Page 97 of Already Home

“The broken heart part is. Since then I haven’t met anyone whointrigues me. Until Violet. Mom says that there is more than one right someonefor each of us and not to give up hope.”

“I hope she’s right about that,” Jenna murmured. “Although sheand Tom have been together since high school.”

“Not everyone gets that lucky.” He grinned. “She’s fixed me upa few times and the relationships have gone surprisingly well.”

Something Jenna could relate to. Ellington had been Serenity’sidea. Still...

“If you’re serious about Violet, you’re putting a lot on athirty-second conversation.”

“I’m a romantic.”

She laughed. “While I wouldn’t change a thing about my past, Ihave to say, it would have been fun to grow up with you as a brother.”

He winked.

* * *

After they’d finished their lunch and brushed theirteeth, they got back on the road. Dragon kept Jenna entertained with storiesabout growing up. Tales of recycling experiments gone wrong and the cow Serenityhad bought to provide milk, only to have it get loose in her spring garden andeat everything back to the dirt.

“The winery itself has some old vines, which gave my folks aplace to start,” he said as he followed the signs pointing to Napa. “They didn’thave the usual downtime waiting for the vines to mature. Mom made differentkinds of crafts to supplement the money coming in. We lived pretty simply.”

“No TV?”

“We had TV. They thought it was good for us to experience theworld, and television brought the world to us.”

“The original house on the property is now the tasting room,”he continued. “Dad, Wolf and I built our house ourselves, with a little helpfrom local contractors. Like I said, nearly everything is recycled, repurposedor reused. She did want new appliances, though.”

“I’ve seen a couple of great stoves from decades ago,” Jennasaid, remembering a white monster with three different ovens in a friend’s housein Los Angeles. “They’re beautiful, but not always practical.”

“The kitchen is Mom’s pride and joy, so you’ll get points fornoticing.” He glanced at her. “Not that you need the points.”

Jenna turned to him. “When did you know about me?”

He shrugged. “Always. I can’t remember when I didn’t. Theywould talk about you now and then. Our big sister. When I was little, I wouldask when I would get to meet you.”

“What did they say?”

“When the time was right you would come to us.”

The information only confused her more. “Why would they talkabout me, make me real to you, and do nothing about it? What if I’d never wantedto find them? I mean, you.”

He kept his eyes on the road. “If you’re looking for logic,you’ve come to the wrong place. Mom lives by her own rules. I never knew whatshe was waiting for and now...”

“Now, what?” Jenna asked.

“Now’s when she decided it was time for her to find you.” Heflashed her a smile. “The universe doesn’t check in with me.”

“Me, either,” Jenna said, staring out the side window.

It wasn’t that she wanted her birthparents to have shown up sooner, exactly. But an explanation would be nice.

“Families are complicated,” she murmured.

“Yes, they are.”

They drove around vineyards and small towns. The sky was blue,the grape leaves a vivid green in neat rows that stretched out for miles. AsDragon signaled a right turn, she saw the sign pointing toward ButterflyWines.

She found herself wishing she’d brought someone with her for alittle moral support. Ellington, she thought wistfully. He would be fun totravel with.

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