Read Online Already Home by Susan Mallery - Free Book Online

slowly. “What can we do with them?”
    â€œHealthy, organic cooking,” Violet said immediately. “Maybe classes on baby food or what to feed toddlers. Remember that cookbook on burying vegetables into regular food? Something like that.”
    â€œI like it,” Jenna said. “We could also feature a different cookbook every week. Cook two or three recipes. That would encourage people to try different styles of cooking.” Plus it would be safe for her. Someone else’s recipe.
    â€œAnd give us a chance to sell specialty cooking items,” Violet added. “Woks, different pans. That kind of thing, not to mention the cookbooks themselves. Oh, and don’t forget the singles.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? Cooking for one? Isn’t that kind of sad?”
    Violet laughed. “Yes, but those of us who live alone have to eat, too.”
    â€œI live alone,” Jenna said. “I just whip up something.”
    â€œThat’s because you know how. Those of us who aren’t blessed with your cooking background are forced to eat frozen dinners night after night. If we advertised that class in the right places, we could get a lot of people. Meeting someone in a cooking class is a whole lot more appealing than meeting someone in a bar.”
    â€œSure,” Jenna said. Singles. She never would have thought of that. But it made sense.
    They continued brainstorming. Violet suggested a website.
    â€œI know a guy who does decent work for not a lot of money,” she said. “Want me to have him write up a proposal?”
    â€œYes. My online experience is limited to finding professional cookware on sale.”
    By eleven, they had a master plan in place. Violet left to talk to the web guy and set up the newspaper advertising. Jenna investigated cookbooks, and came up with a cooking class schedule. She also bit the bullet and bought a large refrigerator for the back room. If they were going to sell perishables, she would need a place to store them.
    She drove to the small print shop her mother had recommended and ordered flyers, copies of recipes, raffle tickets, and discussed the cost of getting custom-screened aprons with the store’s logo. At quarter to five, she returned to the store to find Violet laying printouts of an initial web design on the counter.
    â€œHe was bored,” Violet said cheerfully. “I love it whenthat happens. He threw this together in about an hour and I have to say I think it’s great.”
    Jenna bent over the different pages. The design was clean, the colors bright. On the side and top were navigation buttons for recipes, cookware, gadgets and more.
    They played with the design and made a few changes.
    â€œWhat about this?” Violet asked. “Move this button here?” She’d barely finished speaking when her stomach growled.
    Jenna stared at her. “Didn’t you stop for lunch?”
    â€œNo. I was busy.”
    Jenna stacked the papers together. “We’ll finish this tomorrow. You’ve already put in a full day. You need to eat. Go on. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    Violet hesitated. “Want to get a margarita at Dos Salsas?”
    The invitation was unexpected. Jenna instantly felt both awkward and shy. It had been years since she’d made a new friend, she thought. Most of the people she worked with in restaurants were guys, and the friends in her life had all been Aaron’s. She certainly hadn’t kept in touch with her friends from here—her uncomfortable coffee date had proven that.
    She wanted to say it was their fault, but she hadn’t called, either. The question was why. Another area that required self-exploration, she told herself. Why had meeting Aaron and getting involved with him changed her so much? It was like he was a star in the heavens and she was simply a circling planet.
    â€œIt wasn’t supposed to be a hard question,” Violet said quietly.