Autumn's Healing

By HK Carlton

Rarely do we get to pick our battles... Often, they choose us.

Single mom Mikaylah MacDonough and her only daughter Autumn have been on their own a long time. So, when Autumn goes off to school, it seems only natural for Kaylah to pull up stakes and follow, though with some clear-cut boundaries, of course. She's determined to give Autumn space to enjoy the whole college experience but remain close enough for emergencies, meals and laundry. But when the closing date of the current house overlaps with taking possession of the new' house, along with orientation week, Autumn has to go it alone. From that moment on, Kaylah's dreams of a new beginning turn into a complete and total nightmare.

When former serviceman Jerusalem Aames drives up to the century-old Cleary house, he sees dollar signs for himself and his all-veteran crew. The rundown, old place would finally put his fledgling construction-renovation firm in the black. But the moment he meets the gorgeous homeowner who had been duped into buying the money-pit, his attraction is swift and instantaneous.

However, there's something very strange going on in the dilapidated house that has nothing to do with rotting timbers or shoddy wiring. Whatever it is, it's affecting Kaylah's state of mind, and Salem finds himself in a battle he's not sure he can win.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: May 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781786511539

HK Carlton

H-K lives in Canada with her hard-working hubby. She has two very handsome grown sons and a beautiful teenage daughter. She has been an avid reader all her life. Her first love is historical romance so it would come as no surprise that her favourite book of all time is Jane Eyre. But she'll read almost anything that captures her attention and imagination. She loves nothing more than to find a good book that she can't put down. She is a hopeless romantic and prefers happy endings.

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Autumn’s Healing

ISBN # 978-1-78651-153-9

©Copyright H.K. Carlton 2017

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright April 2017

Edited by Jamie D. Rose

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2017 by Totally Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, UK

Totally Bound Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 2.

AUTUMN’S HEALING

H.K. Carlton

Rarely do we get to pick our battles… Often, they choose us.

Single mom Mikaylah MacDonough and her only daughter Autumn have been on their own a long time. So, when Autumn goes off to school, it seems only natural for Kaylah to pull up stakes and follow, though with some clear-cut boundaries, of course. She’s determined to give Autumn space to enjoy the whole college experience but remain close enough for emergencies, meals and laundry. But when the closing date of the current house overlaps with taking possession of the ‘new’ house, along with orientation week, Autumn has to go it alone. From that moment on, Kaylah’s dreams of a new beginning turn into a complete and total nightmare.

When former serviceman Jerusalem Aames drives up to the century-old Cleary house, he sees dollar signs for himself and his all-veteran crew. The rundown, old place would finally put his fledgling construction-renovation firm in the black. But the moment he meets the gorgeous homeowner who had been duped into buying the money-pit, his attraction is swift and instantaneous.

However, there’s something very strange going on in the dilapidated house that has nothing to do with rotting timbers or shoddy wiring. Whatever it is, it’s affecting Kaylah’s state of mind, and Salem finds himself in a battle he’s not sure he can win.

Dedication

Dedicated to all our servicemen and women and first responders. And to those who fight silent battles every day.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Eat, Pray, Love: Elizabeth Gilbert

Tetris: Tetris Holding LLC

Coke: Coca-Cola Company

Skype: Skype Technologies SA Corporation

Hercules: Lockheed Martin Corporation

Styrofoam: The Dow Chemical Company Corporation

Ghost: Paramount Pictures

CAT: Caterpillar Inc.

Humvee: AM General LLC

Guinness Book of World Records: Guinness World Records Limited

Paralympics: United States Olympic Committee

Ruger: Sturm, Ruger and Company Inc.

Jack Daniel’s: Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc.

Prologue

Kaylah MacDonough snapped a picture of her daughter, Autumn, happily holding up the large white envelope with the blue collegiate ‘accepted’ stamp emblazoned across the corner.

Are ya done yet? Autumn teased indulgently.

One more. Kaylah clicked another then set the camera down so she could hug her only child.

I’m so proud of you, Autumn.

I am, too. We’ve worked hard to get me to this point.

"You worked hard," Kaylah responded.

Maybe, but I wouldn’t have done as well without all your help and support. How many essays and reports did we pull all-nighters on?

Well, you still did the work. I merely edited and popped in some punctuation here and there.

What are we going do without each other when I’m all the way across the country? Autumn asked.

Well…we don’t have to be, Kaylah suggested cautiously. There’s no reason for me to stay here. I can work from anywhere.

