Page 56 of Marrying Bonnie

“When was that?”

Noel didn’t meet his eyes. “Yesterday morning.”

Jace set his mug down on the table more loudly than he’d intended. Black liquid sloshed over the side to pool beneath the mug. “And you didn’t think to tell me? I’ve been worried about her since she left!”

“Don’t yell at me, Jace. I’m trying to stay out of all this. She needs space, you’ve made it clear you don’t want to talk about it. I’m trying to do right by both of you.” She sighed and dropped her toast onto a paper towel. “She ran away, and you’re hiding. You two are quite the pair.”

He started to argue with her but couldn’t. Did Noel really think he was hiding? Maybe it was time to change that.

“I’m going to wake Gunner up so we can get dressed and go to church.” He hoped Bonnie would be there. But even if she didn’t go, he needed to do something. “You coming?”

Noel tried to hide her smile behind a hand but failed miserably. “Of course.”

“Good.”

An hour later, Jace walked into church with Gunner in his arms and Noel by his side. They got the little boy set up in his class and walked into the worship hall. Jace immediately spotted Wyatt, Chrissy, and Gran, but Bonnie wasn’t there.

He hadn’t realized how much he’d hoped to see her there until the disappointment settled over him. Chrissy glanced back and saw them. She leaned in to whisper to Wyatt who turned and looked as well. He got up and strode toward them, his hand outstretched. “Jace. Glad you guys came back.” He smiled at Noel. “There are some empty seats in our row, I hope you’ll join us.”

Noel thanked him and moved down the aisle to find a seat.

“You don’t mind?” For some reason, Jace had half expected Wyatt to be angry at him on his sister’s behalf. But if anything, Wyatt only appeared concerned if not a little amused.

“Not at all. Look, Bonnie’s always needed space like this when she’s trying to decide what to do. It can be annoying.” Wyatt’s eyes twinkled. “She’s sorting through some things today and will be back at the ranch tonight. Just don’t give her too much space after that, huh?” The worship team began to play as Wyatt clapped Jace on the shoulder. “We’d better go sit down.”

Jace nodded and followed as he mulled over the other man’s words. Was he telling Jace to go over and talk to Bonnie as soon as she got back? A spark of hope ignited inside him as he joined the congregation in song.

* * *

Bonnie had calledher parents on Saturday morning to make sure both of them were home together. Dad was off at the country club, and Mom had a meeting to play bridge with some of her friends. Bonnie ended up having to schedule an appointment with them for Sunday afternoon. Instead of letting herself sit around Wyatt’s house, she’d joined him at the stables on Saturday. Then she and Chrissy baked cookies as well as cinnamon scones.

Bonnie did opt to stay home from church while her brother and sister-in-law went. Maybe she was a coward, but she couldn’t quite make herself go, knowing it was possible she could run into Jace there. She was going to have to face him eventually, but she’d prefer to not do that in public.

While they were gone, she spent some time reading and praying. She wanted to be able to talk to her parents without getting angry, and that was never easy. She needed to spend some time praying for the right words and a great deal of patience.

Now she stood outside her parents’ estate and stared up at its massive double front door of a house that’d never felt like home.

Nell answered the door and welcomed Bonnie in with a smile. “Hi, Bonnie. Come on in, sweetie. Your parents wanted to meet you in the sitting room.”

Even though Bonnie knew every nook and cranny of the house, she followed Nell and then politely sat on the rather uncomfortable couch. “Thank you, Nell.”

“You’re welcome. They should be here shortly.”

Bonnie clasped her hands in her lap, set them down on the couch cushion, and finally stood up again and paced over to the fireplace. An oil painting of their family hung over the mantel. She clearly remembered when the photo was taken that would later be used by the artist. No one was smiling. Mom had been stressed the whole day, while Dad had threatened all of the kids with any number of punishments if they didn’t cooperate for the photo. And unlike most family photos, they were told not to smile. It was probably the easiest rule to follow that day.

Her parents entered the room then. Instead of the normal hug Bonnie might have expected, Mom motioned to the couch. “It was a surprise to hear from you, Bonnie. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable?” Mom waved Nell over. “Would you please ask Leo to take my daughter’s gifts and load them in the trunk of her car?” Then she motioned to Bonnie. “Give Nell your keys.”

Bonnie might have argued except she did want her gifts. She handed the keys over to Nell. “Thank you.”

The three of them sat in silence for several moments. With the way Mom and Dad kept staring at her, they were obviously waiting for her to speak first.

She’d rehearsed things in her head a dozen times. But now that she was here, she struggled with how to start. Especially when they watched her like that–as if they were only humoring her.God, give me the right words to say, and please let them be receptive to them.

“Look, I know I disappointed both of you when I decided not to continue working for you. I know it isn’t what you wanted.” She swallowed. “But you have to understand that, for better or worse, I inherited your stubborn personality traits even if I’ve chosen not to inherit your money.” She smiled sincerely, hoping it would soften the blow of her words. “I’m thirty-two years old. I have a job I love, a life I’m happy living, and I don’t deserve to be treated like a child anymore.”

Dad’s jaw clenched, and Mom leaned forward, fire in her eyes. “I don’t understand how you can be this unappreciative. We gave you everything you could possibly want. Why do you turn away from us like this?”

“I wish you could see that I’m not turning away from you. I love you both. I’ll always be your daughter. But you’ve never understood me. I’m not sure you’ve ever tried.” She shrugged sadly. “I hate sushi. I hate big gatherings where I’m the center of attention. And I’ve hated them since I was a child. But that doesn’t matter.”

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