John:I’ll be in town this weekend. Can we meet? I’d like to talk.
I leave him on read because I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with him right now. Blowing him off isn’t really an option because I have a ring to return. I bet Paisley would handle that for me.
I dial Parker, and he picks up after the first ring. “Hi. What’s up?”
“I have a flat tire.”
“You at the clinic?”
“Yes. Parked in the back. I can call someone. I just...” When I need help, I call Parker.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Thanks. Maybe tonight we can go for a drive.” I’ve missed sliding up next to him and forgetting the rest of the world exists.
“I’d like that. See you soon, Bonny Blue.”
Chapter 32
Parker
Ishould be out doing something since it’s Saturday and my to-do list is done. But I’m not in the mood to hear Dag ramble about how amazing that birthday party will be. Mason went with Kent and Poppy to the zoo. And Bluebonnet is having lunch with Paisley again. She’s been getting together with my sister a lot lately.
Wallowing in frustration, I’m flopped on the couch, hoping Ava has comfort food on the menu for dinner. I need it.
A knock sounds. Then Mom’s voice rings out. “Open up. It’s me.”
I pull open the door. “Hi. Bluebonnet’s not here. She’s out with Paisley.”
“I know. I came to see you.” She stretches up and wraps me in a tight hug. “Brought you some chocolate chip cookies. Pulled them out of the oven right before I walked out the door.” She hands over a container. “How are you?”
The aroma of the cookies has my mouth watering. “Good.”
“Baloney. You haven’t come by the house in almost a month. You’ve sent my calls to voice mail the last two weeks.” She pulls a cup out of the cabinet and fills it with milk. “Here. Have some milk and cookies while you talk to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
My mom is laid-back and never intrusive. She thinks her kids are the best of the best and makes sure we know that. Having her show up unannounced and order me around is a bit of a wake-up call. I trust Mom enough to be honest with her.
“I’m sorry. Things have been strained since—you know. And I’m not sure where I stand with Bluebonnet. We’re like roommates, and I could be handling it better. There are moments when I think we’ll be okay—like when we went for a drive last night—but then she pulls back again.” The sweetness of the cookie does little to wash away the sour taste of the truth.
“Sweetheart, marriage takes work, communication. She’s hurting, and so are you. But don’t give up. Talk to her.”
“I feel guilty for feeling bad about what happened. She’s the one who suffered through this, so I’ve made sure she doesn’t know that I’m sad that we won’t be raising a child together. I guess I didn’t realize how excited I was until I found out it wasn’t happening.”
“Maybe you should tell her. She might think you’re relieved that there isn’t going to be a baby. And...” She holds up a finger, giving me a knowing look. “She probably already knows you aren’t happy but may not know the reason. She might think you aren’t happy because you don’t want to be with her anymore since the baby was the excuse you used to propose.”
“It wasn’t an excuse.”
“Yes, it was. Your feelings for her were there long before she told you about the baby. She could’ve had twenty-five housecats and insist they all sleep with her at night, and you’d still want to marry her.” Mom flashes a smile. “Am I right?”
“Sleeping with twenty-five cats is a bit extreme, but you aren’t wrong. However, there is one reason I wouldn’t want to be married to Bluebonnet.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because it makes her unhappy. And I’m afraid that’s what’s happening. She didn’t choose me, Mom. She ended up with me. And what if she regrets it?”
“Ask her.”
