Already Home

by Susan Mallery

  “You’re an easy audience,” she said.

  “That’s what all the girls tell me.”

  Jenna laughed. “I’m sure there are dozens.”

  “Of course. Although lately…” His voice trailed off.

  She squeezed lemon juice into the pan. “No way. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of settling down.”

  “Maybe. I’m nearly thirty. Wolf is married and Jasmine is pregnant.”

  “Jasmine?”

  Dragon grinned. “They’re perfect for each other. Jasmine never met a bean sprout she didn’t like. Her nose wrinkles when I walk in the house, like she can smell the animal products on me. But she’s sweet and pretty. Wolf runs the winery.” He grabbed for his glass. “You know about that, right?”

  “Butterfly Wines?” she asked drily.

  “It’s not like they named it after me.”

  “I wish they had. And Butterfly?”

  “Hey, you’re complaining to the wrong guy. Do you know what it was like the first day of school?”

  “Sorry, no, but I can imagine.”

  She dropped the asparagus into the boiling water in the small pot, then dumped the pasta into a colander. While it drained, she stirred the sauce, spooning it over the chicken.

  “We’re ready,” she said and grabbed a plate from the cupboard.

  After scooping pasta onto the plate, she collected the chicken breast and poured the sauce over it. By then the asparagus was done. She dashed a little extra virgin olive oil onto the pasta, topped it with grated cheese and passed it to him.

  “Enjoy,” she said. “Oh. Flatware.”

  She handed him a knife, fork and napkin, then took the seat next to him.

  “It’ll get cold,” she said, when he didn’t move to take a bite.

  “I know, but I’m savoring the moment. This looks great, smells better. If I could meet a girl who cooks like this, I would so marry her.”

  “You’re easy.”

  “Tell me about it.” He cut into the chicken. “The boyfriend. What does he do?” She hesitated.

  Dragon chewed and swallowed, then looked at her. “What? It’s not a difficult question.”

  “He’s a naturopath.”

  Dragon groaned. “Let me guess. Mom introduced you.”

  “Yes, but he’s really nice and smart. He went to Harvard medical school.”

  “I’m a Yale man, myself.”

  “Really? Ivy League?”

  “I could have gone to Stanford, but it was too close to home for my taste. And I do mean taste. My mother could smell a burger on my breath from a mile away.”

  He devoured his dinner while asking her questions about her life. When he was done, he leaned back in his chair and sighed.

  “That was the best. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. If you’d like, I could teach you how to cook a few simple things.”

  He picked up his wine. “Do I look like a guy who cooks?”

  “No, but that could change.”

  Dragon grinned. “No, thanks. Now when I find the one, I’ll take you up on that offer. Not for me, of course. For her.”

  “Pig.”

  The smile never wavered. “That’s me.”

  “I met one of my brothers,” Jenna told Violet Monday morning as they opened the store.

  “I was going to ask about your date, but this might be better. Which one?”

  “Dragon. He’s completely adorable, in a confident, cocky, lawyer kind of way.”

  “You liked him,” Violet said. “I can tell by the look on your face.”

  “I did. He looks a lot like Tom. He’s actually really handsome. It’s weird, but I already feel like I know him.” She wasn’t completely sure about extra parents, but siblings she could deal with. “He’s nothing like his family. Expensive suit, loves meat. I’m going to guess his car is a gas-guzzler. He jokes about growing up eating tofu surprise.”

  Now that she thought about it, Serenity hadn’t mentioned any of what she would consider Dragon’s “negative” characteristics. She’d said her son was a lawyer and not much else.

  Serenity was accepting, Jenna thought. And not judgmental. Her birth mother had that in common with Beth.

  “He sounds great,” Violet said.

  “He is.”

  The front door opened and Robyn from Only Ewe stepped in.

  “Morning,” she called. “I wanted to let you know our beginning knitting class is starting next week, in case you’re interested.”

  “I am,” Violet said.

