Falling Home Read online

  More Praise for the Novels

  of Karen White

  The Lost Hours

  “Reads as an intricately plotted mystery . . . White makes a good case for why new generations should sustain ties with the old—and why certain stories have to be told, no matter how long it takes.”

  —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

  “Wonderful phrasing . . . leav[es] readers with a slice of history too haunting to be forgotten.”

  —Charleston magazine

  “An interesting look at family . . . Readers will enjoy this deep Savannah River family drama.”

  —The Best Reviews

  “An evocative setting, dark family secrets, and a story that will keep you reading late into the night.”

  —Diane Chamberlain, award-winning author of Breaking the Silence

  “Characters and images as lush as the gardens of Georgia . . . satisfying and compelling.”

  —Romantic Times

  “[The author] drew me in like a tall glass of sweet tea on a hot summer’s day, but instead of quenching my thirst, reading The Lost Hours has only made me crave more from the very talented Karen White.”

  —Romance Novel TV

  “You won’t be able to put this down as you’re drawn quickly into a story that is equal parts mystery, romance, and an important look into family.”

  —Manic Readers

  “The Lost Hours is . . . intriguing, suspense-filled romantic suspense. I absolutely loved this book.”

  —Romance Junkies

  Written by today’s freshest new talents and selected by New American Library, NAL Accent novels touch on subjects close to a woman’s heart, from friendship to family to finding our place in the world. The Conversation Guides included in each book are intended to enrich the individual reading experience, as well as encourage us to explore these topics together—because books, and life, are meant for sharing.

  Visit us online at www.penguin.com

  The House on Tradd Street

  “Engaging ... The supernatural elements are not played for scares, but instead refine and reveal Melanie’s true character. . . . A fun and satisfying read, this series kickoff should hook a wide audience.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “The House on Tradd Street has it all, mystery, romance, and the paranormal including ghosts with quirky personalities.”

  —BookLoons

  “White delivers funny characters, a solid plot, and an interesting twist in this novel about the South and its antebellum history.”

  —Romantic Times

  “Has all the elements that have made Karen White’s books fan favorites: a Southern setting, a deeply emotional tale, and engaging characters.”

  —A Romance Review

  “Fans of paranormal romantic suspense will want to read this wonderful tale as Karen White provides a fine treasure-hunt mystery with a nasty spirit inside a warm romance in which readers will say yes that they believe in ghosts and in love.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “The sights and smells of the old house, along with excellent dialogue and good pacing, add up to a wonderful, mysterious, and ghostly tale.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Brilliant and engrossing . . . a rare gem . . . exquisitely told, rich in descriptions, and filled with multifaceted characters.”

  —The Book Connection

  “Karen White is an extremely talented and colorful writer with tons of imagination. If you are not a believer of paranormal, you will be after reading this novel.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  The Memory of Water

  “The enduring ties between two estranged sisters drive the darkly engaging latest from White. . . . Careful plotting, richly flawed characters, and a surprising conclusion mark this absorbing melodrama.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “In this moving novel, White explores the bond between sisters, the link between artistic genius and mental illness, and the keen hold a place can have on a person. She vividly describes the lush Lowcountry and the pull of the sea. A chilling revelation, a love story, and a bittersweet ending add to this gripping tale.”

  —Booklist

  “Beautifully written and as lyrical as the tides . . . speaks directly to the heart and will linger in yours long after you’ve read the final page.”

  —Susan Crandall, author of A Kiss in Winter

  “Karen White delivers a powerfully emotional blend of family secrets, Lowcountry lore, and love in The Memory of Water—who could ask for more?”

  —Barbara Bretton, author of Girls of Summer

  Learning to Breathe

  “White creates a heartfelt story full of vibrant characters and emotion that leaves the reader satisfied yet hungry for more from this talented author.”

  —Booklist

  “Karen White has gifted readers with another masterpiece, touching every emotion in her novel Learning to Breathe! White captures the essence of small-town living and the nuances of family life, making all her characters leap from the pages. . . . White adds another wonderful story to her fans’ keeper shelves!”

  —Reader to Reader Reviews

  “Another one of Karen White’s emotional books! A joy to read!”

  —The Best Reviews

  Pieces of the Heart

  “Heartwarming and intense . . . a tale that resonates with the meaning of unconditional love.”

  —Romantic Times (4 stars)

  “A terrific insightful character study.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  The Color of Light

  “[White’s] prose is lyrical, and she weaves in elements of mysticism and romance without being heavy-handed. An accomplished novel.”

  —Booklist

  “A story as rich as a coastal summer . . . dark secrets, heartache, a magnificent South Carolina setting, and a great love story.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Deborah Smith

  “As lush as the Lowcountry, where the characters’ wounded souls come home to mend in unexpected and magical ways.”

  —Patti Callahan Henry, author of Driftwood Summer

  NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY TITLES BY KAREN WHITE

  On Folly Beach

  The Lost Hours

  The Memory of Water

  Learning to Breathe

  Pieces of the Heart

  The Color of Light

  The Tradd Street Series

  The House on Tradd Street

  The Girl on Legare Street

  NAL ACCENT

  Published by New American Library, a division of

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

  New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700,Toronto,

  Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,

  Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

  Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell,Victoria 3124,

  Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

  Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,

  New Delhi - 110 017, India

  Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632,

  New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

  Penguin Books (So
uth Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,

  Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:

  80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Previously published in a slightly different version by Kensington Publishing Corp.

