Wyatt and Chrissy were so sweet. Not only did they let her stay with them for the weekend, but she’d been so exhausted when she arrived last night that they hadn’t pressed her for information. Instead, they’d made sure she had everything she needed, wished her goodnight, and then gave her space.
Space to cry. Space to feel rotten and wonder why everything happened the way it did. And then space to pray. She hadn’t received any perfect answer about what to do, but she had received some peace and sleep, both of which she’d desperately needed.
Bonnie looked around the spare bedroom. Wyatt and Chrissy had been using it as a combination study and storage room, although she knew they were eventually going to clean it out and use it as a nursery. That thought brought another round of pain as she thought about their loss.
Sounds coming from the kitchen told her at least one of them was already awake. She got up, grabbed some clothes from the small bag she’d packed, and went to the bathroom to change and clean up.
A few minutes later, she entered the kitchen, the linoleum cool to her bare feet. Wyatt sat at the table with a cup of coffee while Chrissy stirred eggs in a frying pan.
“Good morning,” Wyatt greeted. “Did you sleep okay? I know the futon isn’t the most comfortable bed around.”
Bonnie gave him a reassuring smile. “As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out. Thank you both for letting me stay here for the weekend.”
“You know you’re welcome anytime.” Wyatt stood and pulled her into a hug. He pointed to Oreo whose cage was resting on the bar connecting the living room with the kitchen. “Although she should consider herself privileged.”
Bonnie chuckled. Yeah, she’d looked pretty ridiculous trying to load the large cage into her car. But she couldn’t just leave the poor guinea pig at the apartment for two days without veggies. Oreo was snoozing in her house, one eye half open. “Don’t worry, we’ll be out of your hair Sunday evening.”
In the case that Jace accepted her two-week notice without firing her on the spot, Bonnie had considered staying elsewhere and driving to work every morning. Except it wasn’t practical, especially since all of her things were on the ranch.
She needed to deal with whatever the next two weeks brought, knowing that it would all be over soon.
Her thoughts shifted to Jace. There was a big part of her that’d hoped he would follow her to the apartment.
If he’d wanted her to stay, he would’ve tried to convince her. Even if it meant continuing their argument. Instead, he’d just let her go.
The thought of quitting her job, leaving the ranch, and not seeing him or Gunner, hurt more than she wanted to admit. Would he hire another nanny and expect Bonnie to do some of the training? Let her stay on for those two weeks? Or when she handed in her notice, would he dismiss her right then?
Ugh, and finding a place to live. That was going to be fun. Not.
“Bonnie?”
The sound of Chrissy’s voice snagged Bonnie’s attention, and from the look on her and Wyatt’s faces, she gathered she must have missed something. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
Chrissy flashed her a sympathetic look. “Would you like some eggs and orange juice?”
Bonnie’s stomach growled in response. “I’d love some, thank you.” She took a seat at the table. She and Jace never did get those burgers they’d planned on after the party.
A fresh wave of sorrow hit her, and she willed the building tears away.
Maybe she was thinking about all of this the wrong way, and she should be relieved this happened sooner rather than later. Because as much as she wanted everything to work out between her and Jace, there was that underlying fear that they’d end up like her parents. Or even his. As far as Bonnie was concerned, money caused way more problems than it fixed.
Chrissy set a plate in front of her along with a glass of orange juice.
“Thank you.” She waited until they were seated with their food before she took the first bite. The moment she swallowed it, she nodded appreciatively. “This tastes amazing. I haven’t had anything since the party.” She made a face. “Can you believe they served sushi?”
Wyatt laughed then. “You’ve hated sushi since the first time you had it.”
“I know!” Bonnie shook her head in wonder. “Next year, I’m going to put together my own birthday party and then invitethem. That way we can have something normal like burgers or pizza.” She paused. “Either that or just be out of town. That sounds even better.” What had her parents done with her gifts she’d left behind? The only gift she’d been able to take with her was the bracelet Jace gave her. She’d agonized over whether to wear it again this morning or not. She looked down at the charms dangling from her wrist which only brought another wave of emotion.
“What happened, Bonnie?”
The question came from Wyatt. All she’d told them was that she and Jace had a big argument and she needed a place to crash for the weekend. But they deserved to know more.
With her resolve not to cry firmly in place, she related the events at their parents’ house after Wyatt and Chrissy left and then the argument in the truck, ending with her telling Jace she’d be turning in her two-week notice on Monday.
Throughout, Wyatt kept shaking his head, his expression more and more annoyed. “Mom is a real piece of work. It was your birthday. The least she could’ve done was keep it civil and held her tongue for one day.”
Chrissy agreed. “As for you and Jace, everyone argues. Trust me.” She reached for Wyatt’s hand and gave him a private and knowing smile. She turned her attention back to Bonnie. “But it doesn’t mean the two of you can’t work things out.”
