Home At Last. Deborah Raney

      Copyright Page

      HOME AT LAST

      Copyright © 2016 by Deborah Raney

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., P.O. Box 280988, Nashville, TN, 37228-0988 or e-mailed to [email protected].

      The persons and events portrayed in this work of fiction are the creations of the author, and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

      Published in association with The Steve Laube Literary Agency

      Macro Editor: Jamie Chavez

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Names: Raney, Deborah, author. | Raney, Deborah. Chicory Inn novel.

      Title: Home at last / Deborah Raney.

      Description: Nashville : Abingdon Press, [2017] | Series: A Chicory Inn novel

      Identifiers: LCCN 2016041059 (print) | LCCN 2016044551 (ebook) | ISBN 9781426770487 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781501837456 (e-book)

      Subjects: LCSH: Interethnic dating—Fiction. | Man-woman relationships—Fiction. | Missouri—Fiction.

      Classification: LCC PS3568.A562 H65 2017 (print) | LCC PS3568.A562 (ebook) | DDC 813/.54—dc23

      LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016041059

      Scripture verses are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM

      Dedication

      In memory of my precious grandparents

      who carried on—then handed down—

      a legacy of faith and love.

      We intend to keep it going.

      Acknowledgments

      Acknowledgments

      It seems like only yesterday that I was signing the contract for this five-book series. I could hardly imagine a day when the first book would be finished, let alone a day when I’d be writing “the end” on the final book! But here I am, and I must admit I shed a few tears saying good-bye to the Whitman family. We authors are strange that way. Our characters truly do become like family to us.

      And once again, I’m struck with awe at how many people it takes to make a book become a reality. And how many people I owe such deep gratitude.

      It would take an entire book to thank everyone who contributed to this series, whether through help with research, critiquing and editing, or the all-important “author support,” which my dear friends and family do so well.

      As always, my agent, Steve Laube, deserves a huge thank-you. We’ve been traveling this road together for over thirteen years now, and I can’t say enough how much I appreciate you, Steve.

      My critique partner and dear, dear friend, Tamera Alexander, has been walking with me even longer—ever since she offered to critique my novella at the very first ACFW conference in Kansas City in 2002. Tammy was published a few years later, quickly became one of my favorite writers on the planet, and has been running circles around me ever since! You are a gift from God, Tammy.

      My original editor, Ramona Richards, shared my vision for this series about an ordinary yet extraordinary family simply living out their faith and learning to hang tight to God through the ups and downs of life. She and Jamie Chavez have given me such tremendous editorial direction throughout these past four years. I’m so grateful for you both.

      The team at Abingdon Press has been wonderful to work with, and I am grateful and honored to be one of your authors.

      To my dear Club Deb and my precious friends who know me better than anyone—and still somehow love me: Courtney, Mary, Roxy, Sharon, Terry. I can never express how much your friendship means to me.

      So many friends, family, acquaintances, and complete strangers help in the research stage of a novel. I’m especially grateful to Noah and Julia Collins, Veronica Brayboy, and others who shared their experiences with me.

      To my own big, loving family—my precious mom and dad, my wonderful spunky mother-in-law, my brother and sisters, my kids and in-laws of all varieties: thank you all for loving me, believing in me, offering support and encouragement. Daddy, I think you single-handedly sold (and gave away!) more books than most of the bookstores! Vicky, thank you for reading galleys for me when my deadlines didn’t allow.

      And as always, to the man who makes this earthly life So. Much. Fun. The love of my life, the man of my dreams, my best friend and garage-sale buddy, the father of my children, and the “papa” in Papa and Mimi. There simply are no words, babe, to say how much I love and respect you. But give me a few more years, and maybe I’ll come up with something.

      Finally, to my Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ, how very grateful and humbled I am that You have written my name in heaven.

      Epigraph

      For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

      Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

      —Ephesians 2:14-22

      Chapter 1

      1

      A thin layer of snow and ice covered the narrowing road, and Link Whitman tapped the brakes to slow his pickup. Police in the little berg of Langhorne, Missouri, were famous for doling out speeding tickets, and Link already had two on his record—which gave new meaning to the premium in insurance premiums.

      Running his fingers through unruly curls that could stand a good cut, he leaned to check his reflection in the truck’s rearview mirror. His sisters would have given him a hard time if they’d seen.

      Who you primping for, Linkie? Must be a girl!

      He grinned to himself, hearing their high-pitched voices as clearly as if his sisters were in the seat behind him.

      He loved his sisters, but they could annoy the tar out of him too. And ever since Bree had gotten engaged, the Whitman women had upped the ante