Page 107 of Already Home

Her birth mother lightly touched one muffin. “Perfect.”

Jenna set the pan on the cooling rack, then slipped the secondone into the oven. She leaned against the counter and wished her mother was withher now. Beth would enjoy the house and the winery. Her eyes would probably bugout when she saw Jasmine’s stack of handwoven diapers, but she wouldn’t sayanything.

Longing filled Jenna’s chest, making her want to speak to hermom and tell her she missed her. Now that she thought about it, the last fewweeks had been so busy that she couldn’t remember the last time she’d told hershe loved her.

The house phone rang. A few seconds later Tom walked into thekitchen.

“Jenna, it’s Beth.” He handed her the cordless phone.

Maybe the universe really did listen, Jenna thoughthumorously.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Oh, Jenna, I’m sorry to interrupt.” Beth’s voice trembled.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Violet. I didn’t know if I should call or not. She saidto wait, but I wasn’t sure.”

Jenna tightened her grip on the phone. “Tell me! What happenedto Violet?”

“Cliff went crazy or something. He beat her up.”

If Jenna had eaten anything that morning, she would have thrownit up. Fear gripped her. “How bad?”

“She’s all right. A couple of broken teeth. She smacked herhead on the table, but she’s going to be okay.”

“He punched her?”

“He’s in jail, at least for twenty-four hours. The hospitalreleased her this morning and we’ve taken her home to look after her.”

“Thank you,” she breathed. “She can’t be by herself and I knowshe doesn’t have any family.” Now that she thought of it, Violet never mentionedany friends. Just people she used to work with.

“I’ve already called Tiffany and Kayla,” her mother continued.“They’re coming in tomorrow and Tuesday and I’ll work there, as well. So youdon’t have to worry.”

Jenna wasn’t concerned about the store. It was her friend whomattered.

“I’m coming back,” she said. “As soon as I can get aflight.”

She heard a noise behind her, but she didn’t turn to look.Right now Violet was who she had to focus on.

“Don’t cut your visit short,” her mother began.

“Mom, Violet’s boyfriend beat her up badly enough to send herto the hospital. I’m coming home.”

* * *

Jenna got out of San Francisco that afternoon andarrived in Austin after dark. After collecting her car, she drove directly toher parents’ house and raced inside. She met her mother at the bottom of thestairs.

“Oh, Mom,” she said, hugging Beth close. “I missed you.”

“You were only gone a few days.”

“I know, but I still missed you.”

She did her best not to think about what Serenity had saidabout Beth and Marshall not being a good choice as parents. The other womancouldn’t be more wrong.

“How’s Violet?” she asked as she straightened. “Feelingokay?”

---