Can't Get Enough of You

Can't Get Enough of You

Bette Ford

Dedication

To my wonderful agent, Nancy Yost: You are the best

To my editor, Esi Sogah: Thanks for your invaluable help and insight on this project.

To my mother, Rosena Ford: Your love and faith keep me strong. To dear friends, Mary Pittman, Carla, Fredd, Francis Ray, and Beverly Jenkins: Your support and belief that I can do this one more time mean the world to me.

Special thanks to Angela Benson Campbell.

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

Contents

Dedication

One

I
t was a beautiful August day when Jenna Gaines said aloud, “I did it!” Laughing as tears streamed down her face, she slowly mounted the porch stairs not to a brand-new house but to her first real home.

The week had seemed to fly past, first with packing her tiny apartment in Greenwich Village, then going out with coworkers for dinner on Wednesday to celebrate her thirty-first birthday. A tall, striking, African-American beauty with caramel-toned skin, shoulder-length, dark brown, naturally wavy curls that framed her face, and large, hazel eyes, Jenna turned heads wherever she went. What a celebration it had been, her last day as a stockbroker and financial adviser on Wall Street.

She was tired, but it was the best kind of tired, because she had accomplished nearly everything she'd set out to do. With her dated car packed to the brim, she had set out early Thursday morning on the long drive back to her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, hopeful she would arrive ahead of the movers with her things. And she'd made it.

Jenna's hands shook as she tried and failed twice before successfully inserting the key into the locked front door. She raced inside to punch in the alarm's security code.

“I'm home!” she cried as she took in the hardwood floors, the large stone fireplace in the living room, and the curved picture window that faced the street.

But it wasn't about the beauty of a dining room that opened onto a small bricked patio and generous backyard. It wasn't just the small but charming kitchen that put a smile on her face. Jenna loved every square inch of the one-story home's nice-sized bedrooms and the small bonus room she planned to use as her home office.

It had taken years of hard work and sacrifices, all of which she'd done on her own. Having grown up in foster care, she was used to living modestly. What mattered was that she was finally where she belonged. Despite her fatigue, she couldn't hold in her excitement.

Soon she would be starting her dream job, teaching economics as a professor at her former college, University of Detroit-Mercy, where she had obtained both her undergraduate and her master's degrees.

It had taken four tough years in New York to make it happen, working at a well-paid job she'd hated, saving as much as she'd been able while investing wisely and finishing a doctorate. While all those accomplishments were extremely important, they didn't fill her to the point of bursting with happiness. The knowledge that she'd put her final goal into motion before she'd left New York had been like putting the finishing touch on a special cake.

At last Jenna had saved enough money to do what she had been longing to do for most of her life. Finally she would be able to follow her dream of reuniting her family. She hadn't seen her twin sister, Lenna, since they were five, or their older brother, Lincoln, since he was six.

Their father had left the family first, but when the state had been unable to find their mother when she'd left them alone, the Gaines children had been separated and placed in different homes. There hadn't even been a wayward relative to care for them. After years of searching, Jenna had learned that her siblings had both been adopted, while she'd remained in the foster care system until she was eighteen.

Jenna didn't resent her circumstances. In fact, she felt she had been fortunate. She had been placed in a good foster home. Mrs. Frances Green had been a wonderful foster care mother for the three little girls left in her care. Jenna, Sherri Ann Weber, and Laura Murdock had all been blessed with that special woman's care.

Jenna had often wondered why Mrs. Green had not adopted them. She suspected it was because of her advanced age. Most important was that Mrs. Green had loved and cared for them and kept them safe and off the streets. She was a remarkable woman, who had also inspired in them a will to succeed despite the odds against them.

At last, Jenna was back in Detroit, where she could be with her two very best friends and foster care sisters. The three had labeled themselves “fierce and fearless.” They'd refused to let their circumstances—being abandoned by the ones who should have cared for them—defeat or define them.

Yes, Jenna had been forced to make sacrifices over the years, including turning her back on the love of her life. She'd concentrated on her education and not letting anything—or anyone, for that matter—prevent her from obtaining her goals. And she wouldn't stop until she found her family. Someday soon there would be a Gaines family reunion.

“It won't be long now,” Jenna reassured herself as she went out to the car and found the box of cleaning supplies she'd brought with her. Hard work never hurt anyone, she decided with a determined sigh. Box by box she began unloading her car, bringing everything inside. Then she set to work cleaning.

The move back was only the beginning of a new life. She had so much to look forward to, no reason to look back to the time when she had been young and in love, foolishly listening to her heart and not using her head. She'd made mistakes. But that was all behind her.

When the movers pulled up to the house, she took it as a sign that everything would be fine. Things were going her way. Jenna had no regrets. She'd done what was best for her and not hurt anyone in the process.

She was beat by the time she finally climbed into her own freshly made bed that night. Her joy in her new job and pride in owning her very own home had not diminished. Jenna had come full circle. She was back where it had all begun.

“J
enna? Jenna Gaines, is that really you?”

Jenna didn't immediately move from where she was standing in the busy department store, selecting throw pillows to complement her drapes. Just for an instant, she found herself wondering how she could feel both happiness and dread at the same time.

Slowly, she turned, her smile genuine. “Taylor! How are you?”

Holding onto a baby stroller, Taylor Hendricks-Williams squealed with pleasure as she gave Jenna a one-armed hug. “It's so good to see you. Where have you been? I've tried to reach you so many times over the years. Are you back in Detroit for good?”

Jenna returned the warm squeeze, deeply touched by the other woman's love and thoughtfulness. They'd always had so much in common, both being high achievers who valued family.

“You look wonderful. And yes, I'm back. What about you and Donald? Are you here for a visit? And who is this?”

