Page 57 of Marrying Bonnie

“Sometimes you have to do things you don’t enjoy.” Dad’s voice was serious, as though he were talking about the weather.

“You’re right, Dad. But on my own birthday? It’s like you guys don’t even know me.” Bonnie couldn’t understand why this was so difficult for them to grasp. She took in a slow breath. “I love being a nanny. I like making a difference in a kid’s life and being the person he can count on each day. And I’m truly okay with not getting rich doing it. What is so wrong with that?”

Neither of her parents said a word. Instead, they looked at her as though she’d just announced she was an alien from another planet and had replaced their daughter years ago. She wished one of them would say something.

Since it didn’t appear that they were going to, Bonnie continued. “I think I’ve finally realized that I can’t force you to be happy with my life decisions. I can, however, ask that you respect them.” She slowly drew in a breath. “I want you both to be in my life. But my inability to separate myself from your criticism may have cost me a future with Jace. That one’s on me. However, I can’t afford to let your negativity color my life anymore. If you can’t change, it’ll mean we’re going to see each other a lot less often. And that’ll be on you.”

Both of her parents rose to their feet. Even Mom, the picture of poise, looked uncertain. Bonnie almost felt sorry for them. Because while they might be confused or conflicted, Bonnie felt better than she had in a long time when it came to her parents.

Just when she didn’t think either of them were going to respond, Mom said, “I’d truly forgotten you disliked sushi. However, I…admit…it was simply what I’d wanted to serve, and I didn’t think to ask you what you would prefer.” Her voice was quiet. “If it makes you feel any better, I made sure the cake was chocolate since that is your favorite.”

Bonnie smiled at her. “Thank you. It truly was a delicious cake.”

She wanted them to apologize. To say they’d change, or at least admit they needed to work on some things. When they said nothing else, she took her cue from them. After retrieving her bag, she lifted her hand in a sad farewell, and headed for the front door. Nell met her there with Bonnie’s car keys.

“Thank you, Nell.”

When she finally climbed into her car, she let out a lungful of air and sank into the seat. That could’ve gone a lot worse. It was probably as close to an apology as she would ever get from her mom.

She checked the time. It was late enough now that it was nearly time for dinner. She knew Wyatt and Chrissy were dying to hear how the visit went. She’d go eat dinner with them, get back to the ranch late tonight, and then convince Jace to talk to her tomorrow.

Bonnie wasn’t sure what she wanted to say to him, all she knew was that she’d regret it if she didn’t give them a chance.

* * *

It wasafter eleven before Bonnie turned onto Jace’s property. Despite everything that’d happened over the last two days and not knowing how things were going to turn out with Jace, many of the worries that had been weighing on her drifted away the moment she drove onto the ranch.

The lights were on in the main house. Someone was awake. She wished she could go over and talk to Jace now, but she didn’t want to risk disturbing anyone. Besides, she didn’t regret leaving Clearwater this late. She, Wyatt, and Chrissy had fun eating dinner, playing a video game, and laughing. Oh, she hadn’t laughed that much in a long time. It was exactly what she’d needed.

She’d try to sleep, get up for work tomorrow, and pray Jace was open to what she had to say.

She pulled her car around and parked it in front of the garage. Only then did she remember the boxes of birthday gifts in the trunk. Between them and Oreo’s cage in the backseat, she’d be making several trips. “I’m going to take my bag and these leftovers in first, Oreo. I’ll come back for you in a few minutes.” The guinea pig only shuffled around in her cage.

Bonnie slung her bag over her shoulder, got out of the car, and reached for her keys. She put one hand on the doorknob to the garage and went to unlock it only to discover that someone had already done so. She was sure she’d locked it on Friday. Someone else had to have come in for something between then and now. She cautiously pushed the door open.

“Hello? Jace, is that you?” When no one answered, she took a tentative step inside, noting that only one light in the back was on. She reached over and flipped the switch that would turn on the overhead light as well.

In a hurry to get everything unloaded so she could kick off her shoes, Bonnie turned to go up the stairs to her apartment. It wasn’t until her foot touched the first step that movement caught her eye from the other side of the garage. Her head turned, and as soon as it did, a shadow shifted.

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end at the same time as the hair on her arms. It was then that she noticed most of the large tools in the garage were missing. In addition to that, several large boxes sat open on the concrete floor, items filling them to overflowing.

Someone was stealing all of Jace’s grandpa’s tools!

“I thought you quit.” A voice from the shadows filled the garage—a man’s voice Bonnie recognized but couldn’t quite place. The shadow shifted and the man stepped into the light.

“Cabe?” Disbelief stunned Bonnie. “What are you doing?” Surely there had to be an explanation. She wanted to believe maybe he’d interrupted the robbery, but the large toolbox he carried spoke otherwise.

Cabe gave her a grim look as he set the toolbox into one of the boxes. “You shouldn’t have come back.”

Instinct kicked in. Bonnie gripped the rails and tried to dash up the stairs to her apartment. She’d barely touched the doorknob, much less had a chance to get her keys in the lock, when footsteps bounded up the stairs.

Before she could turn, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. A combined scent of motor oil and manure surrounded her as Cabe dragged her back down the stairs again. “I’m afraid I can’t let you call Jethro’s precious grandson,” the man’s voice dripped with sarcasm and echoed near her ear.

Once at the bottom of the stairs, Cabe pushed her against one wall of the garage. The sneer on his face combined with the wild look in his eyes and made him nearly unrecognizable.

Bonnie stepped away from the wall, only to be shoved against it again. This time, the back of her head struck the wall behind her, causing pain in her teeth.

Cabe thought for several moments before smiling, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “On second thought, this is perfect. I heard a rumor that you were quitting after getting into a fight with the boss.” The last word was spoken with disgust. “You got upset and decided to get even with him.” He grabbed her roughly by the wrists and dragged her toward a utility closet at the back of the garage.

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