a bunch of papers into a folder. “Oh, well, if it weren’t for all the regulations, t
hey wouldn’t need me.”
How did she reply to that?
“I’ll take you to his office.” Anita stood.
Findlay followed her to a cubicle slightly bigger than those on the rest of the floor. A balding man in his late thirties, early forties stood as she walked in. “Findlay?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take it from here.” Wayne dismissed the other woman before gesturing to a vacant chair and taking his own seat. “Li speaks highly of you. We need someone yesterday. I hope you’re the right person for the job. It’s a sensitive area, as I’m sure you can imagine.”
“I’ve worked in finance before. I understand.”
“Good. Now, tell me about yourself. Not your past—I can see that on your résumé.” Light glinted on his wedding band as he picked up the paper. “Who are you? What makes you happy? What do you want in the future?”
Questions no tech leader had ever asked her. How the hell was she supposed to answer them? Managers didn’t care if employees were happy—just that the release came out on time, no matter what it took.
“Well . . . I’m a single mom.”
“Ah, kids. Love mine. Two little ones: three and five. Tow-headed wonders.” Wayne gazed fondly at the picture on his desk.
“I’ve got a little girl . . . four.” No need to discuss Kelly Anne’s issues. Employers didn’t want to know about personal problems, either. “I guess . . . um . . . in the future . . . I just want to do a good job and be happy.” Her voice rose almost in a question.
The future? She was simply trying to get through life one day at a time.
“Good. Good. Good. You’ll do,” Wayne said. “Let’s get you back to HR so you can fill out all those reams of paperwork.”
Truly one of the more bizarre interviews she’d been on.
There had to be at least thirty forms—a few online, but most still on paper. This firm needed serious upgrading.
Finally done, she stood in the doorway of the HR office, trying to get her bearings.
A man crossed toward her, and the air left her lungs.