Chapter 23
BONNIE
"You missed me, didn't you?" I asked Tutu, patting between his ears. The gorgeous poodle had been here since yesterday when his owner brought him in for emergency surgery for his knee. I could tell he wanted to go home to his family. "We're going to release you soon. I promise."
He blinked lazily, setting his head on my arm.
I loved all my fur babies. I'd only realized how much I missed working with them while I'd been away in Oceanwell Bay. Tutu was special. He was twelve years old, and he had multiple health issues. This was his third surgery in the last four years.
He had a soft spot for me too. I was the only worker he trusted like this. I kissed between his ears.
"I need to go now, but I'll be back to check on you later, okay?"
I loved working with animals, but one day I truly wanted to own a grooming business.
I loved seeing the animals getting healthy, but seeing them sick affected me.
And ever since I got pregnant, that feeling only intensified.
If I had a grooming business, I’d pamper healthy animals all day long.
I’d take a pay cut, though, and I wouldn’t be using my certification at all. But it would make me happy.
I left the ward with our overnight patients, moving into the back office. I looked at our list of appointments over my colleague Cassie’s shoulder. We were fully booked, which meant we would do some overtime, but I didn't mind.
“We’re busy bees today,” Cassie remarked.
I was just about to go back in the waiting room and invite one of the patients in because our two o'clock appointment was late, but then my phone buzzed. It was Travis.
"I'll go out front," Cassie said. "You answer your phone."
"Thanks, Cass." I entered one of our supply rooms as I answered. "Calling to check on me already?" I wasn’t really joking. He'd sent me four messages this morning asking how I felt.
“Among other things. I wanted to hear your voice."
That went straight to my heart. "Hmmm… and you also think you can tell how I’m doing from my voice, don’t you?”
“I’m not even pretending otherwise.”
"I'm fine, Travis." But I honestly didn't mind that he was checking on me.
"Are you sure it's okay to be on your feet for so long?"
"Yes. I triple-checked with Dr. Taylor this morning. How's your day?"
"It's great. Reese finally accepted the job."
I yelped ecstatically. I knew how much he wanted this. "That's great. I'm so happy."
“So am I. But that's not why I called."
I snorted. "Oh, you have an agenda? Shocker. Let's hear it."
"Mom's birthday is in two weeks. I'd love for you to join me."
"Oh." I brought a hand to my chest. I hadn't expected that. "Are you sure? I mean, it's a family affair, and your parents just met me."
“You’d make Mom very happy. In fact, she called me today to ask me to ask you."
I bit my lip. Would he have asked me if Lena hadn't told him to? I shook my head, dispelling my thoughts. Why was I overthinking this?
"And to sweeten the offer, after the party finishes, we can go back to my place. I figured out a few more ways to entertain you."
I did a little happy dance right there in the supply room and hit my elbow against a stack of metal plastic bowls. They tumbled to the floor.
“What happened? Are you hurt?” he asked sharply.
“No, I just knocked into some water bowls.” I bent to pick them up. “So, back to your offer. If you put it like that, there's no way I can refuse. Aren't you tired of me?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"Fuck no, Bonnie. If I had it my way…"
His voice faded, but I heard a growl.
"What?" I asked.
He cleared his throat. "Let's just say yesterday evening, it crossed my mind to tie you to my bed just so you don’t leave."
Heat pooled between my thighs at the thought of being tied to his bed. I'd never had such a fantasy, but he was unleashing something in my brain.
"I want to buy her a present. What does your mom like?"
"I already got her something, and it can be from the both of us."
"No. I want buy her something."
"You know what? Why don't you talk to Reese? I know Kimberly is coming for the party, and they're probably going to go shopping before then."
"Okay, then, that's a deal," I said. There was a knock at the door. "Crap, I have to go. We're swamped today. We'll probably all work overtime."
"Bonnie." His voice was like thunder that coursed through my body, making me shudder. "You can't be on your feet the whole day."
"Yes, I can. Like I said, I already talked to Dr. Taylor. Please don’t worry, okay? I have to go. Bye."
I was grinning widely when I hung up. That was when I realized I had an unread message. It was from Mom. I eagerly opened it, but then my heart sank.
Mom: We need to talk.
I sighed, pocketing my phone. That was code for “I need money.”
I’d call her back, but not today. I needed to brace myself for that conversation because it always ended up being a fight.
