Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn (21 page)

‘It’s been a long day,’ Jeanie replied defensively. ‘I’ve cleared the garage out all by myself. My granddaughter had said she was going to help me…’

‘Yeah, about that…’ Paige began.

Jeanie waved away the excuse. ‘I know, you were busy. It doesn’t matter, I’m just telling you why I was asleep for three hours.’

‘We’ll get this coffee and I’ll fetch the fold-up bed out,’ Bonnie said to her. ‘You can have my bed tonight, it’s far too late and you’re far too tired to make your way back home.’

Jeanie smiled gratefully.

‘Spectacular,’ Paige grimaced. ‘I get to listen to Jeanie snore all night.’

‘You can always sleep in the car,’ Bonnie shot back.

‘Whatever,’ Paige huffed, and shuffled from the room again.

‘You really should tell her when she speaks to you like that,’ Jeanie chided Bonnie gently.

Bonnie shrugged as she poured boiling water over the coffee granules. ‘Right now, I’m just glad that she seems to have dropped the whole me kissing Max business.’

Jeanie stifled a yawn as Bonnie handed her a cup. ‘She’ll be all guns blazing in the morning, you know that, don’t you? Right now, she’s planning her angle, that’s why she’s quiet about it.’

‘I know,’ Bonnie said with a heavy sigh as she took a seat at the table.

‘So…’ Jeanie said, dropping her voice and leaning towards Bonnie. ‘Did it go well? Are you seeing him again? What did he say about Sarah?’

Bonnie’s forehead creased. She had forgotten, somehow, about Sarah. Max had barely mentioned their imminent meeting all night, and Bonnie had been so wrapped
up in the excitement of the date and their easy banter, and occasionally worried thoughts about Holden, that the problem of Sarah hadn’t really crossed her mind.

‘I think he’s going to put Sarah straight tomorrow, once and for all,’ Bonnie said with more conviction than she felt.

‘So you’re going to see him again?’

Bonnie paused as she took a sip of her coffee. ‘I don’t know,’ she said slowly. ‘Maybe.’

‘You like him, then?’

Bonnie pondered the question. It was hard to deny that she did like Max. The fear was that she liked him a little too much.

***

Jeanie went home early next morning, and Paige’s interrogations about the state of Bonnie’s relationship with Max began shortly afterwards. Whenever Paige took a break from the grilling, it left a quiet space in Bonnie’s thoughts to worry about what was happening between Max and Sarah, or where Holden’s stalking would end. It was too bizarre that only a couple of months before she had been mooning over posters of this guy, only to have the tables turned so completely that he now mooned over her while she desperately tried to repel his unwanted advances. Because the more she thought about it, the more she realised that she didn’t like Holden much at all. Who would believe this crazy story if they heard it? She could only hope that if she continued to ignore him, he would give up and leave her to get on with her life in peace.

Around lunchtime Bonnie’s phone pinged. Her anxious frown turned into a smile as she read the message from Max.

You still haven’t told me if I’m going to get another date or not.

She was about to reply, when a sudden thought made her change her mind. She was beginning to realise that her feelings for Max were bigger than a furtive text and the odd quick drink, no matter how much she fought them. But there was still the shadow of Sarah, looming over them. She had to be sure about his feelings for her first; she’d
been hurt too many times before. And Sarah wasn’t the only barrier to happiness – there was Henri too.

Bonnie had considered many possibilities since Henri left, including the fact that he might even be dead, although the French police had assured her that he wasn’t without being able to tell her where he actually was. The nights she had spent crying over him, the days she had spent on autopilot trying to keep everything as normal as possible for Paige, even though her soul felt like it was cracking into thousands of pieces – she didn’t think she had the strength left in her to do that again with another man. She had finally accepted that Henri wasn’t coming back and, more importantly, Paige had too. But before she trusted another man, she had to be certain he wasn’t going to be the one finally finish her off. And she had to be sure that Paige would be happy, above all else.

Putting the phone in her dressing gown pocket, Bonnie wandered into the living room deep in thought. ‘Are you in a better mood?’ she asked Paige, who was absorbed with her ipad.

Paige looked up. ‘There was nothing wrong with me. I wasn’t the one kissing loser Max in the car. You want your head looking at, you do.’

