Page 122 of Already Home

Beth laughed. “I promise I won’t share.”

Jenna stared at her for a long time and moved next to her.After tugging Beth to her feet, she hugged her tightly.

“You’re the mom of my heart.”

“What brought that on?”

Jenna sighed. “I was thinking how much you and Dad mean to me.How happy I am to have you as my parents. You know that, right?”

Beth nodded. “You’re the daughter of my heart.” It wasn’t thesame as having given birth to her, but that was okay.

She thought about saying how she could practically see theconnection between Jenna and Serenity. Almost as if their biologicalrelationship was highlighted in Day-Glo paint. But that wasn’t important, shetold herself, holding the daughter she had loved for thirty-two years. The pointwas trusting the relationship she had.

The sound of the doorbell caused her to step back.

“It’s probably UPS,” she said, heading to the front of thehouse. “Your father can’t get on the internet without ordering something. For aman who claims to hate shopping, he’s quite the buyer online.”

When she opened the door, instead of a young man in a brownuniform, she saw Serenity and Tom standing on her wide porch.

“Surprise,” Serenity said with a smile. “We stopped by thestore and Violet mentioned Jenna was here. We thought we’d come over.”

Beth waited for the surge of resentment, but it was gone. Therewas only the realization that these people were now part of her daughter’sfamily, too. That they were all connected one way or the other.

She smiled with genuine affection and held the door openwide.

“Come on in,” she said warmly. “Jenna will be happy to seeyou.”

Nineteen

Jenna shook her head. “You’re hoarding allthe burners,” she complained to Serenity, who’d taken a seat on the kitchencounter. “How many pots do you need to make tofu surprise?”

Serenity laughed. “You’ll see what I’m talking about. My halfof the meal will be finished long before your half.”

“That’s because you’re making less,” Beth teased.

After Serenity and Tom had arrived, Jenna had called the storeto make sure Violet could handle things for the rest of the day and to inviteher over for an impromptu family dinner. Marshall had been instructed to comehome early, and while he and Tom watched baseball, the women had gone groceryshopping.

Now steaks were grilling on the barbecue. Beth had made herfamous potato salad, with a nod to the vegans by using their mayonnaise, fauxbacon and leaving out the egg.

The kitchen was crowded with the four women all working. Violethad taken over the blender and was mixing up margaritas. Beth and Serenity wereeach on their second and, from what Jenna could tell, not feeling any pain.

This was good, Jenna thought. Strange, but good. Both sides ofher family coming together to...

Somewhere in the distance “You Are My Sunshine” began toplay.

“My phone,” Serenity said. “Jenna, do you know where my bagis?”

Jenna found Serenity’s purse and pulled out her cell. “It’sDragon,” she said, looking at the screen. She flipped open the phone. “Hey,you.”

“Sis. Where is everyone?”

“At my mom’s house. Why?”

“I’m standing in front of your closed store, feeling leftout.”

Jenna nearly squealed. “You’re here? I didn’t know you werecoming. That’s great.”

“Ah, a fan. I need more of them in my life.”

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