  “Let me think about it,” Jenna said. “I really want to learn, but I have some things I need to work out for the store.”

  “No problem. We always have them starting. Your mom, ah, Serenity, is in one of my classes. She’s pretty good.”

  “I didn’t know that she could knit.”

  “She’s great. She helps the other knitters. Actually, she’s assisting in a couple of my classes.”

  “I shouldn’t be surprised,” Jenna said. “She does love to get involved.” A couple of weeks ago the information would have annoyed her, but now she accepted it as a part of who Serenity was.

  “I need to get back,” Robyn said, moving toward the door. “But I wanted to let you know. Oh, and thanks for those marshmallow cookies. They were fabulous. Thank goodness I had a class come in after you brought them over or I would have eaten them all myself.”

  She waved and left.

  Jenna turned to find Violet studying her.

  “What?” Jenna asked.

  “Is everything all right with the store?” Violet sounded concerned.

  “Of course. I just want to make a few more changes.”

  Violet tensed.

  Jenna touched her arm. “I was going to ask you to stay a few minutes later today so we could talk about it, but I don’t want you to suffer. Everything is fine. In fact it’s wonderful. You’re doing a terrific job. I love the girls you hired to work part-time.”

  “Okay. Good.” Violet’s expression relaxed.

  “It’s me. I’m not loving taking care of all the details. Ordering, managing the supplies. I really want to spend more time with the classes. I was wondering if you would be willing to manage the store. I could either give you a raise or cut you in for a percentage of the profits.”

  Violet’s voice caught while she was answering. “I’d love handling things for you.”

  “I was really hoping you’d say that. Let’s talk more after work.”

  “Absolutely.”

  A half dozen or so customers arrived together, interrupting their discussion. Each had a question about a different class. At one point Jenna looked up to see her mother discussing Bundt pans with one woman and Serenity demonstrating a Swiss-made cheese grater to another. She wasn’t exactly sure when they’d arrived, but she was grateful for the help. Finally about eleven-thirty, there was a brief lull.

  “You’re doing well,” Beth said. “It’s a Monday morning and you’re still crowded.”

  “I know. It’s so good, it’s almost scary.” She led her mother toward the kitchen. “I’m making Violet the manager of the store. We’re going to talk details tonight after work. I want more time to focus on the classes.”

  “What a great idea. Violet is organized and experienced.”

  “I’m organized,” Jenna said with a laugh.

  “True, but running a store is new for you. I’m glad you’re having fun.”

  “I am. I thought I’d made a huge mistake when I rented the store, but I didn’t.” She was about to mention her date with Ellington when the door opened and Dragon strolled in. “Check it out,” she said, pointing.

  Beth turned in time to see Dragon and Serenity embrace.

  “Who is that?” Beth asked, sounding slightly shocked.

  “One of my brothers. He’s a corporate lawyer. I’m not sure it’s possible for him to be more different than his parents.”

  “Really?” Beth eyed him. “Come on. You can introduce us.”


  Violet wrapped a set of pots in the generic gift wrap they had in back. As she cut and folded and taped, she found it tough to keep from breaking into a happy little dance. As it was, she settled on grinning like an idiot.

  Her promotion probably wouldn’t mean all that much to a lot of people, but to her it was confirmation that she’d made the right choice to take the job. Her gut was in working order—something always good to know.

  She was delighted that Jenna was pleased with her work and excited by the opportunity the store represented. She had lots of ideas about ways to advertise the store and different promotions to bring in customers. Over the next few days she would come up with a plan and share it with Jenna.

  So far, Tiffany and Kayla, their college help, had both worked out. If all went well, they would also need to hire a full-time person.

  She carried the wrapped package back to the customer, then turned and bumped into a tall, dark-haired man.

  “Sorry,” she said automatically, stepping back.

  “No problem.”

  He was attractive, she thought absently. Well-dressed in an “I have money” kind of way without being flashy. She liked his eyes and the kindness lurking in his expression. That or she’d been hanging out with Serenity for too long.

