“I do.”
From the living room came the sound of a guitar followed by a man singing. It took her a second to realize the song was “Amazing Grace.”
Beth stopped writing and took Jenna’s hand. Together they walked into the living room to join the others and finish the song.
Twenty-Two
The following Tuesday morning Jenna returned to the store. She found herself excited about getting back to the familiar routine of work. Violet had kept things running, which was a blessing. She was determined to give her new manager a week off as a gesture of thanks.
Stepping into her store was like coming home. She paused to enjoy the sight of full shelves, a crammed cooking class schedule and Violet sorting through food for the baskets they would sell.
“You’re back!” Violet said, grinning at her. “I was hoping you’d come in today. People have been asking about you.”
“I have returned and I’m not leaving again ever. Well, I might take a vacation in a year. How have things been?”
“Busy,” Violet told her. “We’re getting swamped with class requests.”
“That’s what I want to hear.”
Although she’d spoken to Violet every day she’d been gone, Jenna still had her friend take her through the highlights of what had been going on in the past ten days. While she was dealing with a lot of emotion, it felt good to be back at work, doing what she loved.
“The cast-iron cookware is doing great,” Violet said, taking her to that section of the store. “Having it in so many colors helps, too, but it takes up a lot of room.” She paused. “The landlord called while you were gone. The insurance company on the other side of us isn’t going to be renewing its lease and he wondered if we wanted the space. He won’t need an answer for about three weeks.”
“There’s a thought,” Jenna murmured to herself. “We could put in an even bigger cooking area and let this part be all retail.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Violet said. “And I was thinking with the leftover space, we could have a little bistro that serves lunch. Maybe feature a different kind of cuisine each day. French on Monday, Italian on Tuesday, High Tea on Wednesday. That way the menu would be different and people would be comfortable coming back frequently.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Jenna admitted, “but I like it. I know a lot of people at the culinary school both here and in Dallas. We could find a local chef who wants to work our lunch shift. Great idea.”
“Thanks.” Violet looked happy and excited as she spoke. “Only Ewe is a double space as well, so between us, we’d take up most of the block. Robyn and I have been talking about ways to do cross promotion. We’re thinking of talking to the day spa one street over and see if they’re interested, too. Our demographics all match.”
Jenna heard an insistent tapping on the front door. She looked up and saw several women waiting to be let in. It was only five to ten, but who was she to argue with customers?
“We’ll talk about this later,” she promised. “I love all your ideas.”
“That’s what you pay me for.”
When Jenna and Violet had come to terms on Violet’s promotion to manager, they’d agreed on a small increase in salary along with a percentage of the profits. Apparently she was determined to make the most of the opportunity, which Jenna appreciated. Hiring Violet had been a good day.
Jenna unlocked the front door and held it open. She was immediately embraced by all the women waiting, a balancing act considering most of them were carrying covered dishes.
“We missed you.”
“Such a loss. Serenity was wonderful.”
“How you holding up, hon? Can I do anything?”
She greeted them all and returned the hugs, then pointed to the cooking area as a place to drop off their food.
But, unlike the people in Napa who had brought goodies for later, they quickly set out their food, as if they were having a party. It quickly became clear they were.
“I made Serenity’s seven-layer dip,” Virginia Heaton told Jenna, then wrinkled her nose. “Although I did use real sour cream and cheese.”
Betty Vorse had brought several of the appetizers Jenna had taught early on, while Erica West carried in a Crock-Pot containing curried lentil soup.
By eleven there were over twenty women in the store, all eating and talking, telling stories about Serenity. Beth arrived with the last wave and moved toward Jenna.
“Violet called and said what was going on. I wanted to come join the fun.”
“I’m glad you did,” Jenna told her.
Beth tucked a loose strand of Jenna’s hair behind her daughter’s ear. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. This is exactly what she would have wanted.”
Beth eyed the table. “Without the chorizo dip.”
Jenna grabbed a chip and dug in. “She might have tried it.”
The women stayed well into the afternoon. About one, Robyn popped in from Only Ewe. She had a long, slim wrapped package in her hands.
“I heard there was a party,” she said.
“A memorial for Serenity,” Jenna told her. “There’s plenty of food. Every time we start to get low, someone else shows up with something delicious.”
“Serenity would say that was the universe at work,” Beth said with a laugh. “In this case, she would be right.”
Robyn handed Jenna the package. “She was making this for you. She died before it was done, so I finished it.”
Jenna set down her glass of soda and took the gift. She set it on a table and carefully opened the plain gold paper. Inside was a knitted puppet of a chef with long red hair and green eyes. The puppet had on a tiny chef’s jacket with “Jenna” stenciled on the left side.
Jenna felt tears fill her eyes. She didn’t bother to fight them, instead giving in to both the loss and the happiness she felt.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “It’s perfect.”
“She was amazing,” Robyn said. “I barely knew her, but she touched my life. That’s a special gift.”
“The best gift,” Beth added. “To love and be loved is our purpose. Serenity gave us all that treasure.”
