Jackson Main

By Wendy Lanore

Jackson Main

A Second Chance Romance

After years away, Adam has come back home to take care of his father. Never thinking he would return, his past comes back in a rush of rage, disguised as a fiery redhead.

Jenny had been heartbroken when Adam suddenly left without a word. Twelve years later, she has moved on and created a life for herself. Now that the past has come back into town, her world is about to change.

Will they reconnect the love they once shared, or will secrets rip away any chance of a future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wendy Lanore
• Release date: Sep 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215088043

Wendy Lanore

Born and raised in a small town in Kentucky. Daughter to a homemaker and a Coalminer. Wendy started her career a little later in life in order to stay home with her two children. An avid crafter, artist and reader. Wendy spent many hours volunteering in her community for the children in the area.

Book preview

Jackson Main

A Second Chance Romance

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Wendy Lanore

Jackson Main

A Second Chance Romance

After years away, Adam has come back home to take care of his father. Never thinking he would return, his past comes back in a rush of rage, disguised as a fiery redhead.

Jenny had been heartbroken when Adam suddenly left without a word. Twelve years later, she has moved on and created a life for herself. Now that the past has come back into town, her world is about to change.

Will they reconnect the love they once shared, or will secrets rip away any chance of a future?

Acknowledgements

Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Lanore

Editor: Out of Your Write Mind, Ed. Rebekah Dodson, M.A.

Cover Image: Furious Fotog/Golden Czermak

Cover Design: Alyne Hart

All rights reserved. Wendy Lanore owns exclusive rights to all content herein. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form. This includes paper book, electronic or other digital means.

This book is a fictional book. All characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any names, locations and events have no relevance to real people.

Dedication

To the people of my small town, thank you for always

supporting me.

1

It had been years since Adam Vance had been home to Jackson Main. The small town had shown improvement over the last twelve years, but the bare bones of it was still the same. The paved streets were lined with new, brightly lit posts, and many new stores had replaced some businesses that previously occupied those spaces. The structures of those buildings had been resurfaced and given facelifts without ruining their integrity.

Adam hadn’t been home since his momma had died in a car accident all those years ago. Since then, he had traveled from one base to another after joining the Navy, gladly going where they had told him, because it had been his dream to see the world and not be stuck in a small town, with a job he hated and a family that would resent him for making them miserable. So, he joined the Navy after his mom’s death and never looked back; until now.

When Adam’s cousin, Andy, had called to let him know that his dad was ill, he knew it was time to go home. The emotions that went through him at the thoughts of his dad left him with a bitter taste in his mouth. The day he had left town, he and his father had exchanged the kind of words that you couldn’t take back. He regretted that more than anything, but he had been young and blamed his dad for his mom’s accident. He knew that wasn’t true now, but it had taken him years to realize that.

Knowing that his dad could possibly die changed the way he saw things that day. That maybe he had been more immature than he thought. He should have at least listened to what his dad had to say that day instead of passing judgment; maybe he would have gotten his father the help he needed, but he had been so stubborn. Now his dad was sick, and if he didn’t get a kidney transplant within weeks, he would be gone.

Now, as he drove through the town taking in all the changes, he thought of so many things he could have done differently. Not just with his father, but with his life. And with Jenny, the only woman he ever loved. He regretted how he left her, not even saying goodbye. No note, no phone call, nothing. He could only imagine what her thoughts of him being back in town would be. And hoped he wouldn’t have to find out soon. Dealing with his sick father was one thing, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to face the only woman he had ever loved.

Pulling into the hospital parking lot, he took a deep, fortifying breath. How would his father react to him being home? Would he tell him to leave? Would they take advantage of the chance to make things right? There were many things that he and his father were going to have to come to terms with, but the first thing he had to do was walk into that hospital and face his past.

Adam slid out of his truck and walked toward the hospital. The facility had been expanded and remodeled since he had been there last: the night his mom had died. Adam had been gone for too many years. Shaking his head at the regret of his youth, he walked into the hospital.

Adam took the elevator up to the second floor and entered a long hallway. Checking in with the nurse’s station to his right, he asked the nurse sitting at the station for an update on his father’s health. Once she filled him in, she gave him the room number of his destination. Feeling nervous about the upcoming confrontation, he wiped his hands on his jeans to rid them of the sweat that had built up. Outside the door to his father’s room, he took another deep, fortifying breath and knocked. When there was no answer, he took it upon himself to enter the room.

The image that faced him nearly brought him to his knees. The man lying in the bed was frail, skinny, with hair white and thinning. His cheeks were drawn in and pail. Tubes and wires connected him and some steadily beeping machinery. His father, Theo Vance was asleep but seemed to be breathing relatively well. This man, was a far cry from the man he had left behind twelve years ago. The man he had last seen was sturdy with salt and pepper hair. His face and body had been fuller.

Had it been time or the illness that had changed his dad so much?

As he walked farther into the room, his dad stirred. Adam sat down in the chair next to the bed and waited. It didn’t take long for his dad to wake up. When he did, he didn’t notice Adam at first, but when he turned his head and took in Adam’s frame, his eyes didn’t show any knowledge of who he was looking at.

Hello, Dad. Adam greeted him quietly.

Adam? His eyes narrowed as he tried to focus.

Yeah ...it’s me.

Adam? When did you get to town? What are you doing here?

I just got here a little while ago.

I thought you would never come back, his dad mumbled roughly, with a sad note to his chiseled voice.

Yeah, I hadn’t planned to, but here I am. He paused. I shouldn’t have left the way I did. He turned away from his dad, not wanting to show any sign of weakness or vulnerability.  

His father didn’t say anything for a long time but took in Adams features. He studied him carefully.

I’m glad you’re finally home, son. He swallowed thickly before asking, Will you be staying? Adam turned back and could see his dad looked hopeful. Nothing like he had when Adam had left years ago.

Back then, his father had been a drunk. Not a mean drunk, but a thoughtless man, nonetheless. Adam had blamed his father for the death of Adam’s mother but looking back, he knew that it was what it was: an accident. He had come to realize that years ago, but pride wouldn’t let him admit to anyone, much less his father.

But now, seeing the look on his father’s face after all this time, Adam felt a flicker of hope spark that maybe they would be able to patch things up.

Yeah, I’m staying. I’ve got to go back to Madisonville and wrap a few things up there, but I’m staying in Jackson Main.

Tears touched his father’s cheeks. I’m so glad. He paused. You and me, we’ve got a lot of talking to do and some fences that need mendin’. He coughed roughly, and continued, You’ll stay at the house. There’s plenty of room and somebody’s got to keep an eye on it, his dad offered.

Adam nodded. He was grateful that he didn’t have to go looking for a hotel tonight. He wasn’t even sure that Jackson Main had a hotel close by. Anything was possible after all the changes he had seen coming into town.

The house needs some work, but it’s livable. I’ll get to the repairs when they cut me out of this place, his dad added.

Just then, a plump nurse entered the room in a frenzy. She began taking vitals, checking equipment, and informing Adam that visiting hours were just about over.

He just got here and he’s staying, Theo growled at the nurse.

You know the rules, the nurse said sternly.

Adam just laughed. He knew all too well that his father was giving these nurses hell. It was probably why the nurse