I helped her as much as I could, but I rarely gave her money directly.
But my mom had gotten crafty with excuses lately.
Once, she made up a doctor's bill, and I stupidly handed her money without asking to see the bill itself.
Her neighbor told me two weeks later that she'd gambled it all away.
As I opened the door to the supply room, Cassie looked apologetic. "Sorry to disturb you from your call, but we need you out here."
"Yes, of course."
My phone buzzed again as I followed her into the waiting room. When I checked it, I laughed. I already had a message from Reese.
Reese: I heard we're going shopping together. I'll set something up and give you all the details. Can't wait.
"Shopping is a religion in our family," Reese said on Friday as we entered the perimeter of the crafts fair on Lincoln Square. I’d been here in December a couple times during the Christmas market when it looked like something out of a fairy tale with wooden booths and twinkle lights everywhere.
It was a similar setup now, but the strings of lights were made of industrial-type bulbs, not snowflakes and bells.
It was the beginning of April, so the decoration was spring themed.
Kimberly was here, too, just as Travis predicted. She’d flown in for Lena's birthday. They told me Sam was in town as well. The Maxwells took birthday parties very seriously.
"You should see us at Christmas," Kimberly said. I'd only met her five minutes ago, but I already liked her. She had this aura of happiness and enthusiasm around her, like she was determined to enjoy every moment. She also seemed a stickler for rules, double-checking the parking ticket Reese had put in the windshield of her car, making sure it hadn’t expired, I imagined. They’d picked me up from work, and we rode here together.
It wasn’t immediately obvious that she and Reese were sisters.
Reese had dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail and vibrant green eyes.
Kimberly’s hair was even darker, cascading down her back.
Her brown eyes looked fierce. She was wearing a dress I absolutely loved—the lower part was a mix of lace and silk, and the top was cotton.
It was elegant and yet very appropriate for daywear.
Reese was wearing a suit, looking very professional.
“How much time do you have?” Reese asked me.
“Travis said he’ll be here by seven.” It was six now.
“That gives us plenty of time. We always buy Lena presents way ahead of time, but when the day draws nearer, we end up getting her a second gift,” Kimberly explained.
“The more, the merrier,” I agreed. "Thanks a lot for coming with me. I'm a bit lost on what to buy her, and I didn't want to just buy her something for the sake of it. Travis said he could say his gift was from both of us, but I don’t want that."
"Oh, you're adorable," Kimberly said. "And have good instincts. Lena loves getting gifts. I heard you met her in person too.” She laced an arm around my right one, and Reese took the left.
We possibly looked a bit ridiculous walking around like that, but I didn't care.
I so enjoyed spending time with these two.
“We did. She’s lovely. And so is Beatrice.”
Reese laughed. “Bonnie already got Gran’s apple-pie-and-vanilla-ice-cream treatment.”
Kimberly chuckled.
Reese bent her head, looking at her sister intently. “You look a bit guilty, sister dearest.”
To my astonishment, Kimberly blushed. “Nooo… I’m not feeling guilty. I just have insider information.”
“Do tell,” I encouraged, feeling like I’d known both of them for years.
“Well, Gran was a bit pissed that she hadn’t met you in person, so I advised her to take matters into her own hands.
She already had a few light bulbs that needed changing.
My uncle usually does that, or one of the cousins.
The storm was the cherry on top. The family always checks on her after one, though usually only after stronger ones. ”
I found it extremely adorable that they hovered around their grandmother so much.
"So tell me, do you and Travis already have lists of names for the baby?" Kimberly asked.
"No, we're waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl first."
"Okay," Kimberly said. "I have some ideas."
I laughed, not sure that she was joking. Judging by her serious expression, she was not.
"Kimberly, that's between the two of them," Reese admonished.
"Oh, really? But we gave our opinions to Tate when he was looking for a name for Paisley."
"Yes, but he asked us to give us our opinions. Travis hasn't, and neither has Bonnie, for that matter."
"Honestly, we haven't thought about names at all, but I’ll let you know if we need help," I cut in.
Kimberly's grin was so huge that I suspected she was bursting at the seams with name suggestions. I wondered if Travis would want to have a say about this. I guessed I'd find out soon enough.
"I suggest we walk around at least once," Kimberly said, glancing around at the booths. "That way we see everything and can better decide what to buy." I liked that plan.