Jenny had met Maggie Benedict, and she was as much in the loop about things as anyone in Lusty. So she knew the B&B was never booked solid. And being a waitress at one of the two major eateries in the vicinity, she had knowledge, as well. No, not knowledge, resources.
“I don’t think so. I actually have the number in my phone.” She accessed her contact list and then read the number to her mother.
“This is definitely proof our visit was meant to be. We’ll see you next Thursday, sweetheart. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Mom. See you then.”
Despite the fact that her mom had assured her that there was no special reason her parents were coming to Lusty to see her, Jenny felt unsettled. She’d gone to her folks’ at least once a month since she moved first to Waco and then to Lusty.
She’d worked two jobs—here at the roadhouse and also at the chain restaurant beside the Green Gables motel out on the highway since relocating to Waco. When Angela had put her on full time, she’d quit her other job, happy to settle here and begin to sink down roots.
Her mother was a great believer in fate and in things happening as they should and for a reason, a belief she’d passed on to her daughter. Jenny recalled the time, when she was about fourteen and her hormones were messing with her emotions, that she’d asked her mom if she’d ever regretted having to “settle” for an adopted daughter instead of birthing one of her own. She’d never forget her mother’s response.
“Settle? We most certainly did not settle. The moment I laid eyes on you, I understood why your father and I hadn’t been blessed with a baby of our own blood. We were meant to have you, the baby of our hearts. You were then, and continue to be, our best, our greatest blessing in this life.”
That had been the moment she’d set aside those niggling thoughts of “what if.” She’d had a friend in grade school who’d also been adopted. Petra had always believed her adoptive parents had stolen her from some great, unknown, bedazzled future. Petra’s adoptive parents had told her that she’d been abandoned, but for some reason, her young friend had clung to her fantasy instead of accepting the truth. Jenny knew that likely listening to Petra when she was younger had contributed to that vague sense she’d felt until the day of her mother’s heartwarming reassurance.
Jenny knew how lucky she was to even be alive, and after she understood how deeply her parents loved her, she was able to move on, emotionally. She didn’t know why her birth mother had died. She didn’t know much about the young woman except her name had been Mandy and she’d been young and alone in the world. She was grateful to Mandy for allowing her to have been born in the first place, and she was grateful to have been adopted by her parents.
“You’re looking thoughtful,” Laci said. Jenny looked up and smiled at her boss. “I am, a little. Just finished speaking with my mom.”
“Anything wrong?”
“I don’t think so. She says not. But she also says they’re coming for a visit next Thursday. I gave them the number of the B&B, as they wanted to stay overnight and spend Friday with me, too.”
“I can give you Friday off as one of your vacation days, if you like.” Laci grinned. “But there’s a catch. You have to come in at least one of those two days and bring your folks with you. I’d like to meet them.”
“Mom said they wanted to meet my friends, too, and see the town I now call home. So that’s easy enough to do.”
Laci nodded. “Have you told them anything about Lusty? I’m just wondering how shocked they’re likely to be when they come to town and realize things are a little different here.”
Jenny grinned. “Actually, yes, I did. It was an interesting discussion at the supper table that visit, not long after I started at the roadhouse.”
Laci grinned. “I just bet it was.”
Jenny grabbed her apron and ensured she had a fresh order pad and a good pen. She greeted the kitchen staff and then headed out to the dining room.
It didn’t take long for her to check her section, ensure that the tables were all clean and set and ready to receive guests. Finally, she logged into the order system then looked around to see if either Bailey or Laci needed help.