Chapter 14
fourteen
BONNIE
“Bonnie, can you check the pantry for more corn syrup?”
“Sure thing,” I called to my mom, already making my way across the kitchen.
My family was gathered at my uncle William and aunt Maggie’s farmhouse for our annual Halloween celebration. It was Friday, and the holiday was tomorrow. There would be trick-or-treating on Main Street, where Grandpappy’s had a booth along with many other local businesses. But today was for family.
This was one of my favorite get-togethers.
Every year, we prepped popcorn balls for the trick-or-treaters and drank apple cider.
There was also a slew of Halloween-themed appetizers that everyone contributed, potluck-style.
The central kitchen island contained the spread, and we generally grazed like farm animals throughout the evening.
Brady, Becca, and I were helping my mom and aunt with the popcorn balls while Mac and Will nibbled on mummy-wrapped pigs in a blanket, ghost roast beef sammies with melted mozzarella cheese, and a variety of other tasty apps.
Larry emerged from the living room, where my dad and uncle were watching a football game. Her girlfriend followed a moment later.
My cousin had come out to the family a couple of months ago.
She’d nervously announced that she was bisexual at a family dinner and followed that up with the news that she was dating a photographer from Greenville.
We’d been pretty stunned but ultimately supportive.
It had been a long time since Larry had brought anyone around, and we were excited to see her happy.
She and her girlfriend, Corie, made their way to the slow cooker in the corner of the kitchen and refilled their cups with spiced apple cider.
“I’ve never had a popcorn ball,” Corie said as she observed the assembly-line process we had going on.
I was in charge of popping the popcorn in the old-fashioned stovetop pot with a hand crank.
My mom and Maggie were making the syrup on the burner next to mine.
Once the popcorn was popped, I passed it off to Becca, who drizzled each batch with the sweet marshmallow syrup and tossed it together in a huge mixing bowl.
Then Brady got to work in his food-prep gloves to shape the coated popcorn into balls before it cooled and set.
The countertops were lined with wax paper and a little army of popcorn-ball treats. Once we finished, we’d wrap them individually and tie them off with some orange-and-black ribbon I’d picked up at the arts and crafts store.
“Well, go on and try one, sugar,” Aunt Maggie told Corie.
“Maggie’s recipe is the best,” Larry offered, reaching for one of the cooled treats as Brady playfully batted her hands away.
I dropped off the new bottle of corn syrup with my mom before resuming my position at the stove.
“Oh wow,” Corie mumbled through a mouthful of sticky Halloween treat. “That’s so good. Sweet and salty. I love it.”
“I’m so glad, Corie, honey.” Maggie beamed. The quickest way to my aunt’s heart was to compliment her cooking. “And we’re so happy to have you join us tonight.”
Corie smiled shyly and tucked a strand of dark hair behind one ear. “Well, Larry made it sound like so much fun. Definitely worth the drive. I just love it up here. The farm is beautiful. And so is your home. I appreciate you welcoming me.”
Events with the rowdy Clark bunch could sometimes be a trial by fire, but Corie had held her own tonight amid the ruckus. And anyone could see that she made my cousin happy. Larry had always been confident and outgoing, but she seemed softer and more playful with Corie at her side.
I remembered what it was like to have someone to share a smile or a look with at these family get-togethers.
To have someone to grab you a drink or to touch your back in a casual brush as they walked by.
A partner to check in on you to make sure you were good.
Danny hadn’t been that for me in a long time.
In the end, he was mostly looking for excuses to get out of family dinners, or he’d be glued to his phone and distracted the whole time.
But in the early days, he’d been happy to be here.
It had been several years ago, but at one time, we’d had fun being the duo responsible for wrapping up the popcorn balls.
I watched as Larry stole a bite from Corie’s treat before smiling softly to myself. Then I went back to spinning the popcorn around and around.
We were on the last batch of kernels when Larry piped up out of nowhere, “So, Bonnie, a little birdie mentioned they saw you yesterday.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked, my voice casual. I knew where this was going.
I peeked over my shoulder and saw everyone watching me expectantly as Larry feigned nonchalance and reached for a cracker. God, my family was predictable. They’d probably already discussed this in a group chat and made Larry their representative to bring it up. I nearly laughed.
