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“I know and I still stand by that.” She sighed. “She’s just sodamned annoying. Now you’re going off to see the winery they named after you. Ifyou were so precious to them, why didn’t they get in touch with you before? Whydidn’t they contact us when you were younger?”

Jenna had wondered the same thing herself but not with Beth’senergy. This probably wasn’t the time to admit she’d started to like Serenityand appreciate having her around. Watching the vegan classes had opened her eyesto cooking possibilities. She couldn’t deny that Serenity had inspired her insome important ways.

“Do you not want me to go to California?”

Her mother took a deep breath. “Of course you have to go. It’simportant that you see whatever it is they want you to see.” She looked at her.“I’m fine. Most of the time I can deal with her but every now and then she rubsme the wrong way. Like I said, it’s the drama thing.” Beth paused and lookeddown. “You’ve been the center of my world so long, it’s difficult to share.”

“Finally,” Jenna said, putting her hands on her hips. “All thistime I’ve been telling you the whole thing is strange and you’ve been pushing metoward them. It took you long enough to feel threatened.”

Beth laughed. “Well, I am. I know it’s irrational, but I can’thelp it.”

“Mom.” Jenna hugged her. “I love you so much. I’m not goinganywhere.”

“You’re going back to California. You might adore it and wantto stay there again.”

“Different circumstances, I swear.” She paused. “As forEllington, Serenity didn’t pick him. She introduced us.”

“A subtle difference. You weren’t interested in meeting anyoneI mentioned.”

Jenna winced when she realized her mother was right. “I will.When I get back you can set me up to your heart’s content.”

“I thought you liked the naturopath.”

“I do.”

“So why would you want to go out with anyone else?” She shiftedher handbag over her shoulder. “It doesn’t matter. I want you to be happy.That’s the most important thing.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to run. I’mgetting all my errands out of the way so I can stop by the store every day andget in Violet’s way.”

“You won’t be in her way.”

Beth ignored that. “You’re leaving day after tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Give us a call when you arrive.”

“I will.” She hugged her mother again. “It’s only for fivedays.”

“I know. I’m happy you’re going. Really. You’ll have awonderful time.”

The words were right, as was the tone, but pain darkened hermother’s eyes and something that might have been fear.

Jenna watched her leave, then rubbed her forehead. Nothingabout this was turning out how she’d planned. The last thing she’d wanted to dowas hurt Beth. Ironically, she was only going because her mother had suggestedshe give Serenity a chance.

Relationships were complicated, she reminded herself as sheturned to answer a customer’s question. Complicated and unpredictable.

* * *

Tiffany left at five, so Jenna was alone as she shutdown for the day. After locking the front door, she closed out the cashregister, then started stocking shelves. She wanted to leave the store in goodshape when Violet arrived the following morning. She was just about to turn offthe lights and head out the back when she heard a knock on the front door.

Why people couldn’t read a Closed sign was beyond her, but ithappened more often than not, she thought as she crossed to the front of thestore. But instead of a customer, she saw a familiar dark-haired man. He wasonly a couple of inches taller than her and slim. When he saw her, he flashed asmile that used to have the power to bring her to her knees.

Yesterday she would have been terrified to see him again,worried about what he would say and how he could hurt her. It was amazing what ashort phone call could do to change a woman’s perspective.

She opened the door and smiled. “Hello, Aaron.”

“Sweet Cheeks,” he said, sweeping into her store and lightlykissing her. “You look great. And this store. Amazing. How are you? I’ve beenthinking about you, so I decided to stop by and see how you’re doing.”

“L.A. is about twelve hundred miles away.”

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