Bonnie put a hand to her head and gripped her forehead. “At least, I think it was an accident. Goodness, I hope my mother didn’t push him down the porch steps.”
Her new husband paled. “Is your mother really that vicious?”
With a shrug of her shoulders, Bonnie casually tossed out her answer. “Determined, not vicious. Very, very determined.”
That earlier feeling of unease about her mother returned. The woman was controlling, intrusive, and manipulative. Still she was her mother, and someone who’d shown Bonnie unswerving loyalty and love all of her life. If something was wrong, Bonnie wanted to know about it.
“You’re quiet. Since you’re chewing on your lip, something must be bothering you.” He took a few steps toward her but stopped when she held up her hand. “Are you afraid of her?”
Bonnie sent her blonde hair swinging as she denied that. “Right now, I’m more nervous about being here than I am afraid of anyone. This is a mistake.”
JT rubbed his hands down his face and groaned. “Yeah, I just wanted some place to talk. You know I wouldn’t—” He fell silent and pointed toward the bed.
Bonnie’s lips lifted briefly. “It can’t be legal, can it? I mean, we weren’t the ones that got the marriage license. Even if we did sign it, we didn’t go to the courthouse or anything.”
She looked at her would-be husband and the flicker of sadness surprised her. Was it because they were married or because she didn’t want it to be legal?
JT sighed. “Are we really going to make a fuss and get our mothers in trouble with the cops?”
By her silence, Bonnie let him know she didn’t want that. JT inclined his head toward the bed. “You want to sleep here tonight or should I take you—”
Clanging and loud shouts interrupted him. He sprinted to the window and drew back the curtains. Bonnie didn’t bother to join him.
She held her head and groaned. “I can’t believe they’re giving us a shivaree!”
“A what!” JT pulled back from the window when he saw a dozen or more faces pressed against it. The people held pots and spoons. With the curtain opened they started the noise again, banging on the pots and yelling.
Almost shouting to be heard, Bonnie did her best to explain what was happening. “It’s an old country custom. A few of the families around here still practice it after a wedding.”
“Why in the world would they do that?” JT looked her way and shouted his response. When he did, the revelers yelled and banged louder. “This isn’t making me want to live here.”
He yelled the words too loudly. They reached beyond the closed window and through the noise to the people outside. A sudden silence drew the newlyweds’ gazes to the crowd.
Crestfallen. Bonnie had read that word before and it fit the faces she saw.
First one, then another turned away and left their spot in front of the window. Shoulders slumped and Bonnie thought she heard a loud grumble or two through the closed window.
She turned an accusing glance toward the man who stared outside. He felt it and looked at her, shocked.
“Was it something I said?”
“Duh!” The word her mother loved to use slipped out of Bonnie’s mouth.
She didn’t stop to consider if she might offend JT. “They were trying to welcome you to town and celebrate our marriage, such as it is.”
His eyes narrowed to slits as he growled his words. “Yeah, such as it is. We don’t have to stay married, you know. Elvis and meddling mothers aren’t going to decide that for us.”
If Bonnie had been younger, she might have twirled her long hair around a finger. She was that nervous at hearing him say that. As it was, she’d long ago lost the habit of playing with her hair.
“What are you planning? A divorce or annulment before we’ve even spent a day married?”
A quick shake of his head denied that suggestion. In a gentle tone, he explained. “No, I think we need to go on a few dates while I’m here.”
Those words concerned her. Bonnie backed up, and when her legs hit the bed, she plopped down on it. Every time she’d mentioned him moving to Oak Grove, he’d withdraw. Suddenly, she understood.
“You’re only visiting, aren’t you?”
Silently, he watched her for a minute and then nodded. He tipped his head to the side and then stared up at the ceiling. She thought it looked like he was considering something deeply.
Bonnie watched him square his shoulders like he was about to take a hit. “I’d like for you to consider coming home with me when I leave.”
She couldn’t help the words that slipped out. They beat having a panic attack at his suggestions.
“I’m not a souvenir.”
Chapter 7
Rita Miller’s oversized t-shirt surprised JT. Mildred wore a granny nighty to bed and that’s what he expected from Bonnie’s mother, too. So, the shirt with a giant picture of a fat, orange cartoon cat on it shocked him.
Kind of a shock, too, that she would answer the door without even putting on a robe. It had to be after midnight by now. He and Bonnie hadn’t checked the clock when she’d pulled him out of the motel and told him to drive. The look in her eyes sort of frightened him, and he’d done as told.
Now, faced by the older woman in the ridiculous nightwear, JT wanted to laugh. Bonnie had said her mother was very determined. Well, he could say the same thing about Bonnie. It was doggone attractive, too.
“Mother, why did you do this?” his wife’s words sounded so different from what he’d expected. For the short trip, she’d raved about what she’d say. Anger had spiced her words then. Not now. No, as
