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  He rose to his feet. “It was good seeing you, Jenna. May I give you a hug?” He displayed one of his boyish grins.

  “Of course.” She laughed, accepting his warm hug. “And about the money for lunch . . .” She broke off, aware of his clean male scent, mixed with sandalwood and a hint of vanilla.

  “Forget the money. As I recall, back in the day, there were many days when you fed me.”

  Jenna reached into her pocket and took out a business card. “Please stop by the office so I can pay you back.”

  “It’s not necessary.”

  “I insist.”

  He surprised her when he said, “Okay. Let’s do dinner some night soon.” He reached into his back pocket, took out his wallet, and handed her his card. “My home and cell phone numbers. Give me a call when you are free.”

  Shaking her head, she whispered, “I don’t need this. I don’t want you to think . . .”

  “Keep it,” Scott insisted, his full, generous mouth suddenly taut. “Jenna, I’m under no illusions that you want to get back together. I know better.”

  She shoved it into her jacket pocket, saying, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other.”

  “Why? Aren’t we still old friends?”

  “Friendly, yes. But as far as I’m concerned, it ends there.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Nothing. I just think we’ve hurt each other enough in the past. There is no reason to look back. I’m focused on the future.” Before he could say more, she grabbed her lunch tray and quickly said, “Bye, Scott.” She paused at the trash container, then hurried out without a backward glance.

  She spent the entire walk back to her office telling herself she was grateful that he hadn’t followed her.

  That evening Jenna was excited. Having her first dinner party in her new home, she looked around to see what she might have forgotten. She had cooked a pot roast with creamed potatoes and glazed carrots, along with lemon meringue tarts. Everything was waiting in the kitchen. She jumped at the sound of her doorbell, then laughed. Nerves! Crazy, considering she was expecting her very best friends—her foster sisters.

  Beaming, she flung the door wide. “Welcome! Please come inside.”

  Laura walked in first, followed by Sherri Ann. Neither had come empty-handed; both brought housewarming presents.

  Exchanging warm hugs, Jenna gushed, “You shouldn’t have.”

  “Okay, we’ll take them back,” Laura teased. A social worker for the Sheppard Women’s Crisis Center, she wore a navy business skirt suit that she’d teamed with a bright green ruffled blouse. She looked snazzy, as always.

  “Yeah!” Sherri Ann put in. The young lawyer was dressed in a dark green pantsuit and pale yellow tailored blouse. She worked in a prestigious law firm that handled both criminal and corporate cases. None of the three had chosen to straighten their hair. Laura preferred braids, while Sherri Ann wore locks. Jenna’s hair was naturally curly.

  Jenna shook her head. “Forget it! Whatever is inside those fancy boxes are mine.”

  As if her foster sisters hadn’t helped her move in, Jenna proudly showed them around. She loved decorating, and she was proud of the finishing touches she’d added. They ended the tour in the spacious living room, where they urged Jenna to open her gifts. Laura had given her a set of beautiful crystal wine goblets. Sherri Ann had brought a crystal serving bowl with a matching platter.

  Wiping away tears, Jenna laughed, giving them each yet another hug. “I love them! These are things I’m too cheap to buy for myself. I’m so happy. Glad to be back with my two best friends. It’s been so long since we’ve spent any real time together, not since that long weekend in New York when you two came to visit.”

  “It’s great having you home so we can be together,” Sherri Ann said.

  “We haven’t had a good face-to-face chat since Mrs. Green died a year ago,” Laura recalled. “I still miss her. She was so good to us.”

  Mrs. Green had taught them to stand on their own two feet and not wait for a man to take care of them. She’d assured them that with work, they could do whatever they wanted. There were no limits. She had never let them forget that they had good heads on their shoulders. It was a lesson the girls had never forgotten.

  They had worked hard to get where they were, and they didn’t hesitate to give the credit to the strong, remarkable woman who had raised them. She’d taught them old-fashioned values and skills. She’d taken them to church. She’d also taught them to cook, clean, sew, and knit.

  “I miss her, too. But things were not the same when we had to put her in that nursing home. I hated that,” Sherri Ann confessed.

  “Me, too. That was no place for such a great lady,” Jenna insisted sadly.

  “We had no other option. With that Alzheimer’s, she didn’t know where she was, or what was going on. Taking turns caring for her wouldn’t change that. She passed quietly in her sleep without suffering. We need to concentrate on remembering the good times,” Laura insisted. “She was a wonderful woman, and she knew we loved her. And we know she loved us.” Laura raised her tea cup, toasting. “To Mrs. Green! She did good by us.”

  Frances Green had been an older widow with no children of her own when she’d opened her home to them. She and her late husband had both been educators. Mr. Green had been a college professor, and Mrs. Green had taught high school English and home economics. She had not let her age stop her from doing what she’d felt she had to do. She’d invested her money wisely and had had no need for the money the state had provided for their care. Every dime the state had given her had gone directly to them for their needs and education. Each girl had had her own bank account and had been encouraged to save as much as possible from a young age.

  Jenna had taken Mrs. Green’s encouragement to heart. She’d wanted a better life, and she’d been willing to work for it. She’d earned scholarship money, along with money from various jobs. She hadn’t stopped until her dreams had come true, but it hadn’t been easy.

