He saw her again a week later.
He'd been running errands and stopped by the motel to find she'd checked out. For a moment, he stood outside the office, thinking. She could have had no luck finding work here, decided to catch another bus and moved on.
He hoped not.
He wandered the town centre, not sure of what kind of work she would have taken.
He found her in Millers.
She was stacking shelves, her attention focussed on the task in hand, so he headed that way.
He couldn't talk to her very much - not when the eagle eye of the manager was on the new employee – but he did manage to find out what time her shift ended and arrange that they go for coffee afterwards.
He was realising there was a lot more to her than just those amazing eyes. She was smart, tough, direct in what she said. She was determined to work hard at making a success of her new life here.
Driving home, he found it hard to keep his mind on the road.
X
That was the start of their dating and of his family's curiosity about her. Vicky was the first of the other Giobertis top meet her, turning up – he wasn't sure it was entirely by chance – when Jenny and he were having dinner. He had to admit that the first meeting didn't go entirely well. Vicky could be a bit sensitive – moody at times – and one thing he'd learnt about Jenny was that she didn't lie or compromise – she said what she thought. If you didn't like it – or her – too bad.
X
Inspite of that possible set-back, his parents hinted that he ought to invite her round on Sunday, since she was getting to be so much a part of his life. Vicky had sulked a bit but that didn't stop him extending the invitation.
And that did go well.
Dad and Jenny got talking about vineyards and wine production – about which she knew nothing. But her questions were intelligent to the point, and she seemed generally interested.
''Why don't you show Jenny round the place?'' Chase suggested, when they'd finished eating.
X
When the pair had gone, Vicky remarked ''She's a bit nosy, isn't she?''
Chase, who'd enjoyed their conversation, simply raised an eyebrow at his daughter.
Maggie was thinking. It wasn't that she didn't like the girl. The fact that her parents hadn't been married was hardly Jenny's fault. She admired Jenny's toughness, her courage, in setting out at a young age to make her own way in the world. But that brought her to the core of the problem. Jenny was strong – stronger than Cole. Sooner or later, that might become a problem.