“What do you think happened with Mary? I thought things were going to be resolved after their lunch.”
“I don’t know. I can try to get more out of her when we go shopping.”
“I was hoping we had gotten through to Lauren when she was here a week ago.”
“Me, too. I thought the lunch with Mary was proof we had.”
David paced around. He tapped his work boot against the pile of landscaping pavers that had been delivered earlier in the day.
“She’s strong. There’s no one stronger than my Bon Bon, but I don’t like what’s happening to her. Gordon asked her to take over administrative duties at the office for the time being because no one will work with her as their Realtor. She didn’t get her real estate license to be an administrative assistant.”
“Of course not,” Aaron agreed.
“I also know you two got something going on.” Before Aaron could assure him of his good intentions, David added, “I understand it’s in the beginning stages. But I need you to know that being with you might not be what’s best for her. I don’t know how Lauren or your parents are going to feel about you and her getting closer. Not that I don’t think you’re a great guy.”
Aaron could sense another but coming. “But you’re concerned about how people might treat her if being with me sets Lauren off.”
“Pretty much,” David admitted. “Again, I think you are a great guy. I have nothing against you. In any other circumstance, you would have my full blessing.”
It felt as though Aaron’s heart had been punched until it was black and blue. It wasn’t broken, just bruised. “I understand, David. I don’t want to bring any unnecessary harm to Bonnie, either. I’d still like her to help me work on this house.”
“Son, I’m not telling you what to do or not do, I am simply sharing my concerns with you. I certainly would never tell my daughter who to date or not date. I trust the two of you to do what’s best. I just wanted to point out some things you might not have thought about because you’re feeling so enamored with my daughter at the moment.”
Aaron was even more taken aback. He wasn’t used to a parent who didn’t demand his opinions be the be-all and end-all. When Aaron’s dad shared his feelings on something, it was because he wanted to make it clear that Aaron was to do it the way he wanted or else. It was refreshing to hear someone say they trusted Aaron to make the best decision for himself. That kind of faith truly inspired him to do better instead of driving him to rebel.
Mr. Windsor was good at this dad thing. Aaron’s dad needed to take some lessons.
“She’s an amazing woman. I really care about her, and I assure you I will not put her in harm’s way.”
David slapped his hand down on Aaron’s shoulder. “I know. I believe you.”
With that, he went back inside, leaving Aaron out there to put his thoughts together. He refused to believe that Lauren didn’t miss having Bonnie in her life. There was no way she would be able to spend eternity mad about something that didn’t even happen. Once Lauren and Bonnie were on good terms, there would be no reason he couldn’t date Bonnie.
“You okay?” Bonnie came out with the empty pizza boxes and tossed them in the dumpster. “I hope you got enough pizza, because Sasha eats exactly as much as you would expect someone the size of the Statue of Liberty eats.”
She made him smile, and that was only one small reason he enjoyed being around her so much. “I’m good. I am curious as to what happened at the lunch that made you unhappy. I don’t like unhappy Bonnies. It’s just not my thing.”
“You hate all Bonnies who are unhappy?”
“No, no. Don’t twist my words. I like Bonnies. I like all the Bonnies I know, at least. I hate when something makes them sad. So, what made lunch so disappointing?”
“When Lauren and I were nine, we always went on the swings during recess. It was our favorite thing to do. We would run to the swings as soon as we were dismissed from lunch. We had to beat everyone else, because there were only three swings. There was one time that Timmy Johnson and Kyle Rodgers beat us and we had to share the one swing that was left. We took turns pushing each other so we could swing higher than the boys.”
“I’m sure that was Lauren’s idea. No one beats her at anything.”
Bonnie shrugged. “She would call it being ambitious.”
“I’m sure she would. Continue your story, even though I have no idea what this has to do with your lunch with Mary.”
“I pushed Lauren first, because of course she had to go first, and she couldn’t get as high as Kyle. He was really rubbing it in. She was livid, mostly at him but also at me for not pushing her hard enough so she could beat him. When it was my turn, as soon as I sat down she shoved me so hard, I fell off the swing. Kyle and Timmy laughed at me and made fun of Lauren.”
Tim Johnson owned a Mexican restaurant in town. “I am never eating at Tim’s Taqueria ever again.”
Bonnie rolled her eyes but couldn’t hold back a grin. “Anyway, Lauren was so mad at me. She told me I really hurt her feelings by not pushing her hard enough and then having the audacity to not hold on tight enough to stay on the swing when she was pushing me hard enough to go higher than the boys. She got all the girls in class to not talk to me until I apologized. She pushed me off the swing and made me apologize to her.”
Aaron cringed at the thought. “I