  “I love a good bad girl,” the man said.

  Even though his words should have annoyed her, they didn’t. Odd, she thought. “Sorry. I’m neither bad nor available.”

  “Would you be willing to make an exception?”

  “No.”

  “My loss.”

  His easy grin made her want to smile in return.

  Serenity and Beth joined them.

  “I see you’ve met my oldest son,” Serenity said. “Dragon, this is Beth, Jenna’s other mother.”

  Violet noticed that Beth tensed slightly at the description, but she was gracious as she shook Dragon’s hand.

  “I didn’t know you were coming to visit,” she said.

  “I decided at the last minute. I wanted to meet my sister.”

  “Where are you from?” Violet asked.

  “San Francisco. I’m a lawyer.”

  Serenity winced. “A corporate lawyer,” she added, sounding as if her son also kidnapped children in his free time.

  Dragon looked unrepentant as he leaned toward Violet and murmured, “Worse, I eat M-E-A-T. Don’t say the word too loud. She either cries or faints.”

  “My husband runs a few banks here in Texas,” Beth said. “The corporate world can be challenging.”

  “Exactly.” Dragon winked at her. “That’s why I like it.” He turned back to Violet. “Have you worked for Jenna long?”

  “Since the store opened, so a couple of months.”

  “Don’t,” Serenity said, resting her hand on her son’s back. “It’s not yet time.”

  “Time for what?” Violet asked, confused.

  Dragon sighed. “She’s telling me not to pursue you. That it isn’t our time.”

  “You know this how?” Beth asked.

  “I can sense it.” Serenity’s voice was as calm as always. “Violet, when the time comes, you can trust Dragon. Despite his appearance of wickedness, he’s kind. When he was little, I watched him play with the smaller children. He was so gentle.”

  Dragon groaned. “Mom, come on. I have a reputation here. Don’t start with the small children and rescuing bunnies talk. Women don’t find it sexy.”

  Violet was more startled by Serenity’s statement that she could trust Dragon. Why would she have to?

  She glanced at Beth and saw Jenna’s mother rolling her eyes. Violet held in a grin. The two mothers were so different. Serenity tall and thin, with long dark red hair and no makeup. Her flowing dress fell nearly to her ankles, the colors bright enough to stand out anywhere. Beth was blond with makeup emphasizing her pretty features. She wore tailored pants and a cropped jacket that suited her petite frame.

  On the surface Serenity was exotic and had her own appeal, while Beth fell into the category of normal. Still, if Violet had to pick, she found Beth safer.

  “How does the universe speak to you?” Beth asked. “Email? A voice in your head?”

  Serenity was unruffled by the question. She slipped her arm through Dragon’s and leaned against him. “It’s more as if an unasked question has been answered.”

  “That’s convenient.”

  Violet might not have a hotline to the universe, but she could sense rising tension. Apparently Dragon felt it, too. Before she could draw Beth away, he wrapped his arm around his mother’s waist.

  “Are you up for a walk?” he asked. “I want to see that park you told me about.”

  “I would love that.”

  She smiled at Beth, then turned and left.

  Beth watched them go. “I really do like her but sometimes she can be a little too much.”

  “She does jump in the middle of things,” Violet said.

  “How did her vegan class go?”

  “You saw the crowd, so that was good. The question is, will they come a second time?”

  “We can only hope,” Beth said brightly.

  “She’s in everything,” Beth told Marshall that night over cocktails. “Since she arrived, I have yet to show up in Jenna’s store without finding her there, or having her walk in five minutes later. I can’t get a second alone with my own daughter. Plus, the whole thing about the universe. She receives private messages, then shares them with everyone else. Aren’t we the lucky ones?”

  She sipped her vodka tonic. “Serenity is trying to take over Jenna’s life. I don’t know how to stop her. Did I tell you one of her sons is in town?”

  “You mentioned it.”

