Page 131 of Already Home

“You’re thinking I should have told you.”

“Yes,” Jenna told her.

“In time you’ll see that I was right.”

Jenna doubted that but knew this wasn’t the moment to have thatargument. “How do you feel?” she asked instead.

“I’m in a little pain. They’re going to give me some drugs tohelp with that. I hope they don’t make me loopy.”

Beth moved next to Jenna. “Are you going back to Napa?” sheasked.

Serenity and Tom exchanged a glance. Serenity shook her head.“I don’t want to die on the road.”

“I understand,” Beth told her. “You need to be around familyand the people you love. Please, come back to my house. We’ll set up a roomdownstairs. Your friends can come.”

For the first time since Jenna had met her, Serenity lookedsurprised. “You don’t have to do that.”

Beth moved close and took the other woman’s hand. “I want to.You’re Jenna’s mother, too. We should all be together.”

Serenity looked at Tom. His eyes were red and sad and helpless.He seemed to be disintegrating by the minute.

“Thank you,” Serenity told Beth. “That’s very kind of you.” Sheturned to Jenna. “I’m sorry I did this to you, but I wanted you to know me. Soyou could be a part of us and we could be a part of you. I did it for you andmaybe a little for myself.”

Jenna nodded, as if she understood, even though she didn’t.

* * *

In less time than Jenna would have thought possible, the“catchall” downstairs room at her parents’ house had been cleaned out andrepurposed as Serenity’s private sanctuary. A hospital bed was brought in, alongwith a rolling table, but those were the only concessions to her illness. Sheinsisted on comfortable chairs for her many visitors and that the windowtreatments be removed from the windows. She wanted to see everything, shedeclared. Large plants found their way into the corners of the room. Incense andcandles burned on most flat surfaces.

Jenna was there when Serenity arrived from the hospital. Shelooked pale and frail. Tom helped her into bed and she slept for several hours.As she did so, Jenna sat by her, and he made phone calls, telling their friendswhat had happened. Beth had prepared a list of local hotels.

When Tom finished and returned to Serenity’s side, Jenna wentinto the kitchen to see her mother.

“This is going to be difficult,” she told Beth.

“Life often is.” Beth pointed to the vegan cookbook she’dbought at the store. “I’m only going to try a few basic things, and I’ll makesure I have most of the ingredients on hand. I have a feeling there are going tobe a lot of people to feed.”

“I think you’re right.”

Beth smiled at her. “Are you okay?”

“I think so. I’m still in shock.”

“Not so angry?”

“Oh, the anger is there. I’m simply ignoring it.”

“That’s my girl,” Beth said with a low laugh. “When in doubt,pretend it doesn’t exist. I think you got that from my mother.”

“I got it from someone.” She glanced at her watch. “Wolf isflying in today. Jasmine isn’t comfortable flying so far in her pregnancy. Hesaid her mother would be staying with her until he gets back.”

Beth nodded, then sighed. “I know Serenity would have loved tolive to see her grandchild.”

Jenna wanted to say she still could, but she knew that wasn’tgoing to happen. The cancer had spread. There was no stopping it.

“I’m going to work this afternoon,” she said, grabbing herpurse. “I’ll be back around five.”

“We’ll be here.”

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