Larry caught my eye, and we shared a brief look.
Bonnie was the peacemaker. She’d been an overachiever since birth. While her education and career had taken her away from the farm, she was still devoted to our family. Every dinner at Aunt Maggie’s, Bonnie showed up with bells on. She served on committees and volunteered her time. She was a people-pleaser through and through.
My sister taught art down at the elementary school, and she was great at it. So talented and good with the kids. You couldn’t go anywhere with her in Kirby Falls without running into her students or their parents. Everyone loved Bonnie. She’d been my playmate, my reliable older sister, and my confidant. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
And she sure as hell deserved better than Danny Jensen.
There was a part of me that saw my sister and her husband as a cautionary tale. They represented the dangers of falling for someone so young, someone you’d known your whole life and latched on to before you were old enough to know better—to realize there was more out there than some farm boy who hadn’t done a damn thing to earn your heart besides exist in the same small town.
How could you meet the love of your life when you’d barely even lived it?
Bonnie cleared her throat, drawing my attention.
Larry and I went back to our drinks and kept our mouths shut. It was Kayla who spoke up. “Did y’all hear they had another scare over at Judd’s?”
My attention snapped to her. “What?”
Kayla nodded. “Yeah, last night. I heard someone came onto the property and triggered the motion sensors. They just got a glimpse of them on the cameras, but it was too dark, and whoever it was had their face covered.”
Dread slithered up my spine, and for the first time since I’d walked in the door, I let my eyes seek out Brady. He was seated several tables away with Abby and Jase. As if he could feel me looking, his eyes found mine, and I glanced quickly away.
What did it mean that someone had tried to vandalize their orchard again? And did he still suspect me?
“Were they trying to paintball the property again?” Larry asked.
“No, no one saw a paintball gun or anything on the camera footage,” Kayla replied. “Or if they were planning on it, they got scared off before they had a chance to get their gear. There was no damage or anything. Brady got there real quick. He had the alerts set up on his phone. The sheriff’s department came out too, but they didn’t find anything.”
“Man, that’s weird,” Larry murmured.
“I’m glad there wasn’t any damage or anyone hurt,” Bonnie said.
Suddenly, all three of my tablemates were looking at me expectantly.
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to say something?” Larry asked.
I frowned. “What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “That it’s strange or bad luck or you’re surprised it happened again.”
“I mean, yeah. All of those things.”
Kayla leaned in and whispered, “Where were you last night, Mac?”
I stared in shock before everyone else erupted in laughter.
“I can’t believe you guys,” I hissed.
Larry grinned, unrepentant. “We’re just giving you shit.”
“We know you didn’t have anything to do with it,” Bonnie added.
“But that mug shot of you in the town Facebook groupwaspretty hilarious.” Kayla laughed.
My sister and cousin both joined in, chuckling.
I glared. Ugh, if my own friends and family were bringing this up, I could only imagine what Brady would do with the possibility. Did he actually think I was capable of trespassing on his family’s property?
