Page 91 of Already Home

Jenna held on, appreciating the familiar sense of love thatwashed over her.

Beth straightened. “You know Serenity is going to take creditfor this,” she said with a sigh.

“How can she?”

“You get your creativity from her.”

“I guess. There’s plenty of cooking on her side of the familytree.”

“Something to talk about when you go visit.”

Jenna touched her arm. “Mom, are you okay with me going toCalifornia?”

“Of course. It’s important for you to get to know them. Aren’tyou excited about the trip?”

“In a cautious way. Serenity wants to cram everything into afive-day visit. I’m more in the ‘let’s take it slow’ camp.”

“She wants to make up for lost time.”

“That’s what she said.” Jenna paused, wondering how much it wassafe to share.

Her mother smiled. “It’s all right. I know the two of you talk.I know you’re developing a relationship. I think that’s a good thing. If you’llremember, it was my idea.”

Jenna decided to take her at her word. “We’re getting along.She’s not as strange as I first thought, so that’s good. And you’re right—we dohave things in common. Biology can’t be denied. The cooking seems to come fromher side of the family. I want to meet Wolf and his wife and see the winery. ButI don’t know what to say when she talks about feeling guilty about giving me upfor adoption. I’m happy she did.”

“Is that what she said?”

“Yes. I think she regrets it. She was talking about how sheshould have fought her parents more and kept me for herself.”

Beth pressed her lips together. “She has other children. Isn’tthat enough?”

“Apparently not. She mentioned that she wanted to have evenmore kids but couldn’t get past the guilt.”

“Oh, please,” Beth snapped. “She was irresponsible as ateenager and got pregnant. It’s been happening since the beginning of time. Shegave up her child for adoption and got on with her life. Doesn’t this all strikeyou as dramatic? Just another bid for attention?”

Jenna stared at her mother. “What do you mean?”

“Serenity is quite the drama queen. Everything is about her.Haven’t you noticed that every conversation is about her feelings or herholistic ways or her connection with the universe?” Beth used her fingers tomake air quotes around the last word.

“She never talks about anything that isn’t directly related toher,” her mother continued. “She doesn’t ask about anyone else. She’s myopic andnarcissistic.”

Jenna was stunned. “You really don’t like her. I thought youdid. I thought you two were getting along.”

“She’s fine, in her own way,” Beth said grudgingly. “As long asyou don’t mind only talking about her. And that’s not even what bothers me. Whatpisses me off is her assumption that you would have been better off withher.”

“She didn’t say that.”

“It’s implied in her guilt. As if she’d left you at the side ofthe road. What is there to be guilty about? You were loved and nurtured everysecond of your life. Is she saying she could have done it better? That we werelousy parents?”

“I don’t think it was about you at all,” Jenna said slowly,feeling odd about having to defend Serenity.

“Of course not—because that would mean thinking about someoneother than herself.” Beth shook her head. “She’s good, I’ll give her that. She’smanaged to weasel her way into every corner of your life. She even picked yourboyfriend.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Really?”

“You wanted me to get to know her.” Jenna couldn’t figure outwhat they were fighting about.

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