“And tofu,” Jenna added with a half laugh, half sob.
Beth leaned against her, chuckling. “And tofu.”
Violet raised her glass. “To Serenity. May you always travel with the wings of a butterfly.”
“To Serenity.”
Jenna drank to the unexpected gift that had been her birth mother. The woman who had brought each of them joy.
Violet arrived home happy and exhausted. The day had been emotional but also wonderful. She was excited about the plans for the store and happy to know that Jenna wanted to go along with all of them.
For once, she entered her apartment without thinking about Cliff. Her ribs were healing, as was her spirit. She wasn’t whole yet, but she knew she soon would be.
After kicking off her shoes, she headed to the small kitchen. Thanks to Jenna, she was no longer content with a frozen dinner. Instead, she pulled out fresh tomatoes and the sea scallops she’d bought the previous day. She would sauté them in butter and garlic, serving them with pasta with fresh tomato and basil sauce along with a green salad. She’d had a long conversation with the wine expert at the Georgetown Winery and with her help had picked out two chardonnays and a merlot to try.
She’d barely pulled out a bowl to start the salad when some one knocked on her door.
Her first reaction was fear. Instinctive, powerful, it nearly made her knees buckle. Then she drew in a deep breath, despite the protest from her ribs, squared her shoulders and walked to the door. Cliff was back in Illinois. Marshall had confirmed that for her. She was safe. Better than that, she was stronger than she’d been before. Eventually, she would get her fight-or-flight response to realize that.
She peeked through the security hole and was surprised to see Dragon standing in front of her door. She quickly let him in.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Shouldn’t you be in San Francisco?”
He looked tired and rumpled but still gorgeous. He had a garment bag in one hand and a briefcase in the other. When he saw her glance at them, he shook his head.
“I’m not moving in. I have a hotel a few miles away, but I wanted to see you. I needed to see you.”
There was an intensity to his words, his gaze. They didn’t frighten her at all, but they did leave her feeling confused.
“Why?” she asked.
He dropped his luggage onto the floor. “I miss you, Violet. I miss everything about you.”
“You barely know me.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “Fair enough. I miss what I do know.” He drew in a breath. “I’m here for a job interview. Actually, three.”
She knew she should probably invite him to sit down or open a bottle of wine or something, but she couldn’t seem to move. “I don’t understand.”
“I want to move here. I may have to work in Austin rather than Georgetown. Two of the interviews are there. But I’d still be close, right?”
“I don’t understand.”
The smile got bigger. “You just said that.”
“I know, but it’s still true. Why would you leave your other job?”
“Because I want to be with you and long-distance relationships suck.”
She sank onto her sofa and tried to catch her breath. Dragon wanted to be with her? Was this a game?
He sat next to her. “Please don’t tell me you don’t understand.”
“I don’t. No one moves halfway across the country for a woman he’s met three times.”
“It’s more than three times.” He angled toward her. “I want to get to know you better. I want to spend time with you. The only way I know how to do that is to be in the same town.”
She heard the physical words. Individually they made sense, but when put into sentences, he might as well have been speaking Klingon.
“What if it doesn’t work out?” she asked. “You will have turned your life upside down for nothing.”
“A chance I’m willing to take.”
He sounded as if he meant it. When she looked into his dark eyes, she saw sincerity and promise and a few other emotions she was scared to identify.
“This is nuts,” she said, pushing to her feet and staring at him. “Did you listen when I told you about my past? I’m not kidding, Dragon. I was a prostitute. I have no idea how many men I’ve been with. I did drugs.”
Despite all that, she’d escaped the life without any serious medical concerns and only a few broken bones. But the past was still there.
“You’re a corporate lawyer,” she continued. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“You probably don’t want to get into the lawyer thing. What with not having passed the bar and all.”
“You know what I mean. I can’t be with those people. They’ll know.”
He stood. “They won’t know unless you tell them and if they do, I don’t care.”
“You say that now, but you’ll change your mind. I have tattoos.”
The slow, sexy grin returned. “I know.”
She wanted to believe him, wanted to go to him and do whatever he wanted, but she couldn’t.
“Don’t,” she said, stepping back. “This is wrong. You’re playing a game and I’ll be the one hurt. Cliff may have hurt me but you’d break my heart.”
He crossed to her in two long strides, then cupped her face in his hands.
“It’s not a game, Violet. I’m moving here because I need to be with you. If my mother’s death taught me anything, it’s that you have to seize the moment. To go after the people you love and make them important in your life.”
He kissed her lightly. “You’re everything I’ve been looking for. I know that sounds like a line, so I’m willing to go slow. But the second I saw you, I knew. Maybe it’s destiny. All I can say for sure is I will do anything not to lose you.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it. What was she supposed to say to that?
“You’re not the only one at risk,” he reminded her. “I’m putting myself on the line, too. But there’s nowhere else I want to be.”
The need to believe him burned hotter and brighter than any sun. She was desperate to give herself over to him but wasn’t sure she had it in her to take a leap of faith.