  “It’s Dragon. He’s actually fairly nice and a corporate lawyer, so he knows what life is like in the real world, as opposed to the planet where Serenity lives. But still. She has two children of her own. She needs to leave my daughter alone.”

  Marshall looked at her. He didn’t say anything, he just looked.

  “I know,” she snapped. “You warned me not to get involved. Well, you were right but that doesn’t change the situation. Does you being right mean I can’t talk about it?”

  “Of course not.”

  “I don’t want to dislike her, but she’s making it difficult.” She took another drink. “I’m the one who encouraged Jenna to welcome them into her life. Can you believe it? I did this to myself.”

  The rational side of her brain knew she had nothing to worry about. That her daughter would always love her. But she felt both frantic and scared. It was one thing to be annoyed with Serenity, but the fear was much, much worse. Jenna was all she had. Two months ago she would have been confident that her relationship with her daughter was untouchable. Now, she wasn’t as sure. Telling herself to snap out of it wasn’t helping.

  “What if she doesn’t love me anymore?” she whispered.

  Marshall set down his drink and crossed to her. After putting her glass on the living room table, he pulled her to her feet and held her in his strong arms.

  “Nothing is going to change,” he said. “Have a little faith.”

  “Faith isn’t the problem. You can’t know everything is going to be all right.”

  “I can. There’s nothing they can do to take her away, Beth. You were right to encourage her to get to know her birth parents. This is all new. She’s adjusting. In time things will settle down. You’ll see.”

  “What if you’re wrong?”

  “I’m not.”

  She didn’t say anything else. But the truth was, he couldn’t know. Which left Beth wondering, for the first time in thirty-two years, if she was going to lose her daughter.

  Thirteen

  “You sure this is all right?” Ellington asked as he unpacked the lunch bags and set the contents on a picnic table. “It’s the middle of your work day.”

  “Yours, too,” Jenna reminded him, sliding onto the wooden seat of the picnic table. “Let me put this in perspecti
ve. I have a store full of customers, my mother and birth mother are having issues, my new brother is hitting on my manager and I have a class to teach in a couple of hours. If you were me and a handsome man called and invited you to lunch, wouldn’t you jump at the chance?”

  Ellington passed her a panini. “I’m not into guys.”

  She laughed. “You know what I mean. I’m happy to see you and delighted to get away for a little while.”

  “Then I’ll tell Mrs. Ruley we’re thrilled that she canceled.”

  “Please do.”

  It was a perfect late-spring day, she thought, raising her face to the sun. Blue skies, warm temperatures, a light breeze. The picnic table sat in the shade of a two-hundred-year-old live oak next to the San Gabriel River. When Ellington had first called with the unexpected invitation, she’d told herself she didn’t have the time. But then she’d realized a break was exactly what she needed.

  “What’s your class?” he asked.

  She sipped her soda. “It’s actually a really fun one. A couple of weeks ago a customer complained that she had ingredients in her pantry that she didn’t know what to do with. A spice she’d bought for one recipe, or some exotic sauce that had been on sale. Different flavored oils. Things that weren’t a part of her usual cooking style.”

  “My mom has a bunch of those in her kitchen.”

  “Everyone does. Eventually the product goes bad, which makes that first recipe really, really expensive. I asked my customers to bring in a list of anything strange in their pantries. I took the top ten most common items and have built a couple of recipes around them.”

  Ellington shook his head. “That’s brilliant.”

  “Actually Serenity is the one who encouraged me to hold a class.” She held up a hand. “Don’t say it. I’ll admit she has good ideas.”

  “I’m glad you think so.”

  “I do. And I’m really looking forward to the class. It’s fun, for them, but mostly for me. I used to…” She paused, not sure how much to share. “I told you before, I used to be really inventive in the kitchen. After the last year or so with Aaron, I’ve been scared to try new things.” She smiled. “But even when I fought the urge to experiment, I couldn’t seem to stop myself.”