‘Paige…’ Bonnie sat down with a heavy sigh. ‘I don’t know what I think about Max. It probably isn’t going anywhere. But you are wrong about him, he’s really a great guy and whoever ends up with him will be lucky.’

‘I bet that Sarah thought it was her till he dumped her to go out with you.’

‘He didn’t dump her for me.’

‘Of course he did. Any idiot could see that he was drooling over you all night when we sat with them at Blossom Palace.’

‘He was lovely to Sarah. They just weren’t right for each other.’

Paige raised her eyebrows. ‘And you are?’

‘I like him, he’s a laugh. If you’re worried that I’m going to move a new daddy in for you, you needn’t be. Is that what you wanted to hear?’

Paige pouted as she looked at her screen.

‘So I have your blessing to see him again?’ Bonnie asked.

‘You don’t need my blessing,’ Paige replied without looking up, ‘as you so often remind me, you can do whatever you like. But I’ll never be happy about it, so don’t think you’re going to change my mind.’

Abandoning an argument that Bonnie knew she could never win, she rubbed a hand through her hair.

‘I’m going to get showered and dressed,’ Bonnie announced, pushing herself up from the sofa.

***

Feeling fresher and more awake, Bonnie wound up the flex of the hairdryer and looked approvingly in the mirror. The red in her hair was gradually fading, but if she was truthful, it was a relief. Somehow, her own ash blonde felt safer, more like the real Bonnie.

Pulling a sweatshirt over her t-shirt, she wandered into the living room. Paige was in exactly the same spot still glued to her ipad.

‘Don’t you have homework?’ Bonnie asked.

‘Nope,’ Paige replied without looking up.

‘You want to do something together then?’

‘Like what?’

Bonnie shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Go for a walk or something?’

Paige glanced up at the window, where a grey sky pressed down on the streets below. ‘Not especially. Looks like rain anyway.’

Bonnie sighed and went to retrieve her phone. The new text message icon flashed at her.

‘Did my phone go off when I was in the shower?’

‘Yeah,’ Paige said. ‘I forgot.’

Bonnie unlocked the phone.

U can’t keep avoiding me.

H

What the hell was wrong with him? Didn’t he have enough willing groupies to keep him busy? Her fingers moved rapidly over the keypad.

I’m ignoring you because I have a boyfriend.

Bonnie barely had a chance to put it back in her pocket when it pinged again.

U have a boyfriend that is better than me??????

Bonnie almost burst out laughing. He really was more clueless, arrogant, or deranged, than she had given him credit for.

Yes.

Moments later another text arrived.

U never said before.

Bonnie tapped out a reply:
It’s none of your business
.

I love u.

Bonnie stared at the new message. Things were getting ridiculous now, like the plot of a mad film.

You don’t even know me.

Bonnie locked her phone and glanced up to find Paige watching her carefully.

‘Who are you texting?’ she asked.

‘Nobody.’ Bonnie felt the colour rush to her cheeks.

‘It’s got to be Max,’ Paige said in a scathing tone, ‘that’s the longest text conversation I’ve ever seen you have.’

‘It’s not Max, and it’s my business,’ Bonnie shot back, taking the phone into the kitchen.

She flicked the kettle on and sat down. The phone pinged and she hardly dared look.

Get your coat, you’ve pulled.

Bonnie smiled with relief and quickly sent a reply.

What do you mean?

Seconds later another message arrived.

I’m outside your flats now. Fancy a drink?

Thanking her lucky stars that she was looking a lot better than she had done an hour before, she ran to the window in the living room. Separating the slats of the blinds, she peered down onto the road. Max was leaning against his car, presumably waiting for her. She sent him a quick reply.

On my way down.

‘You reckon you’ll be ok for an hour or so?’ she asked Paige

Her daughter looked up from her ipad with an expression somewhere between surprise and annoyance. ‘Why, where are you going?’

‘I just need to pop out.’

‘I thought we were going out together.’

‘You said you didn’t want to.’

‘Maybe I changed my mind.’

‘Bloody hell! Why do you have to be so awkward? I’ll be an hour. I’ll lock the door behind me and I’m on the end of the phone if you need me. Ok?’

Paige didn’t reply and Bonnie grabbed her keys and jacket and headed for the door.

***

Max set a glass down in front of Bonnie. He had taken her to a lovely old pub down by the canal, a favourite with the narrow-boaters who cruised through. She was sitting in a cosy spot by the open fire on a plump armchair worked with rich, antique looking tapestry.