Thrilled to see each other after so many years, the two women laughed when they realized they were talking at the same time, asking but not answering any questions. At one time, they had been very close.

“You go first,” Taylor prompted.

As much as Jenna loved and admired Taylor, she didn't welcome the reminders of the man Taylor brought to mind. Her younger brother, Scott Hendricks, was the man Jenna had once loved with her whole heart.

Jenna knew it wouldn't be long until Taylor asked the question she didn't want to answer, or until she was told details that she would rather not know. Over the years, Jenna had gotten good at pushing away thoughts of her ex-love. She wanted to keep it that way.

“So tell me about this beautiful little doll baby?” Jenna dropped down to get a better look at the sleeping infant.

Taylor beamed. “Our daughter, Brianna. She's four months. We also have a son, Donnie, who's five years old.” She practically bubbled with happiness.

Jenna had been Taylor's maid of honor when she'd married the professional basketball player Donald Williams more than ten years ago. It had been a beautiful wedding, but it had taken all Jenna's strength to hide her own unhappiness that day. Since breaking off her relationship with Scott, she'd avoided him as much as possible. She hadn't seen him in years.

“Taylor, that's wonderful. Are you back in Detroit for good?”

She nodded. “Yes, we've been back for almost two years. After Donald retired from the Bulls, there was nothing keeping us there. The Detroit area has always been home. How about you?”

Jenna admitted, “I recently returned to the city to start teaching economics at our alma mater, University of Detroit-Mercy.”

“Oh, Jenna! That is great. You got your PhD?”

“Yes, I'm Dr. Gaines now. I was living, working, and going to school in New York City for the last four years.”

“I am so proud of you.” Taylor hugged her. “You've reached all your educational goals! And that is saying a lot, having started out as a foster kid.”

Jenna beamed, deeply touched, for she knew how sincerely the praise was given. “That means a lot to me coming from you,” she replied. “You were always so supportive. I've missed you so much.”

“Me, too. It has been so long, too long.”

The two looked into each other's eyes with sadness. They'd let the breakup come between them. They'd both missed out on so much of each other's lives. Jenna learned that Taylor had also gotten her master's and PhD. The two beamed, proud of each other.

“Do you have a half hour or so?” Taylor asked hopefully. “Can we go to the food court, to talk and catch up on each other's news?”

Jenna didn't have the heart to say no. She wanted to tell Taylor about her job and her hopes of finding her family. And she wanted to hear about Taylor's time in Chicago, her career goals, and her new home.

This was Taylor. She had always been kind to Jenna and treated her like family, which meant the world to Jenna. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Taylor's feelings.

“Yes, let's go. But I need to pay for these pillows. Be right back.” Jenna headed for the cashier.

The mall was busy with the typical Saturday afternoon crowd, many of whom were shopping for back-to-school clothes. Jenna's mind, however, wasn't on the crowd. Seeing Taylor had been like a warm hug, making Jenna feel as if she really was back home. She'd been away so long and was acutely aware of what she'd left behind. The hug had also left her feeling melancholy.

Memories she'd firmly pushed aside had returned tenfold when she'd driven through the neighborhood where she'd grown up and seen the old elementary and middle school she'd attended.

If only all the memories were that uncomplicated. She'd also seen the apartment building near campus where she had lived with Scott for a short time. Those bittersweet memories had overwhelmed her, until she'd forced herself to keep on driving and not stop. And now she was here with Scott's older sister.

“Ready,” Jenna said, even though her thoughts were filled with doubts of a past best left forgotten. Looking back would only bring back the pain and heartache. She didn't want to remember, but instead of making an excuse, she walked at Taylor's side and asked, “How are your parents?”

Taylor slowed before she revealed, “My father passed two years ago.”

“I'm so sorry. I had no idea,” Jenna said, saddened.

Taylor nodded her understanding. “He had suffered with breathing problems for years. And he went easily in his sleep.”

Jenna recalled that Taylor and Scott's parents had moved to Florida because of their father's severe asthma. Taylor, just out of college herself, had taken over caring for the then fifteen-year-old Scott so that he could finish high school in their hometown with his friends.

Jenna couldn't help wondering how Scott had taken the loss. They had been a close-knit family, and he had been especially close to his father. One of the things that had attracted Jenna to Scott was his love of family. Although she wondered about him, Jenna didn't feel she had the right to ask about Scott, considering she'd been the one to end their engagement.

Taylor went on to say, “My mother has also moved back to Detroit. She refused to move in with us, but she lives right next door. Donald's brother and sister also live nearby. I like the idea of my kids growing up around family.”

“That's wonderful.” Jenna had to bite her lip to keep from saying Scott's name. Deciding a change of topic was necessary, she approached the entrance to the food court and said, “It looks like we'll be lucky to get a table.”

“Do you remember how we used to have lunch at the tiny cafe across from the university? I wonder if it's still there?” Taylor asked with a smile.

Jenna nodded. “Sure is.”

They found a table near the outlet of a popular pizza parlor. Both of them ignored their menu and ordered antipasto salad, pizza, and a soft drink.

Once they were seated, Taylor reached into a large tote bag and pulled out a small digital photo album. “I won't bore you, I promise, but I want you to see our son. He looks like his dad.”

“Taylor, he's so cute. And you're right, he does look like Donald,” Jenna laughed. Glancing through the album, she nearly bit her tongue when she saw a smiling Scott holding his little niece and nephew. Time had been good to him. He was even better-looking, even with a clean-shaven head. Naturally, she'd seen photos of him in news and gossip magazines over the years, but this time was more jarring, perhaps because she knew Taylor was looking on.

Schooling her features, Jenna forced a smile. “The children are beautiful, Taylor. You have a wonderful family.”