Page 23 of Already Home

“Me, too.”

A third woman eyed Jenna. “That apron is adorable. Are youselling those?”

* * *

By six o’clock, Jenna’s feet hurt and her back ached.She also felt a weird stretching sensation in her face, which came from havingspent the whole day smiling. It was all pain she could happily live with, shethought as she watched Violet lock the front door. When she turned, they staredat each other, then both began to laugh.

“We did it!” Jenna said, bouncing on her already-throbbingfeet. “I can’t believe how many customers we had.”

“I know.” Violet pointed to the lonely bag sitting on thetable. “I figured the ingredient bags would be popular, but I wasn’t expectingthem to go this fast. We’re going to have to make more for next time. People aregoing to tell their friends and we’ll have customers showing up, wanting to trywhat we’ve been cooking.”

Jenna sank into a chair. “Did you see those women with thecookies? They were so happy decorating.”

“Nearly everyone bought cookie sheets and cooling racks.”

The day had been crazy busy. She would have to come in early inthe morning to restock shelves and prep for the next cooking class. If this keptup, she would need to hire a part-time person to prepare the bags and stock theshelves. Talk about a happy thought.

“You did this,” she said, turning to Violet. “You made ithappen.”

“I helped,” the other woman corrected.

“If I’d been left on my own, I would have failedspectacularly.”

Violet studied her for a second. “Then I have a favor to ask.Say yes, and we can be even.”

Jenna smiled. “Unless you want a kidney, sure.”

Violet shifted uneasily, as if nervous. She fingered thebracelets on her wrist. “I have a date on Tuesday.”

“Is that all? Of course you can leave early.”

“No, that’s not it. I met this guy. Cliff. He’s nice. Abusiness type.” She pulled a card out of her skirt pocket and held it out. “Hehas the kind of job where they give you business cards.”

Jenna took the card and studied it. She couldn’t see anythingnoteworthy about the information. Cliff worked for a big financial firm. He wasa senior manager, which probably meant he was one step away from being a vicepresident.

“I don’t know what to wear,” Violet admitted. “We’re going outto dinner.”

Jenna frowned. “You always look great. Fun and pulledtogether.”

“I have a unique style,” Violet said. “It’s wrong forCliff.”

“Not if he asked you out. What do you want to dress like?”

“Not what. Who. I want to dress like you.”

Jenna sat up straight. “Trust me. Stick-up-the-ass isn’t astyle to attract a guy.”

“You dress great,” Violet told her. “Sophisticated.Elegant.”

“Boring.”

“Classy.”

Jenna had never applied that word to herself. She wore tailoredclothes because they tended to suit her body and weren’t trendy. Shopping wasn’ther thing. Those big mirrors in dressing rooms intimidated her. Looking at herbutt in a three-way mirror wasn’t her idea of a good time.

“You’re serious?” she asked.

“Yes. I want to look right for my date with Cliff.”

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