Page 35 of Second Time Around

Eleven

As Jenna drove across town to Beck’s family home, she thought, Why on earth did Iagree to this? She considered turning around and canceling, but she couldn’t come up with a good excuse. Besides, she didn’t want to disappoint his parents. Knowing Barb, she’d gone all out with the lunch menu and had included some of Jenna’s favorites.

“It’s no big deal. You’ll get through this,” she said. “You’ve gone through a lot worse.” She vowed to focus on his parents and sister rather than the man who’d once torn her heart out. She’d make small talk, enjoy Barb’s home-cooked meal, and leave right after dessert. She could handle this.

Soon she was pulling into their driveway, just like she’d done as a high school senior. This time, though, she wasn’t driving a used Honda Civic that had seen better days. Now she drove an obnoxious (according to her sister) lime green Kia Soul.

She’d just shut off the car and stepped out when the front door opened and Beck came out. Had he been watching for her out the front window, like he had when they were teens? Don’t be silly.

“Hey,” he said, giving her a wide smile. “You made it.”

“Yep, and I didn’t even get a flat tire this time.”

He chuckled. “Come on in. My parents are anxious to see you.”

As she followed him onto the porch, she thought how eerily familiar this was. He’d almost always greeted her outside, mostly because he’d wanted to steal a kiss before they were surrounded by his family. This time, there would be no kissing, though—not today and not ever again.

When she stepped inside the two-story Colonial, it felt like she’d stepped back in time. To the right of the foyer was the staircase leading to the bedrooms. To the left was a formal living room, and straight ahead was the kitchen/dining room, with a more casual living space off to the right.

The paint and carpet were new, but she recognized some of the same furniture that had been there since high school. In fact, she and Beck had made out on that living room couch countless times…

“Still looks the same, huh?” he said, as if he could read her mind.

“Yeah,” she said, averting her eyes.

Just then, Barb came into the hallway with arms outstretched. “Oh, Jenna. It’s so good to see you.”

The next thing Jenna knew, Barb’s arms were around her and hugging her tight. She recognized Barb’s perfume as the fragrance she’d always worn. She also noticed the differences since she’d last seen her. Barb’s hair was much shorter and woven with strands of gray. She was also slimmer than she used to be, and Jenna wondered if she’d lost weight because of the cancer. Her throat grew tight at the thought of it.

“It’s great to see you too,” she said when Barb pulled back.

“Is that Jenna Young’s voice I hear?” Jim said as he joined them.

“Yes, sir,” she said with a smile. It was hard to be nervous around such kind, warm people like them.

“You’re an adult now. Call me Jim,” he teased as he pulled her in for a brief hug. Jim was a burly man with broad shoulders and a bit of a belly from his wife’s good cooking. He looked much the same, except he’d lost some hair on top. Still, seeing them both was like coming home.

Then Maggie rounded the corner. “Hey, Jenna. Glad you could come,” she said sweetly.

“Me too.” And in that moment, Jenna meant it.

“Let’s not stand here. Come on in. Lunch is almost ready,” Barb said.

“Can I help?” Jenna asked as they filed into the kitchen.

“Absolutely not. You’re our guest.”

Beck looked at her as if to say, I told you so. Then they stepped down into the family room and let Barb do her thing.

Jenna was flooded with memories as she glanced around the room. She and Beck, and sometimes their friends, had spent a lot of time here. A brick fireplace covered almost one wall, and it was flanked with built-in bookcases.

Before, the shelves had been filled with travel guides, nature books, and a variety of classics. Now Jenna noticed a whole shelf dedicated to romance novels, and she raised her brows. Had Barb always read romance, or was this something new? Maybe she’d used them as an escape during her illness.

“So, what have you been up to this past bunch of years,” Jim asked once they were all seated, “besides becoming an expert hairstylist.”

Somehow she’d ended up between Maggie and Beck, while Jim was sitting in his favorite black leather recliner.

Jenna froze. What could she say? She was single, childless, and had devoted the past twelve years to growing her business.