Bonnie

Bonnie fell effortlessly into the rhythm of the camp. By day four of working in the kitchen, she was joking with Chef and already knew all the names of the horses in the barn. She worked her tail off washing dishes and making request meals for the camp kids. Anything Chef asked her to do she did as quickly and efficiently as possible.

She felt safe here. There wasn’t a whisper of her former life. She secretly started to wish that the part for the dish-washing machine would keep getting delayed. She didn’t want to leave this place.

Bonnie picked up another bowl and quickly scrubbed, rinsed, and placed it on the drying rack. Only fifty more bowls to go for lunch, she thought.

She paused and saw Dylan walk past the window with a gaggle of children at his heels. He never seemed to be far from her during the day. She wanted to imagine that it was on purpose, but it was far more likely that he just liked being in the garage or out with the camp kids.

The kitchen doors opened, and Mia strode in right as the lunch rush finished. Today her daughter was with her husband, and she was running around the camp getting things done.

“I have good news and bad news,” Mia announced. Everyone turned to look at her. The kitchen became quiet except for the sounds of the food sizzling on the grill and the water filling the sink.

“Well, start with the bad news,” Chef replied, crossing her arms across her chest. She held her heavy wooden spoon like a sword.

“Chef, you’re losing your human dishwasher,” Mia told the kitchen staff. Her face was stern and businesslike. “She can’t be in the kitchen anymore.”

The news hit Bonnie harder than she had expected it to. She didn’t want to leave this place. She knew this was only temporary, but she certainly wasn’t ready to go yet. She wasn’t ready to run again.

“What?” Chef hurried over to Bonnie and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Bonnie leaned in, taking strength from the older woman. “No. I like her. She stays, Mia.”

“Chef, the dishwasher part came,” Mia replied gently. “Dylan’s coming to install it now.”

“What about Bonnie?” Chef’s arm tightened around Bonnie. Bonnie’s throat was thick, and she was glad she didn’t have to say anything. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to say anything without crying.

Mia walked over to stand in front of Chef. Her face twitched with a smile, betraying the stern, business-like look she currently wore.

“That’s the good news,” Mia told the two of them. “Her background check came through today.”

“What?” Bonnie’s heart skipped a beat. Why would she be getting fired if her background check came in? What had Mia found?

“Bonnie, if you’d like, I need someone to work with some of our kids. We have a lot of un-diagnosed behavioral issues. It’s hard to get a diagnosis for some of these kids, but they need help just the same.” Mia’s false sternness disappeared, and she grinned. “So, we need someone here to help come up with programming and activities for these high-need kids.”

“You want me?” Bonnie whispered, unsure if she understood correctly. “You’re giving me a job?”

“After your idea for the spaghetti bath and talking with your old boss, I think you’re perfect for the camp. We need someone with your qualifications,” Mia confirmed. “Are you interested in staying?”

Bonnie’s lower lip trembled, and she felt her eyes starting to fill with relief. “Yes! I would love the job.”

Chef’s arm tightened around Bonnie into a full-fledged hug. Bonnie wrapped her arms around Chef and hugged her tightly back.

“Thank you so much, Mia,” Bonnie said, releasing Chef and facing Mia. She wiped at her cheeks.

“Your boss had the most glowing and amazing things to say about you, Bonnie. She couldn’t speak highly enough about how well you work with kids and make them feel safe,” Mia replied. “I’m hoping that you can bring that same magic here. We need someone like you.”

Guilt pricked at Bonnie’s chest for half a second. She was going to have to leave this place eventually. Even if everything with her brother and the mob disappeared, her home was in New Jersey, not Colorado. She had a life there.

She pushed the guilt down hard. For now, she had a place. She had a place where she could use her skills and talents with kids to make their lives better. She wasn’t about to turn down this opportunity.

“Thank you, Mia. I promise to do whatever I can.” She could keep that promise, she told herself. It wasn’t promising to stay. It was just to do what she could.

Mia stepped closer and hugged her. “And I don’t want you to worry. I was incredibly discreet with the background check. Your boss doesn’t know what state you’re in, and I used a different office for all the paperwork addresses. No one can trace you back here,” she said quietly into Bonnie’s ear.

Bonnie hugged her tightly. “Thank you.” Mia had no idea how much it meant that she’d done her best to keep Bonnie safe. It meant more to Bonnie than she could ever say.

“You’re welcome,” Mia told her, giving her one more squeeze before letting her go. “You start tomorrow. Once Chef lets you go tonight, feel free to explore the camp. You’ve been cleared to work with kids, so you can enjoy what the camp has to offer.”

Excitement bubbled up through Bonnie’s chest, and she felt like she might burst into song. She was going to be able to stay at this beautiful place where she felt safe. It was more than she could have asked.

“Okay. Bonnie, I’ll see you tomorrow morning in my office to come up with a plan,” Mia said. “Everyone else, have a great evening and I won’t see you in my office.”

Chef and the other two kitchen workers chuckled as Mia left the kitchen. As she left, Dylan replaced her. He wore his soft denim jeans and T-shirt like a work uniform as he held up the small plastic and metal piece for the dishwasher. He smiled at everyone, but Bonnie felt for a moment that he smiled at her the most.

She shook her head as he went to the dishwasher and began taking it apart. She was just high on the job offer and seeing good things everywhere. She glanced over to get the perfect view of him reaching into the machine, his strong arms flexed and his legs braced against the floor as he worked the new piece into place. It was a great view.

She was going to enjoy her new workplace. Especially if Dylan was nearby.