He kissed her again, lingering this time, his mouth soft and warm.
“You have to heal,” he said. “Not only on the outside, but on the inside. I’m a patient man. Just do me one favor. Don’t go falling for anyone else while that’s happening.”
“Okay,” she whispered, the word coming out involuntarily.
“Yeah?”
“You’d kind of be a hard act to follow.”
He grinned. “I like hearing that.” The smile faded. “Don’t freak out, Violet, but I intend to marry you. You’re the one.”
The world jolted once. She stared at him, unable to speak.
Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.
She wasn’t sure if she thought the words or said them out loud. Either way, he heard them.
“I mean it,” he told her.
“I’ve never been the one before.”
“You’d better get used to it. We Johnson men tend to bond for life.”
He dropped his arms to her shoulders and drew her close. She stepped closer, willing to give him the chance he’d asked for, to maybe trust just a little.
“What if this takes longer than you think?” she asked suddenly.
“I’ll be right here. I promise. I don’t scare easily, nor do I give up.”
“I won’t give up, either,” she promised, knowing it was as much as she had to pledge right now. But the promise of more filled her with a happiness she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Maybe ever.
“What if he hates me?” Jenna asked nervously as she hovered in the living room of her parents’ house.
“Why would he hate you?” Beth asked patiently.
“I’m dating his father. He might resent me.”
“Just be yourself. Children respect that.”
Probably good advice, Jenna thought, wishing her stomach would stop spinning and flipping. Advice she would take just as soon as the need to throw up went away.
It was a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. Beth and Marshall were hosting a barbecue. Dragon and Violet were already in the back, as were other friends. Ellington and his son were due to arrive any second.
Life had gone on, Jenna thought. Toward the end of the week, Beth and Marshall would fly to California to spend a long weekend with Tom. Plans for expanding the store were well underway, and Jenna had already found a great chef to handle their new lunchtime service. Which was great, because she needed every spare moment to develop recipes for her new cookbook.
Dragon and Violet had started dating. They were both going slow, probably smart under the circumstances, but Jenna had a feeling they were going to make it.
Jenna and Ellington were also getting serious. She’d met his mother and mother-in-law and had apparently passed their inspection because she was now going to meet Isaiah.
Seven months ago, she’d felt broken. She would have said her life was a failure. Now everything was different. Not just her circumstances, but who she was on the inside.
The doorbell rang. Jenna jumped then hurried to open it.
Ellington stood on the wide covered porch, a small boy at his side. The child had dark hair and blue eyes, along with an open and engaging smile.
“Are you Jenna?” he asked eagerly. “I made you a picture.”
He handed over a sheet of paper with a stick figure grouping of a man, a woman with red hair and a child at what looked like a picnic.
Jenna took it and smiled. “Wow. That’s amazing. Is the lady with the red hair me?”
Isaiah nodded. “Daddy said you were real pretty. I’m not that good an artist, but I did my best.”
They stepped inside.
Beth introduced herself to Isaiah, then they all went out back and met the rest of the group. Isaiah gasped when he saw the big pool.
“Dad said we were going swimming, but I didn’t know it would be this good.” He walked up to Jenna and grinned. “Will you swim with me?”
“I would love to.”
“Hey,” Ellington said in mock annoyance. “That’s my girl.”
Isaiah giggled. “Daddy, you know you’re always telling me to share. You have to share, too.”
Everyone laughed.
Marshall took Isaiah aside and showed him how to make a fancy drink with grape juice, sparkling water and chunks of fresh fruit on a stick. Their neighbors, the Thomases, arrived, bringing Millie, their Golden Lab. Boy and dog bonded instantly and began chasing each other around the yard.
Jenna and Beth went into the kitchen to finish up the prep work.
Through the big windows, Jenna could see everyone having a great time. Dragon sat next to Violet, their hands entwined. Happiness radiated from both of them, which made Jenna feel all bubbly inside. Her dad was showing Isaiah how to throw the Frisbee to Millie. Ellington was in deep conversation with the Thomases, no doubt hearing about Mrs. Thomas’s latest ache or pain.
“I’ve been thinking about my birthday,” Beth said, leaning against the counter. “I know what I want.”
“What?”
She smiled. “I want us to get matching butterfly tattoos. For Serenity.”
Jenna laughed. “She would like that.”
“I’m not telling your father,” Beth admitted. “It’s going to be a surprise.”
“I’m not sure what he’ll think.”
Beth grinned. “That’s half the fun.”
Jenna felt a whisper of something against her arm. As if someone had touched her lightly. Affectionately. There was no one else in the room, but she knew who the touch had come from.
Love, it seemed, knew no barriers of space and time.
“I love you, Mom,” Jenna whispered, speaking to both of the women who were responsible for her being here today. “Look.”
Beth glanced to where Jenna pointed. A brightly colored butterfly fluttered next to the kitchen window, brushed against the glass, then flew away.
Already Home Page 30