Waiting for some kind of reaction but pleased when there wasn’t an immediate ‘no freakin’ way,’ she continued, I mean, I could buy a place near the school. You can still live on campus and enjoy the whole college experience, but I’d be close by if you need me. If you wanted to come home for a weekend, you wouldn’t have to spend half of it traveling back and forth. Or, say…if you got sick. Let’s face it. No one can look after you like your mom. Home-cooked meals… I’ll even do your laundry, she sing-songed as a bonus, hoping to tip the scales.

You’d do that? Autumn asked, cocking her head.

Your laundry? I’ve always done it, Kaylah joked.

No, she laughed and swatted playfully. You’d leave everything behind to be near me?

What do you mean ‘everything’? There’s really nothing here for me without you. We’ve really no family left with Nanny and Papa gone.

But all your friends are here and the house…

Kaylah shrugged. None of it meant a thing to her without Autumn. It’ll be an adventure, a new beginning for both of us.

Autumn bounced up and down then threw her arms around her mother. You are the best!

So, it’s a deal? We’re both moving?

Autumn stilled and eased back. On one condition. She held up a perfectly manicured finger.

What’s that? Kaylah braced herself.

You have to do something that you’ve always wanted to do.

Like what?

I don’t know. You poured your entire life into me after Dad left. I feel like you’ve missed out.

Kaylah reared. "Oh no, Autumn. I never felt that way. Never."

"I know, Mom. You’re the sweetest, but it’s time for both of us to start again. I need to know you’re happy, too. Ya know, start ticking off the old bucket list. Take a class. Go on a trip. You always talked about doing your own version of Eat, Pray Love. Ohhh…or what about a cruise, maybe? A singles cruise, that is. She winked. Do something new, bungee jump. Oh, hey, here’s an idea. Find a hot guy and go on a real date. And, wait for it… Wait for it… She held up her hands in dramatic fashion and her lovely green eyes widened. Have hot, sweaty, mind-blowing sex."

Are we back to that again? Kaylah rolled her eyes. Her daughter was always trying to get her back out there into the dating scene. I’m not really sure what ‘hot guys’ think about women with only one boob. And I think I’d rather bungee jump than have sweaty sex. Although she would definitely like to have sex again on a regular basis, preferably before she got to the end of the aforementioned bucket list.

Oh, Mom, stop. You just need to find the right guy. You’ll never know unless you try. And whatever happened to having the reconstructive surgery? If you’re so worried about it, go for it.

Kaylah said, "This isn’t about me. We’re concentrating on the next step in your life, my lovely, not mine."

Autumn tossed her arm around her mother’s shoulders. And you don’t know how thankful I am that we’re taking it together. I love you, Mom.

I love you, too, baby.

Chapter One

Kaylah closed her eyes and shampooed her hair. The hot spray from the shower stung her skin, but she didn’t care.

Her mind went back to the day Autumn and her friend Emily had set off for college.

Best laid plans… she mumbled in the mist.

It had started out as a bright, beautiful, sunny day, perfect for new beginnings.

In the driveway, Kaylah tried not to wring her hands.

Stop looking like that, Autumn warned.

I should be taking you, though, Kaylah repeated under her breath, as she Tetris-ed another box into the hatchback. It’d been an ongoing discussion since the girls had come up with the idea of driving alone.

Autumn slammed the trunk of the overstuffed compact car. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and all the other aggravation of the last few weeks fell away.

We won’t be in the same city for a while. Autumn frowned and draped her arms around Kaylah. It’s gonna be weird. We’ve never really been away from each other for more than a night or two.

It won’t be long, Kaylah reassured. I’ll get things settled here and I’ll join you in about a week’s time—if all goes well, that is. Keep your fingers crossed. But I really wish I was taking you now.

But this is kind of appropriate, too. I’m supposed to drive off into the sunset, while you wave profusely from the driveway. This is the way it’s supposed to be—the child leaving the nest and all that. And next weekend when you collect the keys and take possession of the new house, I’ll probably crash with you because I’ll have missed you so much.

Me, too, Emily chimed in, joining the hug.

Kaylah nodded. The closing dates on the old house and the new place were about a week apart and coincided with Autumn’s orientation week.

Bye, Mrs. MacDonough.

Kaylah hugged Emily, as well. Take care, Em.

You, too. We’ll see you next week.

I’m looking forward to it.

Autumn squeezed her one last time. I love you, Mom. Thank you for everything. She