  First New American Library Printing, November 2010

  Copyright © Harley House Books, LLC, 2002, 2010

  All rights reserved

  REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:

  White, Karen

  Falling home/Karen White.

  p. cm.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-46608-7

  1. Life-change events—Fiction. 2. Georgia—Fiction. 3. Domestic fiction. I. Title.

  PS3623.H5776F35 2010

  813’.6—cd22 2010028771

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  penguinrandomhouse.com

  Version_2

  To Wendy Wax Adler and Susan Crandall—for your friendship and fierce support over the years. And for reading this book in all of its versions without complaint. Thank you.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This publication would never have happened without the many letters from readers asking for this book years after the original version was out of print. So thank you, readers, and thanks to my agent, Karen Solem, and my publisher, New American Library, for making it happen.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Author’s Note

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CONVERSATION GUIDE

  CONVERSATION GUIDE

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  About ten years ago, I sat down at my computer to write my third novel. I didn’t have a publisher for it, but I felt compelled to write the story about two sisters who’d been estranged for fifteen years. It was a fish-out-of-water story, too, about a woman raised in a small Georgia town yet firmly entrenched in her New York City lifestyle who’s suddenly forced to ask the question of whether you can really go home again.

  That book, Falling Home, was published in the summer of 2002 in mass-market format and with a cover depicting a glass of pink lemonade with a lipstick mark on the top. It wasn’t the cover I’d envisioned for the book, yet I was pleased to have the book out on bookstore shelves so I could share the story with readers. And readers seemed to love the story as much as I had, so much so that when the book disappeared from bookstore shelves a short while later, I continued to get mail from readers desperate to find it. Those letters have continued ever since, especially as used copies were the only ones available and were being sold for really silly prices.

  Fast-forward seven years, and the rights to the book belong to me again. My current publisher, New American Library, repurchases the rights and schedules publication for November 2010. They give the book a beautiful new cover, and then I’m given the opportunity to revise the book.

  I was hesitant at first. After all, readers loved the story and they loved Cassie, Harriet, Maddie, Sam and the rest of the inhabitants of Walton, Georgia. But then I realized that I didn’t need to change any of that at all. Instead, I wanted to enhance the book by challenging myself to write it better. After all, since Falling Home was originally published, I’d written nine more novels. From experience, my writing had become tighter, more observant, more concise. I wanted to use this experience to make a better book. And I think I’ve accomplished this with the 2010 rendition of Falling Home.

  To readers familiar with the older version, the most obvious difference you’ll notice is the addition of two more points of view. Whereas the original story was told only through Cassie’s eyes, the new version is also told from Harriet’s and Maddie’s points of view to give the reader more insight into the characters and their motivations. What might not be so noticeable is the “tightening” of the words. I’ve tried to rewrite scenes using words, realizing I can get my point across more quickly if my readers aren’t stumbling over a whole lot of words that are saying the same thing.

  Ultimately, I still love this book as much as I did when I originally wrote it. I laughed at the funny parts, and cried at the sad parts, and sighed happily when I finally reached “The End.” And that, to me, is the sign of a good read, whether it’s old or new.

  CHAPTER 1

  Cassie was dreaming again. It was of old summers: the summers of bare feet, skinned knees, and homemade peach ice cream that dripped down her chin and made her fingers sticky. Aunt Lucinda rang the supper bell, and Cassie and Harriet raced each other past the gazebo toward the back porch, their sun-kissed legs pumping under white sundresses. The jangling of the dream bell seemed so real, Cassie felt she could touch the cold brass and make it stop.

  Her fingers touched Andrew’s arm instead, his skin warm under her hand, and she jerked awake, the smells of summer grass and Aunt Lucinda’s lavender perfume lingering somewhere in the back of her mind. But the jangling continued, filling Cassie with dread.

  She held her breath, looking at the glowing numbers on her clock, and listened for the next ring of the telephone. Only bad news came at three in the morning. Births and engagements were always announced in the bright light of day. But bad news came at night, as if the sun were already in mourning.

  Andrew stirred briefly, then rolled over, away from her. Rising from the bed, Cassie stumbled across the darkened bedroom and into the living room so as not to awaken him. She hit her little toe on a chair leg and let out an expletive, her choice of words the only thing still reminiscent of her background.

  “Dangnabit!” she muttered, reaching for the phone and knocking it off the table. She grappled with it on the floor before finally placing it t
o her ear. “Hello?”

  There was a brief pause, then, “Hi, Cassie. It’s me. It’s Harriet.”

  Cassie’s blood stilled as she gripped the receiver tighter. “Harriet,” she said, her voice sounding strained and unsure to her ears. “How are you?”

  The words were so inadequate and stupid that she wanted to bite them back as soon as they left her mouth. It was three a.m., her estranged sister was calling after nearly fifteen years of silence, and she was asking about how she was in the same kind of voice in which she would ask a coworker if she liked sugar in her coffee.

  “It’s Daddy. He’s dying.”

  A siren screamed outside in the dark beyond Cassie’s window. She reached across the table and flipped on a lamp. “What happened?” The brilliant-cut diamond in an antique platinum setting on her left hand sparkled in the dim light. Andrew came and sat next to her, his forehead creased with a question. Cassie put her hand over the receiver and mouthed, My sister.