Page 46 of Already Home

“Actually, it wasn’t. I liked going out and seeing if I coulddate. I think maybe I could, but I’m not up for a professional rebound guy.Maybe if my biological parents hadn’t popped into my life with no warning, butthey pretty much burned up all my extra energy. I just wish they’d go away.”

“They weren’t that bad,” Violet said.

“You want them?”

An expression of longing briefly passed over Violet’s face.

The look surprised Jenna. “You’re looking for a family?”

“I never knew my dad and I haven’t seen my mom since I wasfifteen. She’s probably dead and I don’t know if I care enough to find out.”

Jenna was stunned. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I was veryinsensitive.”

“You didn’t know,” Violet told her. “It’s fine. I haven’t had areal family, so it’s not like I know what I’m missing. It would be weird if mydad just showed up. I wouldn’t know it was him.” She frowned. “I don’t think I’dbelieve him.” The frown faded. “I have trust issues.”

“We all have something,” Jenna said.

“You have too many parents. It’s cool that Beth isn’t freakingout. She could be and that would make this all really awkward.” Violet motionedto a stack of boxes by the cash register. “Those Bundt pans finally came in. Wecan schedule the cake class.”

Jenna wasn’t sure if the change in subject was deliberate ornot, but she went with it. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Violet’sfeelings. As much as she and the other woman had started to become friends,Jenna realized she barely knew anything about Violet’s previous life.

“Now I have to find a killer recipe,” she said. “Is chocolatetoo much of a cliché?”

Violet laughed. “Your primary customer base is women. I don’tthink chocolate is ever a cliché.”

They went over the rest of the class schedule for the comingweek.

“Are we sure about working with kids?” Jenna asked more toherself than to Violet. “It’s going to get messy.”

“But their moms are looking for new ways to cook healthy.”

“I know.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m thinking I should embracethe messiness. What about turkey meatballs? They’re packed with protein and verylean, which the moms should appreciate. We can make them relatively plain forthe kids and then do a nice spicy sauce for the parents.”

“That would work. It’s a finger food. Children love fingerfoods.”

“Right. Oh, and for our classic Italian cooking class, I wantto feature a Rachael Ray recipe for baked ziti. Everyone loves her and I’vetried the recipe. It’s great.”

She spoke easily, careful not to let on how much it botheredher to use someone else’s recipe. It was worse than cheating—it was admittingshe was a failure. Before, she would have simply come up with a recipe herself.Before, when she’d trusted herself.

A few days ago, she’d played with a cake-cheesecakecombination. The idea had been so clear in her head. She knew how it wassupposed to taste. But halfway through the baking, she’d pulled the cake out ofthe oven and dumped it in the trash without even tasting it. Because thinking itwas horrible was better than being sure.

“I’m sure the Rachael Ray books would sell in the store,”Violet told her, drawing her back to the present.

“Me, too.”

The front door opened. They both turned to greet the newcustomer. Jenna held in a groan when she saw Serenity.

Today the other woman was dressed in a long, flowing tunic inlavender, and stone-colored loose pants that came to just below her calves. Adelicate chain circled her ankle, while sandals showcased a pedicure of purplenail polish.

“Good morning,” Serenity said, sounding happy. “I woke up justbefore dawn and knew I wanted to see my daughter again.”

Jenna did her best not to bristle at the “my daughter” comment.She would take the words in the spirit in which they were meant, she toldherself. Or at least give it a good try.

“Nice to see you again,” she said. “Did you meet Violet lasttime you were here? She’s the brains behind the organization. I’m the cook.”

“We spoke,” Violet said, moving toward Serenity and offeringher hand. “But I don’t believe there were introductions. Nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

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