Page 55 of Already Home

“It sounds wonderful,” Beth said. “What a great place tolive.”

“It is,” Serenity said. “You should come visit.”

Jenna scooped up some quiche and refused to glance up to see ifSerenity was looking at her as she spoke.

“I have to go back for a couple of weeks,” Tom said. “Wolf’swife is pregnant and he’s distracted. I’m going to help.”

Jenna did look up then. “Are you both leaving?”

“I want to stay,” Serenity said.

Tom took her hand in his. “I can’t convince her otherwise,although we try never to be apart. Every moment together is precious. Especiallyno—”

“We’ve been together since the first day of high school,”Serenity interrupted, leaning her head on her husband’s shoulder. “We took onelook at each other and just knew.”

The story was similar to Beth and Marshall’s, Jenna thought.Apparently, she came from a long line of people who met early and fellimmediately in love. So where had she gone wrong with her love life?

“Would you like to stay here while Tom goes back to Napa?” Bethasked.

Jenna nearly choked on her quiche. She managed to swallow it,then grabbed her mimosa. She glanced at her dad and saw he’d paused with hisfork halfway to his mouth. Obviously they hadn’t discussed this in private.

“That’s lovely of you to offer,” Serenity said. “But I’menjoying our apartment. I’ll be fine there.”

“All right, but if you change your mind, let me know.”

Jenna stared at her mother, wondering why she felt compelled tobond with Serenity and Tom. Once again she had the sense that Beth should feelat least a little threatened by everything that was going on. But then hermother had always been one to do the unexpected.

* * *

“Everything went so well,” Beth said as Marshall loadedthe dishwasher. “The food was excellent. I saw you took seconds on thequiche.”

“Don’t tell anyone. Real men and all that.”

She smiled. “The rice pudding was good.”

“You’re not going to get any ideas, are you? Start servingtofu?”

“Probably not. I like a good steak too much. But it was fun totry. I’m glad we did this. Jenna needs to spend time with her birth parents.This is good for her.”

Marshall straightened. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Getting involved. Inviting those people over to thehouse?”

“Those people?” She laughed. “They’re a part of ourfamily.”

“No, they’re a part of Jenna’s. Have you really thought thisthrough, Beth?”

She put the orange juice in the refrigerator, then turned tohim. “What are you talking about? This couple is the reason we have Jenna.”

“True and I’m grateful for that. But we adopted her thirty-twoyears ago. Why are they showing up now?”

“That’s what Jenna wanted to know. Does it matter?”

“Yes, it matters a lot. They’re nice enough, but what do weknow about these people?”

She put her hands on her hips. “What does that mean?”

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