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be the last time she would have a civil conversation with any of the Rowan men, so she might as well try and look nice.
    “You look beautiful, Jenny,” her mother said, walking toward her down the hall from the kitchen. “That necklace you’re wearing…your father gave it to you.”
    “Yes, he did. It makes me feel a little closer to him.”
    “He loved you very much.”
    The last thing she wanted to do was start crying. She said, “You look nice, too.” Her mother did look lovely. She was quite striking when she dressed up and applied makeup. Their hair was the same color, except now that her mother dyed hers, it was a few shades lighter. She wore it in a short style that she said was easy to keep up. Jenny liked it. She could see why Dr. Rowan would be taken with her mother. However, in their youth, he had opted for another woman. Jenny still found her mother’s last revelation hard to accept. She hated that her father had been her mother’s second choice. Had he somehow known? Was that why he was so strict and unyielding at times?
    “Jenny,” her mother said, coming to stand beside her. “Are you okay? I mean I know this is an imposition for you. Putting on an act for my sake. I appreciate it that you agreed to go.”
    “I’m fine,” Jenny said, giving her mother’s hand a squeeze. “We’ll enjoy ourselves today.”
    “Yes, for today. Then it’s work and sacrifice. I know what I have to do.”
    “Let’s get this show on the road.” Jenny grabbed her car keys from the small hall table and opened the door for her mother.
    “I could drive if you want me to.”
    “That’s okay, Mom.” She smiled. As an afterthought she said, “At least the car is paid off.”
    Her mother’s face fell.
    “Mom, I’m sorry I said that. Let’s just go and forget our troubles for a few hours.”
     
    * * * *
     
    When they arrived at the Rowans’ sprawling farm, there were several expensive cars in the driveway including Adam’s Lexus. She pulled up behind it and turned off the engine. The house and grounds were well kept. The barns in the background were painted white and red to match the sprawling ranch house.
    Her mother knocked on the door that was immediately opened by Jack Rowan. He stood in the doorway with a broad smile that lit up his face. He was a rugged-looking man—well over six feet tall with a thick head of gray hair. Age had been good to him. The boys had gotten their height and good looks from him. If she remembered correctly, his wife, Abigail, was a petite little thing with golden-blonde hair she had worn long and straight. Her mother, tall like herself, was almost able to look him in the eye.
    She had always hated that she inherited her mother’s height. At five foot ten, she had never been considered cutesy like April Mathews who stood maybe five feet in her stocking feet with breasts as large as watermelons. Hers were large, but nothing like April’s. Stop it, she told herself. Why did she always feel the need to compare herself with a woman that had always made her feel in some way that she had gotten the short end of the stick.
    Jack gave her mother a warm hug and then turned his attention to Jenny. “Oh my, you have grown up since I saw you last,” he said with a smile. Turning back to her mother, he said, “You have a beautiful daughter.”
    “Thank you. She’s the light of my life. I can’t tell you how glad I am that she’s home.”
    “The boys were both quite taken with your daughter when she went out dancing with them the other night.” Directing his gaze to Jenny, he said, “I don’t think any of us have seen you since high school.”
    “You’re probably right,” Jenny said. “It’s been a long time.”
    “Well, you’re here now, and we’re happy to have you. Astrid has set the table, and the meal is just about ready.”
    Astrid, the housekeeper and cook, was still with them. She must be getting up there in years.
    “Let’s go into the living room,” he said,