: Elizabeth Chang
: Homecoming
: BookBaby
: 9781098304966
: 1
: CHF 3.10
:
: Science Fiction
: English
: 166
: kein Kopierschutz
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
It had been nearly twenty years since James had left for Hectar and ten years since anyone had heard from him. Ella knew she should give up and move on. And part of her wanted to move on, but she couldn't shake the feeling that James was still out there. Struggling to keep everything afloat in her husband's absence, Ella runs the company, raises their son, Max, and heads the search and rescue efforts, all-the-while doing her best to keep corporate greed in check. James was a successful biological engineer and architect back on Earth. What did he know of war? After reluctantly fighting a prolonged war halfway across the galaxy, James struggles to overcome hostile AI Creatures, inter-dimensional wormhole lifeforms, and DNA altering substances, along his journey home. When all seems lost, only the thought of his wife and son, keep him going.

Chapter 1:
The Wedding

It was a beautiful garden wedding that nostalgically harkened back to bygone years: android waiters dressed in old-fashioned twentieth-century uniforms circulated with trays, serving amuse-bouche and ice-cold glasses of champagne, and golden rays of light illuminated silhouettes of the elegantly dressed guests as the sun slipped slowly behind the softly rolling Tuscanhills.

Deftly moving through the attendees like a dandelion seed floating on a summer breeze, Ella made her way to an ivy-covered wrought-iron gate displaying an assortment of decorative vintage brass keys. Attached to each key with a ribbon was each guest’s name and tableassignment.

Thumbing through the keys, Ella couldn’t help but overhear the two ladies next to her gossiping. “Did you see the enormous bow on the back of her wedding gown?” onesaid.

“She looked like Minnie Mouse scurrying down the aisle!” remarked an impeccably dressed giraffe-like-lady, her stiletto heels sunk two inches deep in the muddygrass.

“And his face was beet-red! I heard he didn’t even make it back last night…” Her prim friend half-whispered.

Ella pretended not to listen as she looked around for a familiar face. The groom, Dave, was a friend of her husband James. Although Ella had hardly met the bride, Xing-Xing, she seemed nice enough and didn’t deserve such prattle, especially on her special day. Ella could scarcely find a friend in the crowd amongst the sea of weddingguests.

Across the garden, she caught a glimpse of James’ mischievous eyes as he engaged in a lively conversation with his old pals from university. His gaze caught hers, and for a split second, the suggestive half-curl of his lips made her blush. Time seemed to standstill.

The clanking sound of a knife against a glass caused all conversation to come to a halt. The father of the bride, Ker, raised his glass. “Thank you all for coming here today to help us celebrate the union of my daughter, Xing-Xing, to this most unworthy fellow…”

There were giggles and laughter all around. “Just kidding!” Ker said with a smile. He put an arm around Dave. “We couldn’t have dreamed up a more deserving son-in-law. Dave, we are proud to welcome you into our family. A