Righting a Wrong (A Ripple Effect Romance Novella)

Title Page

Copyright

The Ripple Effect Romance Series

Other Works by Rachael Anderson

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Author’s Note

Acknowledgements

About Rachael Anderson

Coming Next

Lost and Found, Chapter One

Copyright © 2014 Rachael Anderson

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. The characters, names, incidents, places, and dialogue are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, whether by graphic, visual, electronic, film, microfilm, tape recording, or any other means, without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.

Ebook Edition

Published by HEA Publishing

The Ripple Effect Romance Series

Like a pebble tossed into calm water,

a simple act can ripple outward

and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet

perhaps setting a life on a different course—

one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love.

Other Works by Rachael Anderson

Novels

Prejudice Meets Pride (Meet Your Match #1)

Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined (Meet Your Match #2)

Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity (Meet Your Match #3)

The Reluctant Bachelorette

Working it Out

Novellas

Twist of Fate

The Meltdown Match

For my beautiful and talented niece, Cambri

You’re as gorgeous on the inside as you are on the outside

Late November

Thick snowflakes dotted Jace Sutton’s windshield, slowly marring his view of the rundown bungalow-style house with a for sale sign pounded into the frozen ground out front. He eyed the home with a mixture of irony and resignation. In two weeks, he’d officially be homeless, and unless he wanted to move in with his grandfather and sister—which he didn’t—Jace needed to make an offer on a house soon.

Only ten months earlier, his best friend had swooped into town, turned the head of Jace’s girlfriend, Eden, and stolen her heart. Now Drew wanted to steal Jace’s house too. Well, not
steal
exactly, more like take back what rightfully belonged to Eden. It was the house she’d been raised in, the house where her roots were firmly planted, the house she would always call home. The only reason Jace had purchased it from her in the first place was because she desperately needed the money and wouldn’t accept his help any other way.

So Jace had moved in, and Eden and her mother had moved out. Jace had fixed up a few things here and there, including replacing the warped and damaged hardwood floors. But instead of installing the rich mahogany planks he’d always wanted, he went with a knotty light oak color because it was the closest match to the original floor. He’d wanted to knock down walls, open up the living space, and replace the cobblestone fireplace with white painted wood paneling and a large, craftsman style mantle. He wanted to update the kitchen cabinets, the bathroom tile, and the freestanding vintage bathtub that Eden’s grandmother had picked out herself.

But if he did any of that, he’d be changing a place that was dear to Eden’s heart, and he could never bring himself to do it. He’d loved her that much, even though it was never enough for either of them. So when Drew came knocking on his door, asking to buy it back for his new wife, Jace had agreed. And although it was difficult to see them so happy when he was left alone, it was better this way. The house was finally back in the right hands, and Jace could now get the fresh start he needed.

Unfortunately for him, there were only three homes on the market in Bridger, Colorado. And since Jace didn’t know what to do with ten acres of farmland or have the money to repair a cracked foundation and some major structural damage, that left only one option—the home currently disappearing behind the soft layer of snow on his windshield.

There was no denying it had character or that enough sweat equity could turn it into something he’d always wanted. The fact that it was close to the store and situated in a quaint neighborhood was an added bonus. Really, nothing should stop him from snatching it up and thanking his lucky stars it was available—nothing except the painful memories it unlocked every time Jace looked at it. Maybe he was cursed or just plain unlucky because it seemed to be his lot in life to own yet another home that held a special place in the heart of a woman he’d once loved.

But where buying Eden’s home had felt like a step in the right direction, contemplating the purchase of this house felt like a huge step backward, reminding him of a girl he’d rather forget.

But what other choice did he have?

He drew in a deep breath as the house disappeared completely. Maybe this was a good thing. Maybe, if Jace got to work covering up the old with the new and took a chainsaw to that cursed maple tree, he might finally be able to erase the memory of a certain girl who’d once wanted to buy this house and make it her own. A girl who’d gotten in the way of every relationship he’d ever had.

Early Spring, Five Months Later

Cambri rolled down her car window and breathed in the fresh air. It had been nearly six years since she’d navigated these streets—not that there was much to navigate. The town consisted of one stoplight, a handful of stop signs, and a lot of intersections with no signage at all. There was a time when Cambri had thought it was the perfect size, but after living in University Park, Pennsylvania and Charlotte, North Carolina, she’d come to realize that Bridger was as podunk as they came.

She turned down her old street and unconsciously slowed the rental car she was driving. A few trees had grown larger. A few homes had obviously gotten a new paint job. A yard that was once fenced was now open, and a yard that was once open was now fenced. But overall, her street remained unchanged.

And then she saw the home where she’d grown up.

Cambri pulled to a stop, and her mouth went dry.
What happened?
Where was the large pine and the aspen trees, or her mother’s favorite rose bush that had once softened the far side of the front porch? Where were all those colorful irises that would have been standing alert, ready to bloom any day now? It looked as though someone had gone through the yard and plucked out all the beautiful flowers and shrubs so weeds like purslane and morning glory could have free rein. Even the grass was riddled with crabgrass and dandelions.

The yard had once been her mother’s pride and joy, and now—now it was gone.

Dad! What have you done?

Cambri left her suitcase in the truck and headed for the house, unable to look at the yard any longer. It wasn’t until she’d raised her hand to pound on the door that she hesitated. Was she ready to face what was on the other side? Was she ready to see her father again?

No. She’d probably never be ready, but she couldn’t put it off any longer either. With a deep intake of breath, Cambri forced her hand forward and knocked, then cringed at how hollow and empty it sounded, as though the house were only a shell of its former self.

Footsteps were heard before the door creaked open, revealing Suzie Small’s sweet, elderly face—a neighbor who had lived across the street for as long as Cambri could remember. Her hair had thinned, and a few more wrinkles covered her face, but Suzie’s smile was the same as it had always been—warm and sincere, like a large bear hug.

“Cambri Blaine, is that really you? Come in and let me have a look at you!” Her gnarled and fragile hands came to rest on Cambri’s cheeks. “Your face is a breath of fresh air, my dear. We’ve missed you so.”

“Speak for yourself!” snapped a deep voice from the back. “I told you I don’t need a babysitter, especially someone who has no interest in me. I can take care of myself.”

Suzie rolled her eyes before giving Cambri a light pat on the cheek. “That’s his way of saying he’s missed you too,” she said quietly.

Yeah, missed me the way a fish misses a hook in his gut,
Cambri thought dryly, then gave Suzie a quick hug. “Thanks for calling me and for looking out for him until I could get here.”

“It was no trouble. No trouble at all.” Suzie picked up her purse from the sofa table and slung it over her petite shoulder. “They only discharged him this morning, so he’s in need of a few groceries. I didn’t want to leave him, but now that you’re here, I’m going to run and pick up a few things and let you two catch up. But I want to hear about all your adventures when I get back, you hear?”