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his mouth into a frown.Back to her husband hunting, huh?
    * * *
    A few minutes later, Jenna stopped by her apartment to grab her notebook for her class, but as soon as she opened the door, she heard the faint peal of the phone, so she ran to answer it. "Hello."
    "Jenna, it's Jeff. How's it going?"
    "Hey, Jeff." Jenna relaxed in one of her kitchen chairs, grateful to hear her brother's voice. She missed her family and couldn't wait until the holidays when they all congregated. "Things are good here. What's up with you and that wife of yours?"
    "That's what I called to tell you—Amy's pregnant!"
    "What?" Jenna whooped with excitement. "That's fantastic, Jeff. When's the baby due? How's she feeling? Do Mom and Dad know?"
    "Whoa, slow down, sis."
    "Come on, don't leave me hanging here."
    Jeff laughed and she heard Amy in the background whispering something to him.
    "Jeff!"
    "Okay, okay. Let me see—baby's due in March, Amy's feeling fine, just tired and she can't stand the sight of eggs, and yes, Mom and Dad know."
    Jenna sighed blissfully. "I bet they're so excited they can't stand it. This will be the first grandchild."
    Jeff hesitated, uncertainty filling his voice. "I know. And you're okay with that, Jen?"
    "Of course I'm okay with it. I'm ecstatic! I'm going to be an aunt, and I can babysit when I come down. I've been practicing on my friend's little boy Henry S." Jenna twisted the phone cord around her fingers. "I'm hoping I won't be far behind you two either."
    "Yeah?" Jeff paused. "What are you keeping from me, sis—a new man in your life?"
    "Not yet," Jenna said dreamily. "But I'm working on it. I'm determined to find a husband this year, a man who wants a home, family, the works. Just like you and Amy have." And Casey had with Gabe and Henry S.
    "I want that for you, too, Jen." Jeff exhaled and Jenna recognized the wariness in her brother's voice, so she braced herself for another brotherly lecture.
    It didn't take long in coming. "Look, Jen, be careful out there, okay?"
    "I will, Jeff. I'm twenty-seven years old—I'm not your kid sister any more."
    "You'll always be my kid sister, whether you like it or not." Jeff's tone sounded strained. "And you're vulnerable, so don't hook up with any strange guys in bars or isolated places—"
    "Jeff, I'm not stupid. I've been managing on my own for a while now."
    "And don't trust a guy who gives you a line—"
    "Jeff, stop it." Jenna's temper rose. "You've always been overprotective, but you don't have to be. I can take care of myself."
    Jeff paused, and Jenna realized he was probably remembering the high school guys who'd tried to take advantage of her. And that stupid bet two of the boys had made...
    Then J.L., a psych major in college she'd fallen for. A guy who'd broken her heart when he'd admitted he'd only dated her because he'd felt sorry for her.Jeff had always watched over her.
    But she'd finally decided that as long as she allowed him to play bodyguard and smother her, she would never earn anyone's respect.
    Not even her own.
    They talked for another few minutes, and she promised to visit home soon and keep him posted. But as she ended the call, she fought a bout of homesickness. She missed her family, but she had good friends here.
    Besides, she'd had to break away from family and build her own life here. She refused to let her hearing impairment keep her from being independent.
    And she would never give that up that independence, not even in marriage. She'd find someone to respect her for who she was.
    At least she hoped she would find someone.
    Because as much as she liked her independence, she wanted her own family someday. A child of her own to love and nurture...
    But she might have to accept the fact that she could end up alone.
    That there might not be anyone out there for her...

Chapter 4

     
    Zack's preliminary sketches weren't perfect—but at least he had an excuse to see Jenna again.
    He fumbled with his artist's portfolio as he extracted his long legs