  Many times, she’d grown tired of the long hours and endless studying, but she hadn’t quit. Jenna was proud that she hadn’t let anything or anyone stop her from reaching her goals. And Jenna was so grateful that Mrs. Green had been there to see her college graduation before taking ill.

  “I don’t want to think what our lives would have been like without our Mrs. Green. She made ladies out of all of us. Even Laura,” Sherri Ann teased.

  “Very funny. Unfortunately, true.” Laura laughed with them. She’d been a tomboy growing up, hating girly skirts and dresses. When they sobered, she said to Jenna, “I’m glad to have you home where you belong. Even though we talked on the phone during the time you were away, Sherri Ann and I missed you so much.”

  “Amen to that!” Sherri Ann reached out and squeezed Laura’s and Jenna’s hands. “We can start doing church and Sunday brunch again.” They all nodded their agreement.

  “I love this house. Jenna, you’ve done a great job,” Laura said over dessert.

  The hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms were covered in matching cream floral rugs with touches of pink and purple, which Jenna had found in a hotel liquidation shop. Drapes and pillows were in Jenna’s favorite color of vibrant purple. And the sofa, love seat, and two comfortable armchairs were covered with tailored cream slipcovers that Jenna had made herself. The coffee tables and end tables had been rescued from a curb side. Jenna had stripped and varnished them to a rich walnut.

  “Thanks. I love it, although I still have a lot to do, but I’ll get to it.” Just then the telephone rang. “Excuse me.”

  Jenna hurried into the kitchen and picked up the extension on the wall. When she returned several minutes later, she was shaking.

  “What’s wrong?” both foster sisters asked at the same time. They waited anxiously,
looking into hazel eyes that were filled with tears. All else was forgotten.

  Before Jenna could clear her throat of tears enough to respond, Sherri Ann demanded, “Was that your ex?”

  “Why would she cry over that jerk?” Laura asked, a surprising comment coming from a woman who adored men and readily admitted that for her only a rich man would do.

  “Scott’s not a jerk! He’s just a liar who didn’t keep his promise. Besides, we have to be fair. She left him, not the other way around,” Sherri Ann reminded her friend.

  “This isn’t about Scott!” Jenna interrupted excitedly. “I just got a call from Jack Collagen, the private investigator. He hasn’t found my family yet, but he does have some information.”

  Sherri Ann had recommended Jack Collagen, who had done work for her law firm. “I’m not surprised,” she put in. “Collagen is opinionated and macho but good.”

  “So what did he say?” Laura quizzed.

  “Mr. Collagen has some information about my parents. He’s e-mailing the report. Sorry, I cried. I’m just a little emotional tonight. Naturally, I’ve always wanted to know why they left us. All I know is that my father left first. Then my mother tried to care for us, but she disappeared. I don’t think there is a reasonable explanation. It hurt then, and it hurts now. I don’t care what he says—nothing in his report will change that.”

  Laura and Sherri Ann nodded in understanding. Each had been disappointed by parents who hadn’t lived up to the label. All three had been left to the state’s foster care system at far too young an age.

  Jenna smiled. “At least I know who my real family is, even if my brother and sister don’t share the same last name.”

  Sherri Ann said, “You’re not alone. You will always have us. We’ve been each other’s family for over twenty-five years. And that’s not about to stop now.”

  They were her sisters of the heart, and they had grown up together, only a few months apart in age. They’d been six when they’d met in Mrs. Green’s living room. Both Laura and Sherri Ann had been in other foster homes.

  “Let’s hope the report will give you some answers,” Sherri Ann remarked.

  “Sherri Ann is right. No matter what, we have each other. We’re not only best friends, we’re sisters!”

  “Group hug,” Laura called out.

  Jenna blinked away her tears. Just knowing that both ladies were in her corner was enough. No matter what secrets were revealed in that report, life was good. And hopefully it was only a matter of time until she could find her brother and twin sister.

  “No more beating around the bush. Tell us about Scott. I saw that look on your face when I mentioned his name. Have you seen him, Jenna Marie? Talked to him? Did Taylor give him your number?” Laura looked at her pointedly.

  Jenna reluctantly admitted, “I saw him.” Knowing Laura wasn’t going to stop until she had a full explanation, she said, “I ran into Scott at the cafe near campus. I don’t think I’ve ever been more embarrassed in my life.” She covered her face with her hands, recalling her shame.

  “What do you mean? What do you have to be embarrassed about, young lady? I know you were looking your best. Mrs. Green’s girls always look pulled together,” Sherri Ann boasted.

  Laura huffed, “I know that’s right!”

  “Believe me, I was mortified. Here I was at the checkout counter, looking good, without a quarter to my name.”

  “What!” the ladies yelled.

  “Stuck a twenty in my pocket, and evidently I lost it on the walk across campus. I was explaining to the cashier why I was leaving without lunch when Scott came up and paid for my meal. He’d been seated at one of the tables and saw the whole pitiful thing.” Jenna blushed, shaking her head.

  Her dear friends broke into a peal of giggles.

