Already Home by Susan Mallery Page A

doctor friend. The one who didn’t get involved and was supposed to be a god in bed. Probably not a news item to share with her mother.
    â€œI’m considering it,” she admitted. “Violet says I need a rebound guy.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Beth said thoughtfully, dropping the bag of cookies into her purse.
    â€œYou know what a rebound guy is?”
    â€œI have cable. I know things.”
    Jenna laughed. “I’m sure you know more than me.” The laughter faded. “I know I need to get out there. I still want to meet someone great and fall in love. Have a family. My biological clock is ticking, but I also don’t want to make another mistake. I always thought I’d have what you and dad have.”
    â€œEvery relationship is different.”
    â€œAaron was a bad choice. I see that now. I don’t regret the divorce, I don’t want to be with him, but all that time is lost and I can’t get it back.”
    â€œYou’re thirty-two. You have lots of time.”
    â€œIt doesn’t feel that way. The girls I was friends with in high school are all married with kids.”
    â€œYou went a different way. You wanted a career.”
    Which was true but also surprising, considering Beth had always stayed at home. Jenna had loved her mother and hadn’t been looking for a way to rebel. Maybe she was just different.
    â€œYou’ll find your own happy ending,” Beth told her. “No one path is right for everyone. We all make compromises.”
    â€œYou didn’t compromise. You wanted to be a wife and a mother and you are.”
    â€œI wanted more children,” Beth said. “I wanted a big family.”
    Jenna had forgotten that. Beth had been in a bad horse back riding accident when she’d been young. The resulting injuries and surgery had left her damaged enough that it was unlikely that she could ever have children. She’d explained her situation to Marshall on their third date and had bravely told him she would understand if he didn’t want to see her again. A man like him wanted sons of his own.
    Jenna had heard the story a dozen times. He’d dropped Beth off at her sorority house and had been back first thing in the morning. He’d taken her in his arms, brushed away her tears and told her he loved her. That they would adopt. They’d started the process the day after they’d returned from their honeymoon.
    Less than six months after their marriage, they’d been given Jenna.
    â€œYou should have adopted more,” she said gently, touching her mother’s arm.
    â€œIn hindsight, maybe. But I’d heard so many stories about women who adopted, then got pregnant.”
    Which had happened, Jenna thought sadly. Beth’s body had figured out a way to get pregnant but carrying to term had been impossible. She’d miscarried half a dozen times over several years.
    Beth and Marshall had then turned to adoption again, only to have two pregnant teens change their minds at the last minute. From what Jenna had figured out, they’d stopped trying to adopt after that.
    â€œWe were grateful to get you,” Beth said. “We stopped with perfection.”
    â€œI’m not perfect, Mom. You know that.”
    â€œI disagree. You were never like other teenagers. You didn’t talk back, or turn surly.”
    â€œWhat about the year I refused to clean my room?”
    â€œEasy stuff when compared to drugs or sleeping around.”
    Jenna widened her eyes. “Mom, I slept with the entire football team. Didn’t you know?”
    Beth grinned. “Uh-huh. I don’t think so.”
    Her mother was right, Jenna thought. She’d loved her parents, had enjoyed her life. Only once had she acted out in teenage rebellion. It had been because she’d been grounded for a weekend after breaking curfew. Sure her “real” parents would understand her better, she’d decided to