Page 58 of Already Home

“By the way,” Serenity said, tilting her head. “I want to talkto you about a young man I met today. His name is Ellington and he works at thehealing center I’ve been going to.”

Jenna wasn’t aware of any healing center in the area, but thenshe’d never gone looking for one.

“Thanks, but I’m not really...”

Serenity touched her arm. “He’s in his mid-thirties, tall, verygood-looking. Divorced. He’s been going through a lot and now feels ready tostart dating again.” The corners of her mouth turned up. “He eats meat.”

“There’s a plus,” Violet murmured.

“I think you two would do well together. Your auras have a lotin common.”

Jenna wanted to pound her head against the wall. Couldn’tEllington hook up with a nice massage therapist and call it a day?

“I’m not looking to date,” Jenna began.

“You’ll never move on if you don’t release the past.”

“I think the past is pretty much gone. I’m over Aaron. I’vestarted a business. It’s all good.”

Serenity gazed into her eyes. “Your heart and soul are cryingout for a connection. I can hear it and it makes me ache inside.”

Jenna stared into Serenity’s intense gaze. “All right,” shesaid with a sigh. “I’ll meet Ellington.”

“We could double-date,” Violet offered. “Meet for dinnersomewhere.”

Jenna wanted to hug her. “That would be great.” Having anothercouple around could keep the evening from being a total disaster. “I’ve beenwanting to meet this Cliff guy and make sure he’s good enough for you.”

“Excellent,” Serenity said. “I’ll give Ellington yournumber.”

“Just the number for the store,” Jenna said quickly. “In casethings don’t work out.”

“Of course. Whatever my daughter wants.”

Ten

Beth studied the cookbooks on display,stacked on a shelf, with a couple open to specific recipes. Handwritten notesmentioned the dates and times the recipes would be prepared in the store.

“Sorry,” Jenna said, rushing up to her. “We’re swamped.”

“Swamped is good.”

“I know. We went from dead to crazy in a few short weeks.Violet’s already hired one college student part-time and I think we might needanother one.”

“How are the cookbook classes doing?” Beth asked.

“Great.”

They walked toward the kitchen end of the store. Jenna pouredthem each a cup of coffee, while Violet took care of the customer by the cashregister.

Jenna handed Beth a small bowl of soup. “Tell me what youthink,” she said.

Beth picked up the spoon and took a taste. The soup had anobvious tomato base, but it was so much more. Rich and spicy with a hint ofsomething smoky.

“I love it,” she said between spoonfuls. “It’s so unusual.”

“It’s Brazilian.”

Beth stared at her. “When did you start cooking Brazilianfood?”

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