‘Spritzer,’ Max said. ‘You sure you don’t want a proper drink?’

‘This
is
a proper drink. It just has a little something mixed in so that my liver can recover from last night.’

Max reached for his half of bitter and took a satisfied gulp. ‘I know I’m driving, but you can’t come here without having at least a little taste of the Old Speckled Hen.’ He put his glass down and his expression became serious. ‘So, what do you think about what I said in the car?’

‘It’s over with Sarah?’

Max nodded. ‘Yes, she’s ok with it now.’

‘But she doesn’t know about us?’

‘I didn’t think there was any need to tell her. Besides, I wasn’t sure there was an
us
.’ He gave her his most appealing look. ‘Is there?’

‘I had a great time last night, Max, I can’t lie. I just don’t know what to think.’

‘Bon… if you had a good time and I had a good time, and we always enjoy each other’s company… And you know I think you’re gorgeous…’ he paused, but Bonnie said nothing. ‘Well,’ he continued less certainly, ‘I don’t know what there is to think about. It’s a no-brainer. We’d be great together, you know we would.’

‘It’s not just about us, though, is it?’

‘Why not?’

‘There’s Paige too. And daft as it sounds, it’s about Applejack’s as well. You deliver every morning and if this ended badly, we’d have to see each other every day. Imagine how awkward that would be. Right now we both have lovely memories of a fun night out and we’re still mates. We could ruin all that.’

‘It wouldn’t end badly,’ Max said, reaching for her hand. ‘It’d be great.

She looked up at him. He was hanging, waiting for her to say the right words, the ones he so clearly wanted to hear. There was so much hope in his eyes and she wished she could share his faith that their relationship was meant to be. Against her better judgement, she leaned over and kissed him.

‘I just know I’m going to regret this.’

***

‘What is the news of the day, lovely ladies?’ Stavros beamed as Linda and Bonnie walked into the Bounty. The day was bright and sunlight bounced off the white marble counter-top that Stavros leaned on with an open newspaper in front of him.

Linda shot a wicked grin at Bonnie.

‘Don’t you dare!’ Bonnie warned.

‘Bonnie has a new boyfriend,’ Linda said, and then poked her tongue out at Bonnie.

Stav widened his eyes. ‘Praise to the heavens! Who is this wonder man who can catch the eye of our beautiful Bonnie?’

Bonnie laughed. ‘Stav, you’re such a tease. It’s nobody; it was just a date that Linda forced me to go on.’

‘Yeah,’ Linda fired back, ‘but no one forced you to see him the day after as well. And no one is forcing you to see him again this week…’

‘Thanks, Lind, just spread my business around the whole of the town.’

‘Why keep it a secret?’ Stav cut in, spreading his arms wide, ‘true love
should
be spread around the town!’

‘I’d hardly call it true love,’ Bonnie said, laughing.

‘But it could be,’ Linda replied, nudging her.

‘Don’t be daft,’ Bonnie said. ‘A few dates, that’s all. We’re just two single people who happen to get along quite well and decided to go out together.’

‘But that’s just it,’ Stavros said. ‘All the best marriages are based on two people who get along well.’

‘I’m not going to marry him!’ Bonnie squeaked.

‘Bon,’ Linda said, becoming serious, ‘if ever I saw a couple perfect for each other, it’s you and Max. Never say never.’

‘Max?’ Stavros asked. ‘Not Max Delaney?’

Linda nodded, grinning.

‘Oh! He is a perfect match for you, Bonnie!’ Stavros said. ‘A very nice man, good business, nobody else’s children for you to look after…’

Bonnie laughed. ‘I’m more worried about what my child will make of him when he tries to get acquainted with her.’

‘Have you told her about him yet?’ Stavros asked.

‘Oh, I didn’t need to,’ Bonnie replied ruefully, ‘she caught us kissing goodbye in the car. She wasn’t very impressed.’

‘She’ll come round,’ Linda said. ‘Just give her time.’

‘I hope so,’ Bonnie sighed. ‘Otherwise this is going to be over before it’s begun.’

***

‘Hey Mum!’ Bonnie called into the hallway as she took her coat off. It had been a hectic day at work and she was ready for a quiet cup of tea and a catch-up. She could hear the radio on in the living room, but went through to find it was empty. ‘Mum?’ she shouted.