“I didn’t know you’d taken up motorcycle riding,” Larry said.
I kept my attention on the popcorn popper. “Yeah, it’s pretty recent.”
“You taking lessons or something?”
I bit my lip to keep from smiling. My nosy family members had obviously heard about my afternoon ride with Jack yesterday.
Since we’d decided to date—hang out, whatever—out in the open, I hadn’t made a big deal about his invitation to hit the road after school. Jack had the night off, and it had been one of the last mild days we’d likely have for some time.
And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t gotten a little thrill when Jack had taken the long way to the parkway—the one that took us straight through the center of town, where any number of people would have seen us.
Helmets didn’t hide much in a small town, especially when the residents were motivated by gossip and running their mouths.
I thought about Jack’s hand casually wrapped around my calf at the last stoplight on Main Street and fought a blush as I poured the rest of the freshly popped popcorn into the bowl.
“No formal lessons,” I finally replied. “But if I’m spending time with Jack Ellis, I figure I’ll pick up some pointers in case I want to get my own bike someday.”
It wasn’t a lie, but I didn’t really have any plans to switch out my reliable sedan for something with two wheels. I mostly liked riding with Jack, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up if he wanted to teach me how to drive.
Becca was waiting to accept the large mixing bowl so she could finish up her own part of the popcorn-ball process. Her worried blue gaze landed heavily on mine, but I gave her a reassuring smile and a pat on the arm.
I turned to face Larry and the others. Their expressions ranged from delighted (Larry) to curious (Brady) to visibly concerned (Mac) to perpetually grumpy (Will).
“Before you chickens get all worked up, I’m fine.
Jack and I are seeing each other, but it’s pretty casual.
” I was proud of myself for not stumbling over the claim.
It was true, but laid-back wasn’t really in my wheelhouse.
Their approval would always mean something to me, and the apprehension was stamped clearly across their faces.
But I was trying my best, and that’s what counted.
“We’re adults, and you don’t need to worry. ”
Maggie shared an uneasy glance with my mother, but they didn’t comment, and for that, I was grateful.
“Jack seems nice,” Becca said sweetly.
“Yeah,” Brady agreed. “He doesn’t know anything about soccer, but he’s great with the girls.”
“You could do worse,” Larry offered magnanimously.
I rolled my eyes.
“It doesn’t matter what we think,” Mac said, drawing my attention and everyone else’s. “Bonnie’s a grown woman and she knows what’s best for her.”
Warmth flooded the tiny cracks in my heart. It meant a lot that my sister, who’d been hovering and overbearing at times since my separation, was supporting me in this.
Then she went and said, “Plus, it couldn’t hurt for you to have a little fun for once. And that man looks like he’s capable of providing it.”
Larry cackled.
Sighing, I gave Mac a pointed glare that she ignored, grinning widely and blowing me a kiss.
Conversation resumed, my family loud and opinionated once more.
Without really meaning to, I watched these people who’d loved and supported me throughout my life, and wondered how Jack might fit in.
My eyes caught on Corie, the newcomer, who’d been warmly welcomed and seemed comfortable with her new surroundings.
Would Jack fare as well? Or would so much togetherness be too much for someone who’d never had an extended family?
Would the well-meaning nosiness put his back up, or would he be comfortable after a time?
I could picture him in the background, quiet and watchful.
Maybe out on the deck helping my dad or uncles or Will man the grill.
But I could also imagine him chipping in, letting my aunt or mother direct him in the kitchen, charming them all the while.
It didn’t matter. We weren’t—we weren’t like that. Things were casual and straightforward. You didn’t force your hookup to spend holidays with your family. That had a way of complicating matters.
So I put any daydreams or imaginings out of my mind and focused on wrapping up the popcorn balls.
“You okay?” Becca asked quietly from where she’d joined me, already snipping lengths of ribbon and stacking them neatly at my elbow.
“Of course,” I said, swallowing awkwardly.
“Because you don’t owe anyone an explanation about you and Jack. If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
Becca was a rare bird. She was sweetness and light and had fit in seamlessly with the Clarks, despite having a completely different experience with her own family growing up.
Maybe that was why. She’d fallen in love with my family right along with my cousin Will.
That sort of love was something she’d been missing, and we’d been happy to provide it.