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“They all are.”

Beth looked up at her. “Are you all right?”

Jenna nodded. “Thanks for coming with me, Mom. I couldn’t havedone this without you.”

“I’m happy to be here. You know I’d do anything for you.”

“I do.”

From the living room came the sound of a guitar followed by aman singing. It took her a second to realize the song was “Amazing Grace.”

Beth stopped writing and took Jenna’s hand. Together theywalked into the living room to join the others and finish the song.

Twenty-Two

The following Tuesday morning Jennareturned to the store. She found herself excited about getting back to thefamiliar routine of work. Violet had kept things running, which was a blessing.She was determined to give her new manager a week off as a gesture ofthanks.

Stepping into her store was like coming home. She paused toenjoy the sight of full shelves, a crammed cooking class schedule and Violetsorting through food for the baskets they would sell.

“You’re back!” Violet said, grinning at her. “I was hopingyou’d come in today. People have been asking about you.”

“I have returned and I’m not leaving again ever. Well, I mighttake a vacation in a year. How have things been?”

“Busy,” Violet told her. “We’re getting swamped with classrequests.”

“That’s what I want to hear.”

Although she’d spoken to Violet every day she’d been gone,Jenna still had her friend take her through the highlights of what had beengoing on in the past ten days. While she was dealing with a lot of emotion, itfelt good to be back at work, doing what she loved.

“The cast-iron cookware is doing great,” Violet said, takingher to that section of the store. “Having it in so many colors helps, too, butit takes up a lot of room.” She paused. “The landlord called while you weregone. The insurance company on the other side of us isn’t going to be renewingits lease and he wondered if we wanted the space. He won’t need an answer forabout three weeks.”

“There’s a thought,” Jenna murmured to herself. “We could putin an even bigger cooking area and let this part be all retail.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Violet said. “And I was thinkingwith the leftover space, we could have a little bistro that serves lunch. Maybefeature a different kind of cuisine each day. French on Monday, Italian onTuesday, High Tea on Wednesday. That way the menu would be different and peoplewould be comfortable coming back frequently.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Jenna admitted, “but I like it. Iknow a lot of people at the culinary school both here and in Dallas. We couldfind a local chef who wants to work our lunch shift. Great idea.”

“Thanks.” Violet looked happy and excited as she spoke. “OnlyEwe is a double space as well, so between us, we’d take up most of the block.Robyn and I have been talking about ways to do cross promotion. We’re thinkingof talking to the day spa one street over and see if they’re interested, too.Our demographics all match.”

Jenna heard an insistent tapping on the front door. She lookedup and saw several women waiting to be let in. It was only five to ten, but whowas she to argue with customers?

“We’ll talk about this later,” she promised. “I love all yourideas.”

“That’s what you pay me for.”

When Jenna and Violet had come to terms on Violet’s promotionto manager, they’d agreed on a small increase in salary along with a percentageof the profits. Apparently she was determined to make the most of theopportunity, which Jenna appreciated. Hiring Violet had been a good day.

Jenna unlocked the front door and held it open. She wasimmediately embraced by all the women waiting, a balancing act considering mostof them were carrying covered dishes.

“We missed you.”

“Such a loss. Serenity was wonderful.”

“How you holding up, hon? Can I do anything?”

She greeted them all and returned the hugs, then pointed to thecooking area as a place to drop off their food.

But, unlike the people in Napa who had brought goodies forlater, they quickly set out their food, as if they were having a party. Itquickly became clear they were.

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