Page 88 of Her Defiant Warrior

“Junior high, huh? What did you look like in junior high? I bet you were cute.”

“This isn’t funny. Can you just give me the letter?”

He looked down at it one more time, then he read how she ended it and barked out a laugh. “Uhm, no. There is no way that I’m not going to read this whole damn letter,” he said as he continued to chuckle.

He watched as she put her fingers in her ears.

“Why are you doing that?” he asked.

“So, I can’t hear you laugh.”

“You just heard me ask why you’re doing that,” he pointed out reasonably.

She covered her eyes with both hands. “Fine. Read the damned letter. Our pizza’s getting cold.”

Jase looked down at the pretty purple paper and started reading.

Jase,

I’ve been missing you a lot. I know you told me that you wouldn’t know how long you would be gone, so I’ve decided to write you a letter each week, just to keep you up to date on the Larkin family happenings.

Maryanne took Lachlan and Amber to the pool yesterday. That niece of yours is something else. She sure is playing the long game with this boy named Charlie. I don’t think you ever have to worry about some boy doing her wrong. The boys will all be playing checkers while she’s playing three-dimensional chess. The only thing that has me worried is that Amber is learning at her knee.

Meanwhile, Farah told me that there is a dog named Lucy that the kids would love to meet. I had to come clean with her that I’ve passed on meeting some of your friends, and I’m so sorry about that. I really do want to meet your friends, and I want my kids to meet your friends and more of your family.

Besides telling you about all of our ‘goings-on’ I thought I might talk about feelings. Those aren’t my best things in the world. Okay, maybe they’re my worst thing in the world. I’m great at feelings when I share them with my kids. I want Amber and Lachlan to grow up knowing they are the most wonderful and loved human beings on planet earth. I think the little hooligans have figured out that they have me wrapped around their little fingers. But you, Jase Drakos, you have me tied up in knots. In a good way, not a bad way.

So, this is letter number one. I’ll be mailing the rest. Farah told me not to be worried about you because you kick-ass, but I’ll tell you a secret. I’m a little bit worried about you. So, I’m saying a prayer for you every night before I go to sleep, and every morning before I get out of bed.

Stay Safe, Jase.

All my like,

Bonnie

18

He looked up front the paper in his hand and stared at the woman in front of him. He reached over and gently pried her hands away from her eyes. “Why didn’t you want me to read this, Bonnie?”

She bit her bottom lip and winced. “Because I basically say I love you, without actually saying it?” she squeaked out the question.

“Are you sure that’s the reason you didn’t want me to read it?” Jase asked as he stroked his fingers around the neckline of the t-shirt she was wearing.

“Let me think.” She put her index finger to her chin. Looked down. Then back up at him. “Yep. That’s why.”

Jase chuckled.

“Family, your sense of humor, friends, good food, a decent-sized TV. That’s my new list of priorities.”

“I’m kind of a goof,” she warned.

“Come let’s eat pizza, goofy girl. Then you have to go pick up your children from Farah and Malik’s.”

“Sounds good.”

* * *

“How’d it go?” Jase asked.