  “Well, thanks a lot!” Jenna snapped.

  “What did you say?” Sherri Ann asked.

  “What could she say but thank you and keep right on stepping with her lunch,” Laura quipped.

  Sherri Ann said, “For a woman who adores rich men, sometimes you can be so hard. Remind me not to make you mad.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes. “Do you want to hear this or not?” She didn’t bother to wait for a response but went on and told them about her lunch with Scott.

  Four

  It was Laura who prompted, “So how did he look? Still tall, dark, and absolutely gorgeous?”

  Jenna frowned. The man had always been easy on the eye. “He looks older and even better looking. Time has definitely been good to him. He has never had to do without female attention, that’s for sure.”

  “He had to do without you when he broke his promise to finish college and get married. I’d say it was his loss, not the other way around,” Laura emphasized.

  Jenna was glad to hear the reassurance. “It doesn’t really matter anymore. We’ve been over for a long time. And we both have focused on what we wanted out of life.”

  “I can’t help wondering why he has never married or even gotten engaged,” Laura confessed.

  “Why bother? We’ll never know.” Sherri Ann shrugged, “Like you said, he was the one who lost the prize. And what did he gain—fame and fortune. He’s been busy buying happiness. He probably can’t find a woman who really wants him.”

  “Why are we rehashing this? There is nothing to discuss!” Jenna snapped, suddenly tired of the discussion.

  “Huh-oh. What’s gotten into you? Why are you upset?” Sherri Ann quizzed.

  “I’m not upset! I’m just tired of this subject. First Taylor showing me pictures of him, then Scott on my case after running into each other, and now you guys want to hear about him. Enough already! I’d much rather discuss something that matters, such as how long before I hear word of Lincoln and Lenna.”

  Laura patted Jenna’s shoulder. “Hopefully it will be soon. Try not to worry.”

  “It’s going to work out. Collagen is the best. He’s worth every dime.” Sherri Ann surprised Jenna when she asked, “What do you mean Scott was on your case?”

  Before Jenna could respond to that question, Laura asked, “Does he want you back?”

  “No!” Jenna insisted.

  Laura demanded, “Then what?”

  “For some strange reason known only to him, he thinks we can go back to being friends. He gave me his cell and home telephone numbers. I guess he wants to hang out, I don’t know. Maybe talk about his new lady friends, but my answer was a big fat no. I’m not going backward. Life’s too short.”

  “Maybe he wants to hook up?” Laura surmised.

  “Wow!” Sherri Ann said. “From what I understand, the sex between you two was very good!”

  Jenna screeched, “I don’t believe you said that! I never told either one of you about what happened in bed between Scott and me.”

  “So what? We’re not stupid. We knew what put that sappy smile on your face, girlfriend,” Laura teased.

  “I repeat, I’m not going backward. Once was enough. Nor do I want to share a man. And with him it’s definitely about being added to his long list of conquests,” Jenna snapped. She had no regrets. She enjoyed deciding what was best for her, and she was proud of her accomplishments. She had done well without Scott in her life. She didn’t need or want him back.

  “All I know is, this is the most you talked about the man since you broke up. Did you hear that, Laura? Our girl isn’t interested in second place,” Sherri Ann said playfully.

  “Yeah. You go, Ms. Gaines.”

  “So now that’s settled, let’s talk about important stuff. Are there any single men on the faculty?
” Sherri Ann quizzed.

  Jenna joined in the laughter. “A few,” she hedged, certain the last thing she needed right now was a relationship to complicate her life. But male friends were a good thing. She had been pleased to see Jackson Knight, a familiar face, at the faculty dinner party.

  Jackson was a few years older, and the two of them had once worked together at the university’s computer lab. Jenna had been completing her undergraduate degree while he’d been finishing his master’s degree. Over the years, Jackson had gone on to finish his studies, had taught at an Ivy League school, before he obtained tenure and now taught engineering classes at the U of D-Mercy.

  “Well?” Laura and Sherri Ann demanded.

  “I ran into an old friend at a faculty event.” Jenna went on to explain that she and Jackson were merely friends, and they’d gone out a few times. There wasn’t really anything to talk about.

  Jenna was relieved when Laura changed the subject by telling them about the mentoring project she was starting for teen girls in foster care at the women’s center.

  After her foster sisters had gone, Jenna went to check her e-mail and found the update the private investigator had left for her. He revealed what she’d long suspected: that both her parents were dead. She was, nonetheless, saddened by the details. Fred Gaines and Jennifer Haynes Gaines had been college lovers. They’d married because Jennifer had become pregnant, but things had gone sour for them. Fred had not been prepared to deal with the responsibility of supporting a family. They’d both been only children, and both sets of parents—Jenna’s grandparents—had also been deceased. From what Collagen could find, there had indeed been no stray aunts and uncles or cousins to be found. Jenna’s father, Fred, had been killed in a car crash less than a year after he’d walked out on his family.

  She also discovered that her mother had died from a deadly combination of alcohol and pills. No one knew if her death had been an accident or suicide. Collagen also reported that Jennifer had been hospitalized for depression a brief time after her husband had left her to raise their three children alone.