Page 39 of Already Home

Serenity had asked most of the questions, had cried more thanonce and explained that her parents were making her give up her baby. They toldher it was for the best. Serenity said she hadn’t believed them until she’d metBeth and Marshall. And then she’d known they were the ones.

The four of them had signed the necessary paperwork. Two weekslater, Beth and Marshall had flown back to pick up their baby daughter. They’dnever seen either of the teens again.

To think that after all this time, they were going to meetagain was amazing.

“Give me the address,” she said as she turned onto a quietresidential street.

Jenna did, sounding more like a sullen teen than a successfulbusinesswoman.

“I’m glad Violet thought to get their address.”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “Yes, it was very thoughtful ofher.”

“Why are you being so difficult about this?”

“I don’t need them,” Jenna told her. “I don’t like how theyjust showed up. If they’ve had the contact information for all this time, whynow? Why is this moment better than ten years ago or ten years from now? What dothey want? I’m also worried about you. I don’t want you to get hurt in allthis.”

“It’s sweet of you to worry,” Beth told her, “but I’m fine.Jenna, you’re my daughter. No one can take that away.”

They pulled in front of a pretty two-story house with anapartment over the garage.

“Violet said they’re renting an apartment while they’re intown,” Jenna said grudgingly.

Beth parked the car and led the way upstairs. She had a fewnerves, she admitted to herself, but more curiosity. At the top of the stairswas a small landing and a red front door. Beth knocked.

It was opened quickly by a tall, slender redhead who lookedenough like Jenna to make Beth blink.

“I knew you’d come,” the woman said happily, then embracedBeth. “I knew it would be exactly like this.”

“Serenity,” Beth said and hugged her back. “It’s been a longtime.”

“I know. Too long.”

The other woman stepped back to let them in. Beth glanced atthe small but tastefully furnished apartment. Jenna barely slipped inside thedoor.

Beth returned her attention to their hostess.

Serenity was as tall as she remembered but more beautiful.She’d aged well and stayed slim. There had only been the one meeting, and theyhadn’t exchanged pictures. Over time, she’d forgotten what Jenna’s birth motherhad looked like.

Now she saw the similarity in the shape of their faces, theeyes. By contrast, Beth was short and round—not exactly a comfortable way tothink of herself.

“Tom’s out getting us some lunch,” Serenity said. “I wasresting. Travel exhausts me.” She turned to Jenna. “It’s nice to see youagain.”

“You, too,” Jenna said, sounding more grudging than pleased. “Ihave to admit, I don’t know what to say to you. I wasn’t prepared to meetyou.”

Serenity sat on the square footrest, leaving the two wingchairs for Jenna and Beth.

“Perhaps we should have called,” Serenity murmured, lookingconcerned as she studied Jenna. “Tom mentioned it. I never wanted to hurt you orfrighten you, but the idea to finally come and find you was so strong.”

“From the universe,” Jenna told her mother, then pressed herlips together.

“I’ve been waiting,” Serenity admitted to Beth. “For her tocome to us. I started to think she never would, but then the universe let meknow I needed to go to her.”

Beth wasn’t usually critical of people, but this time she hadto agree with her daughter. Serenity definitely fell in the crazy category.Although this kind of crazy was often harmless.

“How long are you in town?” she asked.

“We’re not sure. A few weeks.” Serenity smiled at Jenna. “Wewanted to give you the chance to get to know us, to ask any questions.”

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