Page 121 of Already Home

Her father’s steady gaze made her want to squirm. “How muchtime does she spend in this store, Jenna? Helping you? Every time that happens,she’s coming to you.”

She hung her head, feeling about twelve. “You’re right. I’msorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me.”

She looked at him. “I’ve been so caught up in my life.”

“You’ve had a lot going on.”

“Still.”

She moved toward him. He held her close.

“I’ll go see her,” she promised.

“You won’t say I was here?”

She smiled. “And get us both into trouble? I don’t thinkso.”

“That’s my girl.”

* * *

Beth stared into the refrigerator, trying to figure outwhat to serve for dinner. Normally she planned a menu for the week and then didher grocery shopping based on that, but lately she hadn’t been in the mood.

Hormones, she told herself as she shut the refrigerator door,then crossed to the cupboard and pulled out a mug. After making tea, she took itoutside and sat on the patio, sipping slowly.

She needed to change her life, she told herself. Take up ahobby. Maybe she could take a knitting class from Robyn at Only Ewe. Except shewasn’t sure she wanted to be that close to Jenna’s store. Or, more accurately,to Serenity, when she was in town.

All right—so if knitting was out, then what? Not gardening.She’d never been a big fan of grubbing in the dirt. She already belonged to abook club. Maybe something with crafts. Or she could learn how to make weddingcakes. That could be fun.

“There you are.”

She turned and saw Jenna stepping onto the patio, then glancedat her watch. It was barely after three.

“Shouldn’t you be at the store?” she asked, pleased to see herdaughter, but cautious until she knew the reason Jenna had stopped by.

“Things are handled. You haven’t been in for a while, so Ithought I’d come see you.”

“And?”

“And what?” Jenna sat in the chair next to her.

“And why else are you here?”

“No reason.”

As quickly as that, Beth felt her world restore itself. Hermood lightened, her worry faded.

There were those who would tell her to get a life. They wereprobably right, she thought as she stared at her daughter. But herfamily—however small—had always been the most important part of her being.

“I’m thinking about learning to make wedding cakes. You know,for fun.”

“Dad would love the samples.”

True. Marshall enjoyed his sweets. And her, she thought,thinking of how he’d awakened her that morning. Sometimes it was like they werestill teenagers.

“Oh, don’t,” Jenna said, squirming in her seat. “You’rethinking about Dad. You have that look. I don’t want to hear it.”

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