A Case for Forgiveness. Carol Ross
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The past has its place...in the past!
Innkeeper Shay James has been telling herself for a decade that she’s over her ex-fiancé, Jonah Cedar. But now the Chicago attorney’s come home to care for his ailing grandfather, reawakening powerful feelings—along with painful memories. Shay can’t afford to repeat history.
At twenty-two, Jonah couldn’t wait to trade his secluded Alaska hometown for big-city success. Shay was supposed to share that dream. Yet even with unresolved issues between them, their connection is stronger than ever. Jonah’s visit was only going to be temporary…until a threat to Shay’s beloved Faraway Inn gives him a reason to stay and fight for that second chance.
Jonah sat next to her on the blanket.
A gentle breeze stirred her hair, and she tucked the loose strands behind her ear. She pulled some snacks out of her backpack.
His voice was soft as he said, “I never look at a piece of licorice without thinking about you. Still your favorite candy?”
“Still my favorite candy,” Shay answered as her heart squeezed painfully.
She didn’t want him remembering her favorite candy and being nice to her. Arrogant, selfish, materialistic Jonah she could handle. She could even manage bitter and sarcastic Jonah. Kind and thoughtful Jonah was too much like Old Jonah.
And Old Jonah, she reminded herself, was dangerous.
True forgiveness is one of the most difficult aspects of life for me to tackle. In fact, I would put forgiveness right up there under grief on my list of life’s most extreme challenges.
Shay James has spent years grappling with a particularly cruel combination of both. And she’s finally accepted that some of the things other people take for granted in life just aren’t in the cards for her. She’s...if not exactly happy...then at least content, and that’s the most she can hope for under the circumstances.
Isn’t this the perfect moment for her attorney ex—and the primary cause of her issues—to reappear in her life and turn her careful world upside down? Especially when Jonah Cedar is back in Rankins reluctantly and for reasons that might not be what they appear? Add the well-meaning “help” of family, a bit of legal trouble and the inimitable town of Rankins as the backdrop and, well, poor Shay...
At its heart, this story is about healing, self-discovery and love—love of family, friends and community—and the power of forgiveness.
I hope that, like me, by the end you’ll have laughed and cried and be left cheering for Shay to allow Jonah to argue—and win, the case that could change everything for her—A Case for Forgiveness.
Please stop by and visit me on my new website, carolrossauthor.com.
Or we can connect on Facebook, facebook.com/carolrossauthor, or Twitter, @_CarolRoss.
All my best,
Carol
A Case for Forgiveness
Carol Ross
CAROL ROSS lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs. She is a graduate of Washington State University. When not writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys reading, running, hiking, skiing, traveling and making plans for the next adventure to subject her sometimes reluctant but always fun-loving family to.
To Dan, I absolutely could not do this without you. And a special thank-you to my editor, Kathryn Lye
Contents
Dear Reader
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
“THE SHEETS ON my bed have a pattern on them,” the irritable little man spat out the word like one might cockroach at another hotel. “I cannot look at them. Do you understand me? My sheets need to be changed, and they need to be changed immediately.”
Patterned sheets? Shay set her features to sympathetic and nodded slowly. This was definitely a complaint she’d never heard before. Hannah would be thrilled—and sorry that she’d missed it. Since she’d hired her younger sister on as assistant manager, Hannah had been keeping a list of odd guest requests. This one, Shay felt confident, would land near the top.
She softened her voice to match her expression. “All of our sheets have a pattern on them, Mr. Konrad. It’s a signature feature here at the Faraway Inn.” The sheets were excellent quality—super-soft, fine-spun flannel with images of tiny log cabins, bears, and moose on them, made exclusively for the inn. Shay loved them. Usually, the guests did, too.
Mr. Konrad raised his hand high and then pointed a stubby finger straight down, bringing it to rest on the marble counter between them. All he was missing was a white glove so he could check for dust. He then gestured in the general direction of her name tag. “Well, why don’t you check your computer there, Little Miss Hotel Manager, and see where it says that I can’t sleep on sheets that have a pattern on them. I have a medical condition.”
“Oh my goodness, that is terrible.” Shay managed