Page 29 of Already Home

“I’ll take three,” the shorter woman said firmly. “I have mygrandchildren coming by next week.”

Jenna rang up their purchases, then glanced at the clock. Itwas nearly six. When the women left, she walked to the door and turned the sign,then locked it.

“And we’re done.”

Beth carried the tray to the kitchen and set it on the counter.“Aren’t you exhausted? I don’t know how you do this all day.”

“It’s not that much harder than working in a restaurant.”

“It feels hard. You were busy and you didn’t even have a classtoday. You’re going to have to hire some part-time help.”

“I know.” The thought pleased her. After that first disastrousweek she’d been afraid she couldn’t sell enough to pay the light bill, let alonethe rent. Now she was actually scrambling to get everyone taken care of. Herstore was making it.

“Having all these customers is what the self-help gurus wouldcall a quality problem.”

Beth laughed. “The only kind to have.” Her gaze turnedspeculative. “Tell me about Violet’s date.”

“There’s not much to tell. It’s a first date. He works infinance. She’s a little nervous because he’s not her usual type. ApparentlyViolet prefers bad boys to nice guys.”

“A lot of women fall into that trap. But she’s getting outthere, trying something new.” Beth put the leftover cookies into baggies. “Youcould go on a date.”

Jenna wasn’t even surprised. “I’m impressed. I’ve been homenearly three months and this is the first time you’ve mentioned me dating.”

“I wanted to give you time.”

“Which has run out.”

Her mother’s mouth twitched. “Yes, it has. There are severalvery nice young men working in your father’s bank. Or if you don’t want to datesomeone who reports to him, which I understand, there are customers. Single menwith good prospects.”

Jenna crossed to Beth and took her face in her hands. “I loveyou. Stay out of my love life.”

“Someone has to do something. You’re spending all your timeworking.”

“My business is all of forty seconds old. Let me get it goingbefore I get distracted.”

“You need to get out there, have a life. You don’t have to getserious, but you need to start dating. Aaron was a charmer, that’s for sure but,as my grandmother would say, when you met him, you led your ducks to a dry pond.Find a better pond.”

Jenna dropped her hands and thought of Violet’s doctor friend.The one who didn’t get involved and was supposed to be a god in bed. Probablynot a news item to share with her mother.

“I’m considering it,” she admitted. “Violet says I need arebound guy.”

“That’s true,” Beth said thoughtfully, dropping the bag ofcookies into her purse.

“You know what a rebound guy is?”

“I have cable. I know things.”

Jenna laughed. “I’m sure you know more than me.” The laughterfaded. “I know I need to get out there. I still want to meet someone great andfall in love. Have a family. My biological clock is ticking, but I also don’twant to make another mistake. I always thought I’d have what you and dadhave.”

“Every relationship is different.”

“Aaron was a bad choice. I see that now. I don’t regret thedivorce, I don’t want to be with him, but all that time is lost and I can’t getit back.”

“You’re thirty-two. You have lots of time.”

“It doesn’t feel that way. The girls I was friends with in highschool are all married with kids.”

“You went a different way. You wanted a career.”

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